McLean County Health officials report three new Coronavirus cases, increasing the county total to 385 cases.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Corn Belt Energy planning power disruption
Corn Belt Energy is planning a power disruption for residential members enrolled in the Rate 11 load control program.… MORE
Visitation temporarily suspended after lightning strike at McLean County Jail
A lightning strike at the McLean County Detention Facility has affected the inmate visitation system throughout the facility as well as the inmate phone system in certain housing areas of the jail.… MORE
Rivian asks Normal council to approve expansion plans
Rivian Automotive is proposing four building additions to its plant in Normal as the company plans to build electric vehicles there next year.… MORE
Life prison sentence possible for accused Bloomington child molester
A Twin-Cities man faces the possibility of life in prison on charges he sexually molested two children.… MORE
McLean County adds 14 new cases of COVID-19; Some cases associated with gatherings
Local health officials on Friday reported 14 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the McLean County total to 364.… MORE
IWU moves to eliminate three majors, other programs ordered to transform
A year-long academic review Illinois Wesleyan University has culminated in the elimination of three majors, and what the private liberal arts institution described as a “transformation” of some other programs.… MORE
Prairie Pride Coalition providing assistance through LGBTQ COVID-19 Relief Fund
A local organization will be distributing a grant of $12,500 to LGBTQI+ community members who have been hit financially by the pandemic.… MORE
Ridgeview teacher arrested for criminal sexual assault
A music teacher and girls basketball coach in the Ridgeview School District was arrested Tuesday and charged with several counts of criminal sexual assault.… MORE
MCHD reports 13 new cases of coronavirus; 10 more have recovered
McLean County added 13 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total to 350.… 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…