A school on Bloomington’s west side celebrated being back in session and welcomed a revitalized playground across the street.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Illinois to host 50 car seat safety checks as part of National Child Passenger Safety Week
There are still chances to get your car into one of the dozens of free events going on this week to ensure your car seat is properly installed. … MORE
Illinois State Fair officials reflecting on ‘lessons learned’ about performers
Illinois State Fair officials touted a banner year for this year’s agricultural expo in Springfield, but they also reflected on lessons learned about selecting performers for the state fairs.… MORE
Riding clean energy on the road to Success
You probably have not heard of NRG, but it wants to elbow Exelon out of the way this fall veto session.… MORE
Young bicycle rider has brain damage from Labor Day crash
A Bloomington boy’s parents remain at his bedside at an Urbana hospital almost three weeks after he suffered serious head injuries in a traffic accident on the city’s west side.… MORE
Renner nominates 10 for Cannabis Task Force
The 10 people picked by Mayor Tari Renner to serve on Bloomington’s Cannabis Task Force include a pair of downtown business owners, a local Chamber of Commerce executive, and an addiction specialist.… MORE
UPDATE: Amazon to purchase 100,000 electric delivery vans from Rivian
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has announced the company will purchase 100,000 electric delivery vans from Rivian Automotive.… MORE
Barickman: Vaping needs more research, education
State Senator Jason Barickman wants more research done on vaping and e-cigarette products, but he doesn’t think the industry should be completely banned.… MORE
Rivian will make 100,000 electric delivery vans for Amazon
Electric vehicle maker Rivian will be adding new delivery vans to its lineup.… MORE
Effingham County Board aims at bringing back Illinois House to multi-member districts
An effort underway in Effingham County could be dismissed as a longshot or a downstate political minority blowing off steam, but a longtime political observer said the county-level push to revert the Illinois House back to multi-member districts, rather than single-member districts, could make the chamber more representative and even-keeled.… 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…