Illinois officials are “looking at all options” as the number of unvaccinated children in the state increased last year. … MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Majority of crops reported in good-to-excellent condition
Depending on where you were in Illinois last week, the weather was ideal for farming.… MORE
Connect Transit awards electric bus contract despite Bloomington council member’s objection
The Connect Transit Board is moving ahead with plans to buy electric buses despite calls to hold off on the purchases.… MORE
Blue Ridge teachers threaten October strike, two sides “miles apart” on key issues
Teachers and other union employees for Blue Ridge School District 18 are threatening to strike in less than a month after Tuesday night’s negotiations with the mediator failed to produce an agreement.… MORE
Pritzker announces $2.2 billion Taiwanese commitment to purchase Illinois corn, soybeans
Gov. JB Pritzker announced Tuesday that Taiwan has made a $2.2 billion commitment to purchase Illinois corn and soybeans over the next two years.… MORE
Durbin calls for impeachment inquiry into President Trump
Illinois’ senior U.S. Senator supports the House opening an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.… MORE
Gleason: BPD officer resigned, unaware about other allegations
Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason said there was an investigation into a city police officer that recently resigned from the department. Two city government critics during Monday night’s city council meeting claimed the officer was fired and information is being withheld.… MORE
Bloomington council urged to question fired police officer’s actions
Two of Bloomington city government’s most vocal critics appealed to the city council Monday night to get to the bottom of a situation that’s led to a police officer’s dismissal… MORE
Council okays Renner’s cannabis task force picks despite Bray’s rebuke
If Monday night’s Bloomington City Council meeting is any indication, debates may become heated in the coming weeks whether to allow marijuana sales in the city.… MORE
Woodford County boy dies after drowning in lake
A 3-year-old boy died from drowning in a lake Monday morning in Metamora.… 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…