By Jake Fogal Stationed in Hopedale, Ill. is a holiday season tradition that brings together the community. Each Thanksgiving, Hopedale Medical Complex(HMC) offers free holiday meals to those who live in the community and surrounding areas. Although the meal is free, that doesn’t stop visitors from leaving a donation. This year, the HMC received $1,066.00…… MORE
According to a local health leader, the best way to fight the new COVID-19 variant Omicron is by getting vaccinated and receiving a booster vaccine.… MORE
Signaling the sharp increase in COVID-19 case is straining healthcare providers to the limit, OSF HealthCare asked the public Monday to refrain from coming to its medical facilities for asymptomatic and close contact testing.… MORE
A flight intended for Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield collided with another plane, causing minor damage, and canceled one flight.… MORE
The spike in COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the omicron variant are taking their toll on staffers at Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal, one of two hospitals in the Twin-Cities nearly filled to the brim treating infected patients and people with other illnesses.… MORE
Gas prices across Illinois continue to fall as the average price per gallon is down 6.3 cents over the past week.… MORE
By IIS Radio CHICAGO- Starting Jan. 1, schools will be prohibited from discriminating against natural hairstyles traditionally associated with race and ethnicity- including locs, braids, twists and afros – thanks to a law championed by State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago). “No child should ever be singled out for sporting a hairstyle that authentically expresses their heritage…… MORE
By Dave Dahl Springfield Democrat Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, who ran for Congress twice and lost both times to U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville), is headed to the Biden administration. Pending confirmation, Londrigan will be state director for rural development for the USDA. It’s a position Colleen Callahan held while Barack Obama was president. Callahan was…… MORE
By Dave Dahl An Illinois business leader is becoming part of the national conversation on organized retail theft. “We have been involved at the state and local level, and now we’re also involved at the national level, of helping raise awareness through a coalition called USA-IT – United States of America against Illicit Trade,” said…… MORE
By Jake Fogal Following the holiday display of a Satanic Temple that is currently in place at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Bloomington Republican, Dan Brady, issued a statement regarding the exhibit on Thursday. “While I fully support all Americans’ Constitutional rights to freedom of expression and religion, sometimes common sense tells us that…… 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…