Two juveniles are in custody with connection to several cell phone store burglaries, including the Twin Cities’.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Tremont Marine one of five declared dead after plane crash near Japan
The U.S. Marines are paying tribute to the five Marines, including one from Tazewell County, declared dead after two U.S military planes crashed off the coast of Japan last week.… MORE
BPD still investigating West Jefferson Street homicide
Bloomington Police are still seeking additional information following the Twin Cities’ 11th homicide victim this year.… MORE
GoFundMe page set up for Normal West bus driver’s medical bills
By Katherine Murphy NORMAL — Mark Kuhn, driver of the Normal West JV basketball team bus, remains in serious condition after last week’s head on collision with a semi. Coach Steve Price is still hospitalized in fair condition. To help pay for Kuhn’s medical bills a GoFundMe account was set up by Kuhn’s family.…… MORE
ISU looks to buy land for farm expansion
Illinois State University governing board will decide later this week whether to buy 80 acres of land to expand the university’s farm in northern McLean County.… MORE
Rev. McSwain remembered as ‘man of peace’
Family members of the late Mount Pisgah Baptist Church pastor and community leader Frank McSwain Sr. were on hand at Monday night’s city council meeting to receive a proclamation in his honor.… MORE
Council approves water, sewer line insurance option for Bloomington property owners
Bloomington aldermen are offering property owners protection in case their water and sewer bills soar because of infrastructure failures.… MORE
Ford County man sentenced to 140 years for child molestation
An elderly Ford County man, who pleaded guilty to sexually molesting three children, will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.… MORE
BEC decides to keep alderman candidate on ballot
Bloomington city election commissioners have turned down a challenge keeping Ward 4 alderman candidate Julie Emig on the ballot.… MORE
Area soldier is part of history after Bush farewell
By Howard Packowitz BLOOMINGTON – It’s back to work this week at Arlington National Cemetery for a Central Illinois native who’s now a part of history. U.S. Army Captain Chris Blanchard was the officer in charge of eight pallbearers who carried former President George H. W. Bush’s casket at the National Cathedral in Washington.…… 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…