Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) is not running for Governor – instead, he will be up for re-election in the newly drawn 15th district.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Bloomington man accused of strangling and punching an eight-year-old family member
A man accused of strangling and punching an eight-year old family member in Bloomington last month remained jailed Tuesday night on felony charges.… MORE
Livingston County man sentenced to 135 years in prison for sexually molesting a child
A Livingston County man has been sentenced to 135 years behind bars for sexually assaulting a young girl over a three-year period.… MORE
Sonic Boom identified as loud boom heard across Central IL Tuesday
By Jake Fogal At approximately 11:20 a-m, area residents heard a large noise, accompanied by mild shaking in some areas. Illinois Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Rebecca Clark explains what that loud boom heard across Central Illinois was. “Upon further review, it was determine that an F-15 fighter jet in the air space of up Central…… MORE
Illinois State halts in-person learning for first two weeks of Spring Semester
By Jake Fogal NORMAL- Wednesday Evening, Illinois State President Terri Goss Kinzy announced that out of caution for COVID-19, all in-person classes during the first two week of the Spring Semester will be transitioned to online learning. “Although this is not how any of us expected to begin the spring term, we must continue to…… MORE
Normal West student awarded full-tuition Greenville Scholarship
By Jake Fogal Carolyn Smolen of Bloomington, has been awarded a $29,998 Women in Leadership Scholarship from Greenville University. Terri Sunderland, Greenville’s Women in Leadership program director realized Smolen’s potential when she first applied. “Carolyn was a clear standout as a candidate for the full-tuition scholarship,” Sunderland said. “We see in Carolyn strength in adversity,…… MORE
IL Attorney General announces settlements with construction subcontractors at Rivian over unpaid overtime wages
Construction subcontractors building a new production line at Rivian have settled and resolved a joint investigation by Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office and the Illinois Department of Labor over unpaid overtime wages.… MORE
Bennett announces re-election bid for 106th House District
By WJBC Staff GIBSON CITY – State Rep. Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City) on Monday announced his re-election campaign to the 106th District. “I’m proud to work on issues important to this region, including improving roads and infrastructure, increased funding for K-12 schools, economic development, and supporting public safety,” Bennett said in a news release. In…… MORE
Final 4 days of bell ringing for local Salvation Army
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – The Salvation Army of McLean County is making a final push for its annual Christmas campaign. As of Monday, the organization has received $135,988.54 in the red kettles. Just over $240,000 has been raised through online and mail donations. That leaves the campaign at 73% of the $515,000 goal. The…… MORE
U of I to switching to remote learning to kick off the spring semester
As cases of COVID-19 surge, the University of Illinois announced their three campuses would start the spring semester with remoting learning.… 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…