By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Face coverings will be recommended, but not required in most facilities starting March 21 at Illinois State University. In a coronavirus update, the university said its updating the guidelines to reflect the state and CDC face covering guidance. Face coverings will still be required in clinical settings, at university events…… MORE
A man trespassing in an Illinois State University dorm raises concerns from students living in the dorms- and now the university police are increasing patrols on campus.… MORE
By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Illinois State University Athletics has received a $3 million gift commitment for the indoor practice facility project from entrepreneur Dee Miller, his wife Sheila Marshall-Miller ’94, and former Illinois State student-athlete and professional football player BJ Bello. “We are incredibly grateful to Dee, Sheila, and BJ for their commitment to…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – All students, faculty, and staff at Illinois State University are receiving KN95 masks at no cost to them, but it’s costing the school $23,000, a university spokesperson said Thursday. ISU is paying that amount for industrial supply company Grainger to quickly deliver 25,000 KN95s, said university spokesperson Eric Jome. He…… MORE
By Neil Doyle and HOI ABC NORMAL – KN95 face masks are being distributed to the entire campus community at Illinois State University. ISU is procuring a stock of KN95 masks to make available to every student, faculty, and staff member, according to a university coronavirus update. “KN95 masks are shown to provide wearers with…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – The Missouri Valley Conference is rescheduling dates for six games and that includes the Illinois State men’s basketball game this weekend against Evansville. The Redbirds and Purple Aces will now play on Sunday, Jan. 9 at 1 p.m. at Redbird Arena. The game was originally scheduled Saturday in Evansville. Meanwhile,…… MORE
McLean County Coroner Kathy Yoder has identified an Illinois State University graduate student who died during a car accident near ISU’s campus Monday evening.… MORE
By Neil Doyle NORMAL – The annual Illinois State University Homecoming Parade is making its return in a more traditional format this weekend. The typical parade route will be in full force with over 100 participants and plenty of candy. There is also a way to watch the parade if you can’t be there in…… MORE
By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Illinois State University is celebrating 100 years of homecoming with plenty of events throughout the week leading up to the football game Saturday afternoon against North Dakota State. On Saturday morning, the “Town and Gown 5K” is making its return in a hybrid format this year. Rachel Kobus is the…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Fall classes started this week at Illinois State University, and leaders there said they are pleased so far with vaccination rates that far exceed those for all of McLean County and the rest of the state. The university said 61% of all students and 80% of all employees were fully vaccinated…… MORE
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.” …
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…
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…
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…