A new swimming pool and other improvements at Bloomington’s O’Neil Park would cost more than $2 million above what was budgeted for the project if the city council accepts the lowest bid at its meeting Monday night.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Drivers are seeing a slight relief at the pump
Amid an invasion in Ukraine, gas prices in Illinois have been down over the past week.… MORE
Local food trucks raises prices due to high gas, food prices
By Heart of Illinois ABC BLOOMINGTON – Higher gas prices are taking a bite out of the profits of Central Illinois food truck owners. Tony Williams owns ‘Uncle Tony’s Food For The Soul’ and has served barbecue and soul food on weekends in the Twin Cities for six years. Williams said he’s never had to change his…… MORE
Unlike Unit 5, District 87 is not looking to make cuts
Unlike Unit 5, District 87 is not looking to downsize its bottom line next school year.… MORE
Local nonprofit CEO reports a ‘housing crisis’ for those with low income in McLean County
According to a CEO of a local nonprofit, the twin cities are experiencing a ‘housing crisis for those with low income.… MORE
Bloomington Telecommunicator honored for helping a caller deliver a baby
A Bloomington Telecommunicator is receiving recognition for helping a caller through a pre-hospital delivery in early March.… MORE
McLean County Museum of History awarded Superiority Achievement
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-The McLean County Museum of History (MCMH) has been recognized for it’s distinguished work on it’s groundbreaking series, “Breaking Bread in McLean County.” The Illinois Association for Museums awarded MCMH Superior Achievement in Community Partnership. The 10 part program detailed the shared and differing experiences of local migrant communities from the Kickapoo…… MORE
Some Illinois lawmakers want to sweeten the pot to become a volunteer firefighter
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – It seems like serving on a volunteer fire department is something more people did in Ye Olde Tymes. Now, people are busy, work in town, or whatever. Maybe a $500 tax credit would be an incentive for more people to join up. Illinois Firefighters Association lobbyist Margaret Vaughn is pushing…… MORE
Strike authorization vote Friday for hundreds of union workers at ISU
By HOI ABC NORMAL – The union representing about 350 Illinois State University workers are scheduled to vote Friday whether to authorize its bargaining team to call a strike. The university and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1110 have met for a 20th negotiating session on Tuesday, but they did…… MORE
McLean County GOP sees as ‘petty’ efforts by Dems to force 5 candidates off June primary ballot
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Five Republican candidates for the McLean County Board, including the current board chairman, face possible removal from the June primary ballot because of technical errors with the nominating petitions they filed earlier this month. Just before Monday’s 4:30 p.m. deadline, some local Democrats filed challenges to the petitions which contain…… MORE
Blogs
Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all
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.” …
Is federal mobilization the answer?
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…
In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans
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…
Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life
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…