One local grocery store, which faces financial hardship, plans to keep its doors open for now.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
More than 100 traffic stops made during Bloomington traffic detail
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – Illinois State Police announced the result of its joint enforcement detail near Veterans Parkway and Towanda Barnes Road in Bloomington on Wednesday. According to Illinois State Police, ISP deputies were joined by Bloomington police officers and McLean County Sheriff’s deputies and conducted 115 traffic stops. During the detail, officers and deputies issued…… MORE
Former ISU President gets new job at St. Cloud State University
By WMBD-TV ST CLOUD, Minn. – A former Illinois State University President has a new job at a Minnesota University. According to St. Cloud State University Communications, Larry Dietz was appointed interim university president by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges. Dietz served as the 19th President of Illinois State University from 2014…… MORE
McLean County man accused of grooming ‘child’ by sending illicit material
By WMBD-TV PEORIA – A rural McLean County man is in jail Wednesday after being arrested the day before for allegedly grooming and exploiting children for sexual reasons. Matthew V. Phillips, 35, of Stanford, a small village of 600 in the eastern part of the county, was booked into the Peoria County Jail on charges…… MORE
Women share incarceration experience at Heartland Community College
Heartland Community College hosted Illinois Prison Project for a panel focusing on women who have experienced incarceration.… MORE
Unit 5 school board meeting discusses student equity and school building capacity
A student group promoting equity, inclusion and diversity held a presentation at the Unit 5 Board of Education meeting on Wednesday.… MORE
Rivian announces more layoffs
Rivian announced more company-wide layoffs on Wednesday.… MORE
Central Illinois Regional Airport celebrates 60 years of operation later this month
Central Illinois Regional Airport in McLean County will celebrate 60 years of operations later this month.… MORE
Bloomington police seeks community’s help with survey on how they are doing
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Police Department seeks the community’s help with a survey that will offer insight into concerns, attitudes, and trust with the department. The survey will appear to residents on their mobile devices and will allow the department to “holistically understand local neighborhood safety issues and enhance their responsiveness to community priorities.” Officials…… MORE
Woodford County Board stalls non-sanctuary status decision for a later time
By WMBD-TV EUREKA – After several people made their voices heard, the Woodford County Board voted unanimously to table a decision to become a non-sanctuary county. Nearly 20 people spoke, most of whom against against the proposed resolution which would have made Woodford County a non-sanctuary county. That would have not allowed tax-payer-funded services to…… 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…