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
Category Archives: Local News
Heartland College eyes levy with little change in property tax bills
Property owners in the Heartland Community College District will see a modest decline or no change at all in their tax bills next year, based on a proposed levy presented to Heartland’s Board of Trustees on Tuesday.… MORE
Normal council to consider raising purchase age for tobacco and vaping to 21
Smokers or vapers will have to be at least 21 to buy their materials in Normal under a proposed ordinance to be considered Monday by the town council.… MORE
Unit 5 teachers union head publicly slams administrators
The head of the union representing nearly 1,000 Unit 5 teachers is expressing frustration that the school system’s administration is less than attentive resolving various issues.… MORE
Cable hunting show host from East Peoria faces federal deer poaching charges
A prominent Tazewell County hunter, who had his own cable TV show, faces a federal indictment, a hefty fine and possible prison time, for allegedly killing too many deer during a hunt in southern Indiana five years ago.… MORE
McLean County Health Department shares holiday food safety tips
The holidays are around the corner and that means home kitchens will be busy to prepare holiday meals.… MORE
Train quiet zones start next week in Bloomington
Several train crossings will become much quieter starting next week in Bloomington and McLean County.… MORE
Illinois State Police ask drivers to slow down
Illinois State Police say the roads are passable but add drivers need to slow down.… MORE
Check school cancellations/delays and road conditions here
A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 6 p.m. today.… MORE
Unit 5 sees higher property taxes as district borrows to pay teachers
Property taxes are expected to rise in Unit 5 as the school district borrows money the next two years to overcome a multi-million dollar deficit in the education fund.… 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…