Category Archives: Local News

Central Illinois gearing up for winter storm

Central Illinois gearing up for winter storm

By Dave Dahl LINCOLN – The historic winter storm is almost here. National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Erwin said Wednesday the heaviest snow band should be between the Illinois River valley and Interstate 72. That means up to eighteen inches of snow for the Bloomington area. Erwin says the precipitation will be all snow before…MORE

Winter Storm Warning issued for Central Illinois

Winter Storm Warning issued for Central Illinois

By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-The National Weather Service in Lincoln has put a Winter Storm Warning in effect from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 6 p.m. Thursday. Significant snow is likely with a brief period of mixed precipitation. Total snow accumulations in excess of 12 inches, with locally high amounts possible. Ice accumulations up to one tenth…MORE

City of Bloomington announces lane closures near downtown

City of Bloomington announces lane closures near downtown

By Jake Fogal The City of Bloomington has announced lane closures near downtown Bloomington. Beginning immediately, two eastbound lanes of East Street, and the westbound lane of Washington Street, will be closed to all traffic due to water work. The lanes on East street and Washington street will be reopened as soon as work is…MORE

Shots fired, burglary incidents keep Bloomington Police busy over weekend

Shots fired, burglary incidents keep Bloomington Police busy over weekend

By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON (Heart of Illinois ABC) – Two incidents of shots fired and a burglary kept Bloomington Police busy over the weekend. Bloomington saw two incidents of shots fired on Saturday, January 29 – the first at around 7:10 p.m. in the 300 block of South Western Avenue, according to a release. Officers…MORE

Annual Night in a Car event is back on Feb. 4th

Annual Night in a Car event is back on Feb. 4th

By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-Home Sweet Home Ministries is hosting it’s sixth annual Night in a Car on February 4th. The event will kick-off at 7 p.m. next Friday and continue until 7 a.m. the following Saturday morning. “Home Sweet Home Ministries is thrilled to have Night In A Car back for its sixth year. We…MORE

Republicans demanding more stern regulations on ethics

Republicans demanding more stern regulations on ethics

By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD-Some Republican senators are calling again for stricter rules on ethics for lawmakers. The continued absence of a legislative inspector general is just one of the complaints from State Sen. Jil (cq) Tracy (R-Quincy). “Illinois has a long history of shady behavior from lawmakers,” Tracy said. “While their offenses are somewhat different…MORE

ISU athletics receives $3 million gift commitment for indoor practice facility

ISU athletics receives $3 million gift commitment for indoor practice facility

By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Illinois State University Athletics has received a $3 million gift commitment for the indoor practice facility project from entrepreneur Dee Miller, his wife Sheila Marshall-Miller ’94, and former Illinois State student-athlete and professional football player BJ Bello. “We are incredibly grateful to Dee, Sheila, and BJ for their commitment to…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…