Normal Town Council member Stan Nord said more specific expectations and goals need to be set when it comes to Connect Transit.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
House Speaker Mike Madigan: ‘what a difference it makes’ when having someone new in office
Just before adjourning the Illinois House until fall veto session, House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) could not resist a dig – without naming names – at ex-Gov. Bruce Rauner.… MORE
State Rep. Allen Skillicorn: ‘think of the people’ after flurry of legislation passed
A flurry of activity Saturday night capped the Illinois House’s sweep of Gov. JB Pritzker’s legislative priorities for his first year in office.… MORE
Rep. Brady backs budget as legislature goes into overtime
May 31 was not the adjournment date, after all.… MORE
Public feedback sought in police chief search
Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason wants public feedback before he picks the next police chief.… MORE
Illinois House passes recreational marijuana bill, heads to Gov. Prtizker’s desk
The Illinois House has passed recreational marijuana legislation and is sending it to the governor’s desk.… MORE
IWU President Jensen announces retirement
Illinois Wesleyan University President Eric Jensen announced his retirement Friday and has resigned his position effective immediately, according to Board Chair Timothy Szerlong.… MORE
Sangamon County Sheriff: ‘mark my words’ crime will go up if marijuana passes
Plenty remains for lawmakers in Springfield, with Friday being the last day of the spring session. Starting Saturday, a bill taking effect immediately needs a three-fifths vote, rather than a simple majority.… MORE
Vote could change state income tax to scale based
If Illinoisans vote in Nov. 2020 to change the state income tax from 4.95 percent to a scale based on how much you earn, we’re close to knowing what that scale will be.… MORE
Library program stokes the love of reading
The overall purpose of the Summer Reading Program, which offers prizes for completion, is to get kids excited about reading.… 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…