The aviation industry is warning against the rollout of 5G band networks across the country, but one airport in central Illinois says the rollouts are not affecting their airport.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
State Sen. Barickman recovering from COVID-19
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – A local lawmaker and some of his family have tested positive for COVID-19. State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) says he and his wife, along with their daughter, tested positive for the virus last week. Barickman told WJBC’s Scott Miller he’s on the mend, but he developed several symptoms throughout the…… MORE
Volunteers wanted for Habitat Humanity’s ReStore
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-Habitat for Humanity in McLean county is calling for volunteers to assist at the Bloomington restore. The Bloomington ReStore is a non-profit home improvement store and donation center that sells new and gently used furniture, appliances, cabinets, home accessories, building materials, and more at deeply discounted prices. Linda Healy, Director of Development…… MORE
ISU distributing KN95 face masks to campus community
By Neil Doyle and HOI ABC NORMAL – KN95 face masks are being distributed to the entire campus community at Illinois State University. ISU is procuring a stock of KN95 masks to make available to every student, faculty, and staff member, according to a university coronavirus update. “KN95 masks are shown to provide wearers with…… MORE
Concerns raised that wrong information influenced Normal Council vote supporting fitness court
By HOI ABC NORMAL – A Normal Town Council member is indicating he’ll request another council vote on a proposed $180,000 outdoor fitness center because town staffers gave him wrong information in which he based his vote earlier this month. The council at its January 4 meeting voted 4-2 to work with the National Fitness…… MORE
Six more people die from COVID-19 in McLean County; hospitals reaching capacity
Six more people have died from COVID-19 in the twin cities as local health officials report 1,618 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday.… MORE
‘Little Free Pantry’ in Bloomington gets ‘new building’
A Little Free Pantry in front of the West Bloomington Revitalization Project got new looks on Monday. … MORE
Barnett not seeking re-election to McLean County Board
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – A Republican who has represented Bloomington’s east side on the McLean County Board since 2016 is not seeking re-election. “It has been the honor of my lifetime to represent the people of Bloomington on the McLean County Board, but I have decided now is the right time to step down and…… MORE
State Farm seeks to hire 1000′s of new workers, plans 2 job fairs
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – State Farm Insurance said Monday it is looking to hire more than 3,400 employees, and have scheduled two virtual job fairs in the coming days to meet with prospective candidates. In a news release, State Farm said it’s hiring full-and-part-time workers across the country after “a record breaking year of…… MORE
100′s of local government workers to receive pandemic pay
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Elected McLean County government leaders are opting to pay bonuses to all county employees who worked during the early months of the pandemic instead of using the money as an incentive to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Roughly 750 union and non-union employees, who worked on-site instead of remotely from March…… 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…