By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Morton Community Bank is acquiring a Springfield-based bank with branches in Bloomington-Normal. Holding company Hometown Community Bancorp Inc. announced Thursday it’s acquiring Marine Bank’s parent firm, which has 11 branches, two of them in the Twin-Cities. The merger is expected to happen during the second quarter of next year, pending regulatory approval and the…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – After a two-year absence due to the pandemic, Santa’s Station is returning to Uptown Normal this month. The grand opening celebrations are scheduled for this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Through Christmas Eve, visitation hours will also be available on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. On Saturday, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus…… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – A pregnant woman reportedly beaten and strangled at the hands of her boyfriend feared for her life, McLean County prosecutors said in court on Tuesday. The state’s attorney’s office charged Trevor Kelly, 21, of Bloomington, with aggravated domestic battery by strangulation and domestic battery causing bodily harm, both felonies. According…… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – A 17-year-old has been moved from the McLean County Sheriff’s Office to the Champaign County Correctional Facility. Keshawn Brown was arrested Monday in Normal for charges related to an incident at Target. Tuesday he was charged as an adult with multiple Class X felonies related to a November 4th homicide…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Four people were detained by the police and are now being charged with several offenses. In response to a report of shots fired, officers were summoned to the 1400 block of West Graham street on November 23rd, at 5:30 p.m. The first arrest was made at that time. A 17-year-old…… MORE
By 25 News NORMAL – The final day to file nominating petitions for next spring’s municipal election took an unexpected turn in Normal on Monday. Two people filed petitions to become candidates for jobs that don’t exist, while a third person wants to become Normal’s town clerk, which is an appointed position. The filings are…… MORE
By 25 News NORMAL – Voters in Normal will elect three town council members next spring, and the incumbents holding those seats have all filed nominating petitions before Monday’s deadline to get on the April ballot. Their challengers are not political newcomers, particularly Marc Tiritilli, who’s run twice for mayor, including the 2017 contest in…… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Only one incumbent whose term expires next year is running for re-election to the Bloomington City Council. Monday was the deadline for council candidates to file nominating petitions with the city’s election commission. There are only two contested races. Incumbent Donna Boelen is running unopposed on the April ballot for…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Gas prices are down 19 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.78 a gallon across the state. GasBuddy says prices in Illinois are 35.5 cents lower than a month ago and over 26 cents more expensive compared to this time last year. GasBuddy price reports show the cheapest…… MORE
By 25 News MCLEAN COUNTY – A Twin Cities man was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in prison for repeatedly beating his girlfriend’s young son who suffered broken bones, brain bleeding, and was malnourished from the abuse. “You are beyond evil,” said the child’s grandmother who provided a victim-impact statement to the court. “What kind…… MORE
By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …
By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…
By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…
Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…