A local lawmaker is concerned about a bill signed into law last week that increases the minimum wage for teachers in Illinois to $40,000.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Bloomington Council set to vote on video gaming regulations
The Bloomington City Council is expected to vote Monday evening whether to end its moratorium on video gaming licenses, but the new ordinance to be considered by the council might not be what some local businesses wanted.… MORE
EDC to play role in future of State Farm’s downtown site
The Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council is involved in whatever happens to State Farm’s former headquarters in Downtown Bloomington.… MORE
Charges filed in weekend stabbing
A man remained jailed Sunday night for allegedly stabbing another man in the neck near Downtown Bloomington.… MORE
Bloomington Police investigating armed robbery
Bloomington Police are asking for the public’s help in solving an armed robbery that occurred in the early hours of Friday morning.… MORE
ISU selects developer for $100 million housing project
Gilbane Development Company has been awarded a $100 million project to build new student housing at Illinois State University.… MORE
Sweet Corn Circus road closures
The Sweet Corn Circus will be held in Uptown Normal this weekend and will require several street closures.… MORE
Dealmaker gets to work at Bloomington-Normal EDC
The newly-installed head of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council said he’s a problem solver.… MORE
Listen to This: Bon Iver returns with soulful optimism on stunning new album
Three years can apparently do a lot for a man in search of himself.… MORE
McLean County hit by contagious virus
McLean County has been hit hard by an outbreak of a highly contagious virus affecting the liver.… 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…