School administrators in Unit 5 have the authority now to make emergency purchases of equipment to protect students and staff from COVID-19.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
More COVID-19 cases at ISU
Over 400 students at Illinois State University have tested positive for coronavirus.… MORE
MCHD reports 56 new cases of coronavirus
McLean County added 56 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, bringing the county total to 1,292.… MORE
Koos announces he will seek another term
Chris Koos Wednesday announced he will seek another term as mayor of Normal.… MORE
BPD investigating two additional shootings, now five this month
Bloomington Police are investigating five different shootings that have happened over the last seven days.… MORE
Normal Planning Commission Chairman announces town council bid
Still more than two-months away from November’s general election, a candidate has come forward saying he intends to run next spring for a seat on the Normal Town Council.… MORE
McLean county leaders discuss new COVID-19 mitigation’s in a closed-door meeting
With McLean County’s rolling positivity rate over 8%, Bloomington’s top elected official says a closed-door meeting on Tuesday with local school and county leaders discussed how to slow the spread of COVID-19.… MORE
ISU coronavirus total now 353
Illinois State University Wednesday reported the coronavirus total among students is now over 300.… MORE
50 new COVID cases in McLean County; Rolling positivity rate above 8%
McLean County’s rolling positivity rate is now over 8% as local health officials Wednesday announced 50 new cases of coronavirus.… MORE
Key defendant in arena theft case pleads guilty, agrees to pay $450K restitution
The City of Bloomington is set to receive around $430,000 after a guilty plea from John Butler, who was the head of a company that used to run the city-government-owned indoor sports arena in downtown Bloomington.… 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…