With millions of travelers traversing Illinois roadways this Thanksgiving, Illinois State Police are reminding motorists to drive safely.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Normal’s council imposes AirBnB tax, raises tobacco sales age to 21
The Normal Town Council is imposing a six percent tax on short-term housing rentals despite the pleas from a former mayoral candidate to reject the idea.… MORE
Weekend shooting injures one
By Katherine Murphy BLOOMINGTON– A weekend shooting left a teenager with a non-life threatening injury after he was shot in the leg. A statement from the Bloomington Police Department says BPD responded to the 800 block of Douglas on Saturday to find four juveniles. Witnesses at the scene said a black male approached them…… MORE
BPD rolls out proposal for Axon body cameras
The Bloomington Police Department has rolled out a proposal to the city council Monday night for its officers to wear body cameras that would cost taxpayers about three-quarters of a million dollars over the next five years.… MORE
Ten Twin-City council hopefuls file for April elections
Candidates eyeing council seats in Bloomington and Normal are filing petitions for next April’s municipal elections.… MORE
Fallen solider from McLean County honored by Illinois lawmakers
A McLean County native is being recognized for his service in the United States Army.… MORE
One candidate drops out of Bloomington City Council race
One candidate for Bloomington City Council is a candidate no more.… MORE
Seventh candidate enters race for Normal Town Council
Seventh candidate enters race for Normal Town Council… MORE
GOP’s Sommer praises Blair, faces Democratic-domination in Springfield
State Rep. Keith Sommer is making his first public comments since winning re-election to another term representing the 88th District in the Illinois House.… MORE
Local man gets what amounts to life in prison for home invasion, robbery
A man found guilty of terrorizing a Bloomington couple on the city’s south side two years ago will likely serve the rest of his life behind bars.… 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…