Bloomington Police, with the assistance of police dogs, were looking for clues to solve a late-night armed robbery at an east side convenience store.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Boys and Girls Club volunteer guilty of sexually abusing club member
A jury returned a split decision Wednesday in the case of a former Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal volunteer charged with committing sex crimes against a club member.… MORE
Mayoral hopeful Tiritilli wants spot on Connect Transit board
Normal Mayor Chris Koos said he’s working on filling a vacancy on the Connect Transit Board of Trustees, and the man who narrowly lost to Koos in the mayoral election two years ago said he would like Koos to appoint him to that position.… MORE
ISU plans tuition freeze for next school year
Illinois State University administrators want to freeze tuition next school year for incoming undergraduate students who live in Illinois, even as the school contends with historical declines in financial support from state government.… MORE
Weather continues to delay planting for Illinois farmers
Rain again dominates the USDA crop report.… MORE
State’s Attorney, BPD to discuss Zimmerman murder probe after not guilty verdict
By Howard Packowitz BLOOMINGTON – McLean County’s chief prosecutor said it’s not his call whether police will actively investigate the killing almost five years ago of Bloomington financial planner Pamela Zimmerman. A jury on Monday acquitted Zimmerman’s former husband, Kirk, of her murder that happened in November 2014. State’s Attorney Don Knapp said the…… MORE
New Normal council member Nord makes waves at first meeting
The leading vote getter in Normal’s town council election last month made his presence known Monday night at his first council meeting.… MORE
Jury finds Zimmerman not guilty of murder
A McLean County jury on Monday found Kirk Zimmerman of Bloomington not guilty of first degree murder.… MORE
Gunmen rob local mobile phone store
Bloomington Police report three people wearing masks robbed a business at gunpoint Friday night just south of Downtown Bloomington.… MORE
Juror dismissed in Zimmerman trial, mistrial request denied
A juror has been dismissed in the Kirk Zimmerman murder trial.… 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…