By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The shopping mall – retail destination of the seventies and eighties – is entering a new chapter. Rob Karr, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, likes to say retail’s nimble. But what’s less nimble than a gigantic, largely empty mall? “If you think of it as only purposed for…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-On Thursday, February 24, the Illinois State Athletics Department along with the entire Illinois State University community took part in the fourth annual Birds Give Back: Mission Possible. Following a full day of support, 230 donors in 22 states paved the way to a new ‘Birds Give Back’ fundraising record. Illinois State…… MORE
By HOI ABC MCLEAN COUNTY-The mother of Zaraz Walker, who has been missing since at least Sunday, February 13 and is now presumed dead, appeared in bonding court Friday on two counts of concealment of a death. According to a probable cause statement presented today, Kimberlee Burton visited with a female family member on February 15…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2018 death of Trevonte Kirkwood. Jordyn Thornton, 22, was found guilty Thursday on the six different counts. The incident occurred in the 1300 block of North Oak Street on October 30, 2018. Kirkwood’s death was the 10th homicide…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Education bureaucracy has left parents behind, say Illinois Senate Republicans who want kids’ moms and dads to have more of a voice in what happens in the classroom. But they would not provide an example of a subject they didn’t want taught to their kids and instead presented their ideas…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) was on his way out of Eastern Europe as Russia invaded Ukraine. And, in a Zoom call with reporters from O’Hare International Airport, he said Russian President Vladimir Putin would be on the receiving end of some economic hurt. “We’re just beginning a massive sanctions…… MORE
By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will have an economic impact locally, according to an Illinois State University professor. Dr. Mike Hendricks is an assistant professor in the Department of Politics at ISU. He spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller. “Gas prices just already went up to over $100 a barrel as soon…… MORE
A Lincoln woman has been arrested after a 20-month old sustained life-threatening injuries and later died.… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington woman may soon face a new charge of concealing a death as an infant is still missing. The McLean County Jail and Bloomington Police say that charge was added Wednesday against Kimberlee Burton, 29. A formal criminal charge is pending review by the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office.…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – A man has filed a federal lawsuit claiming Bloomington Police used excessive force when the department’s K-9 knocked him to the ground and bit him two years ago. Todd Kelly said in the complaint that he was unarmed and complied with police commands when Officer Justin Shively directed his K-9…… 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…