Thanks to a grant from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin company, students in central Illinois can experience what space is like through simulated space missions.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
McLean County PATH Crisis selected as new 988 crisis/suicide phone line; adding 115 new positions
McLean County’s PATH Crisis is adding 115 new jobs as the state of Illinois announced the call center would serve as the new 988 mental health and crisis intervention phone line.… MORE
Unit 5 updates COVID-19 mitigations
By WJBC Staff NORMAL – After a legislative panel voted Tuesday night to suspend the latest version of COVID-19 mitigations for public schools, Unit 5 is no longer requiring masks. According to a news release, the district made the decision after the vote by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. As a result, Unit 5 is…… MORE
NWS: Heavy snow and freezing rain expected Wednesday night and Thursday
By Neil Doyle LINCOLN – The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning that goes into effect at midnight until 6 p.m. Thursday as heavy snow and freezing rain are expected across central Illinois. The winter storm warning includes McLean, Livingston, Woodford, Tazewell and Ford counties. The NWS is calling for mixed precipitation…… MORE
Parents file lawsuit against three Central Illinois school districts over mask mandate
By HOI ABC SPRINGFIELD – Three more school districts are being sued by parents over COVID prevention plans. McLean County Unit 5, Bloomington District 87, and Pontiac District 429 are named in this lawsuit being filed in Sangamon County. Sangamon County is where a temporary restraining order was also issued against the governor’s mask mandate…… MORE
Clinton Save A Lot owner: Inflation hurting shoppers, highest in 50-years
A Clinton grocery store owner says inflation is out of control and the worst he has seen in over 50-years.… MORE
Second alleged former State Farm employee files lawsuit, claims hostile work environment
A woman who says she was a State Farm employee has teamed up with Attorney Ben Crump and filed a lawsuit against the company — alleging she was terminated because of complaining of the company’s “rampant culture of racism and discrimination.”… MORE
Senator Durbin: Russia appears to be pulling some troops back, calls Putin a ‘thug’
According to Illinois’ Senior Senator, Russia appears to be pulling back some troops from the Ukraine border, but he does not know what that means.… MORE
Bloomington woman facing felony child endangerment charges; 7-month old missing
A 7-month old infant remains missing, as a Bloomington woman is facing two counts of felony child endangerment as police continue to search for the baby.… MORE
State lawmakers requesting information about the status of the Pontiac and Vandalia Correctional Centers
By Neil Doyle PONTIAC – Some Republican state lawmakers are concerned about the status and future of the Pontiac and Vandalia Correctional Centers. According to a letter sent to Gov. JB Pritzker and the director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, both facilities have had a significant number of inmate transfers. State Sen. Jason Barickman…… 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…