A Farmer City woman who went missing last week has been found dead.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Car parts maker to close Bloomington plant, eliminating 139 jobs
An auto parts manufacturer said it is closing its Bloomington factory next year, costing 139 people their jobs.… MORE
Outdoor dining eyed as Bloomington council grants new powers to city manager
The Bloomington City Council is empowering the city manager to help businesses start functioning again starting Friday when Phase 3 of Gov. JB Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan gets underway.… MORE
District 87 names Austin Myers next girl’s varsity basketball coach
Bloomington high school has announced Austin Myers as the next girls varsity basketball coach. … MORE
MCHD announces 11th COVID-19 death; countywide total increases to 212
McLean County health officials announced another McLean County resident has died due to COVID-19. Officials also announced two new cases of Coronavirus, bringing the county total to 212. … MORE
Illinois driver services facilities to reopen next week
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced Tuesday his office’s reopening plan – beginning June 1 – with the first two months focused on serving only new drivers, customers with expired driver’s licenses/ID cards and vehicle transactions.… MORE
McLean County hires veteran prosecutor to try pending murder cases
A Central Illinois prosecutor, who’s tried 15 murder cases in her career, is helping reduce the backlog of pending McLean County murder cases.… MORE
Illinoisans head to Indiana to spend money as stay-at-home order continues
While dining rooms remain closed in the state, many Illinoisans are crossing the border to go out to eat.… MORE
Pritzker announces guidelines for businesses to reopen in Phase 3
State government, says Gov. JB Pritzker, is here to help businesses which open Friday under Phase Three of his Restore Illinois plan.… MORE
McLean County adds 6 new cases of COVID-19
Local health officials on Monday reported six new cases of coronavirus, bringing the county total to 210.… 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…