Members of Illinois Special Olympics are preparing for the State Championship weekend starting June 12th but are currently over 600 volunteers short. … MORE
Category Archives: Local News
OSF begins ‘virtual’ on-call care
Patients say they want better, faster access to health care. OSF is offering a virtual solution. … MORE
Local business to use drones for farm studies
Drones can now be used to photograph and study local farmland by T&K LLC. (WJBC File Photo) By Andy Dahn BLOOMINGTON – A local business can now operate Unmanned Aircraft Systems, also known as drones, to survey and study local farmland. T&K LLC owner Tim Norman said his business, which earned the FAA 333 exemption…… MORE
Clerk expects expensive election with low turnout
McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael said the special election to replace former Congressman Aaron Schock will cost around $300,000. (WJBC file photo) By Joe Ragusa BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Clerk’s office is gearing up for an expensive election to replace former Congressman Aaron Schock. Kathy Michael said she expects the election to cost around…… MORE
Children’s Discovery Museum awarded grants for youth programming
The Children’s Discovery Museum will put three grants towards funding various youth programs. (WJBC file photo) By Adam Studzinski NORMAL – The Children’s Discovery Museum in Uptown Normal has been awarded a trio of grants which will be put towards various museum programs. A $3,000 Mirza Arts and Culture Fund grant will go to a…… MORE
EITC helps working families pay for necessities
Working families are able to keep more of what they earn through the EITC. (WJBC File Photo) By Andy Dahn BLOOMINGTON – The EITC, or Earned Income Tax Credit, helps families that work but struggle to get by on low wages keep more of what they earn to support their families. Voices for Children spokesperson…… MORE
Body found in Mackinaw River during search for missing kayaker
A body of a man has been found in the Mackinaw River during a search for missing person Abel Martinez.… MORE
Mellon runs on pro-veteran platform in 18th Congressional race
A candidate for Illinois’ 18th Congressional District is running on a pro-veteran platform.… MORE
Obituary: Debra Smyth
Debra Smyth, 59, of Normal, passed away at 7:55 a.m., Friday, June 5, 2015 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington.… MORE
Obituary: Carol Wilma Aughenbaugh
Bloomington – Carol Wilma Aughenbaugh, 87, of El Paso, formerly of Bloomington, passed away at 12:20 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2015 at Heritage Senior Care in El Paso. Her funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bloomington with Pastor Christine McNeal officiating. Visitation…… 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…