By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Phillip Hanks is used to giving an “organ recital.” “I received a pancreas, a liver, upper / lower intestine, liver, (Did I say liver already), kidney, and stomach. The Joliet area man was a bodybuilder who used too much protein, creatine, and then ibuprofen. Almost one year ago, he received…… MORE
More than $12 million is being awarded to communities around the state to ensure students get to school safely.… MORE
AFSCME Local 1110, the union that represents approximately 350 employees in Illinois State University janitorial, grounds, catering, dining center and retail dining areas, has overwhelmingly ratified a new contract.… MORE
Illinois added nearly 5,700 teachers during the last school year, more than the past five years combined.… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMIGNTON – About 350 building, grounds and dining services employees of Illinois State University have ratified their new union contract in voting on campus that started early Tuesday morning and stretched past midnight. More than 92% voted to approve the terms of an agreement reached last week as University workers were prepared…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Connect Transit would add bus service to Rivian Automotive in west Normal perhaps as soon as August or September as part of a budget that the public transportation system’s board will vote on in May. At the end of March, just over 5,000 people were working at the electric vehicle…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Former McLean County piano teacher Aaron Parlier was found guilty on all 12 counts in his second trial, with the most serious conviction carrying an automatic life in prison. Parlier’s second trial involved a second student for crimes that happened between 2005 and 2018. In closing arguments, Parlier claimed that…… MORE
By IIS Radio and Blake Haas SPRINGFIELD – Masks are no longer required on public transportation in Illinois. In light of Monday’s federal court ruling, Gov. Pritzker is amending a current executive order so that citizens would not have to wear a mask riding public transit, in a transit station or at the airport. On…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington Ward One Council Vacancy application deadlines closes Wednesday. The position is now open after the resignation of Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem, Jamie Mathy, who steeped down due to business conflicts that will not allow him to serve. For consideration, candidates must be 18 years…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 1.3 days suitable for field work during the week ending April 17, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 49.1 degrees, 2.9 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.97 inches, 0.08 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 1 percent very short, 3 percent short, 40 percent adequate, and 56…… 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…