Bloomington firefighters battled a house fire Friday night on the city’s northwest side that apparently started in the basement and spread to the upper floors.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Unemployment rates up in Bloomington, Peoria
Unemployment rates increased in Bloomington and the Peoria metro areas in November 2018 compared to November 2017. … MORE
Transgender prisoner moved to Lincoln women’s prison after alleged abuse
A women’s prison at the Logan County Correctional Center in Lincoln is now home to a transgender prisoner who allegedly suffered repeated abuse and sexual assaults while being housed in various prisons for men.… MORE
BPD: Two teens rob man at gunpoint
A man told Bloomington Police two teenagers robbed him at gunpoint Thursday night.… MORE
Red Cross wraps up 20th holiday blood drive
Community members in the Twin Cities’ helped give back this holiday season by donating blood to those in need.
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UPDATE: BPD sees link between two Wednesday night stick-ups, Twin-City businesses hit by seven robberies in 12 days
Bloomington Police are investigating two armed robberies reported about eight minutes apart at southeast side businesses Wednesday night, and officers are asking for the public’s help.… MORE
Salvation Army Red Kettle drive falls short, seeks post-Christmas donation surge
The Salvation Army of McLean County’s red kettle campaign has fallen short of its goal for the second straight year, so the organization is again depending on a post-Christmas surge in donations sent online or through the mail.… MORE
BPD sees link between two Wednesday night stick-ups, Twin-City businesses hit by seven robberies in 12 days
Investigators see a possible connection in a pair of armed robberies that happened Wednesday night on Bloomington’s southeast side, which are the latest in a total of seven armed hold-ups in the Twin-Cities since December 14.… MORE
Judge denies defense motion to drop child abuse charges against local pastor
The lawyer for a former Twin-Cities pastor accused of breaking his infant daughter’s legs and one of her arms said he plans on putting up a “substantial” and “vigorous” defense.… MORE
Triple murder suspect wants judge, not a jury, to decide case
A man accused of shooting to death three men and critically wounding a child six months ago at an east side Bloomington apartment building wants his case tried by a judge instead of jury.… 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…