Launching her 2020 campaign for Congress, Betsy Dirksen Londrigan channeled her inner Larry the Cable Guy.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Unit 5 finalizes first year of Brandt tax breaks
Canada’s Brandt Industries, which builds agricultural equipment just north of Normal, is receiving its first in a series of tax breaks from Unit 5.… MORE
Calls for transparency in harassment allegations against Unit 5’s former HR director
A supporter of Unit 5’s former director of human resources said Wednesday the allegations of workplace harassment that led to his resignation are the result of vicious lies and rumors.… MORE
Defense suggests too narrow a focus on Zimmerman as killer
The defense in the Kirk Zimmerman murder trial is trying to show Bloomington Police focused too much on Zimmerman, and not on other possible suspects in the shooting death of Zimmerman’s former wife.… MORE
Renner: City Council will experience culture change
Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner is excited to work with newly elected city council members and is anticipating a bit of change.… MORE
UPDATED: BPD grilled Zimmerman for hours the day after his former wife’s murder
McLean County prosecutors and Bloomington Police took jurors back in time nearly 4 1/2-years after local financial planner Pam Zimmerman was shot to death in her office on East Washington Street.… MORE
Unit 5 board asked to approve first phase of Brandt tax breaks
Another local taxing body is expected to vote Wednesday whether to make good on an agreement to cut property taxes for a Canadian firm that’s making agricultural equipment at a factory just north of Normal.… MORE
Destihl Brewery expands beer distribution
Destihl Brewery announced Tuesday it’s expanding beer distribution to Alaska and Maryland.… MORE
Zimmerman’s first interview with detectives shown to jury
Jurors in the Kirk Zimmerman murder trial on Tuesday watched five hours of interrogation footage from Zimmerman’s first interview with Bloomington Police detectives after his former wife’s death.… MORE
Bloomington asphalt and concrete fund not yet set in stone
Bloomington aldermen spent most of their time Monday night discussing whether a proposed fund to pay for asphalt and concrete should include more than just asphalt and concrete.… 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…