A fire investigation is underway in Bloomington after a mobile home caught fire Tuesday night.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
State Senator Tom Bennett retiring in 2025
After serving the Illinois state legislator for many years, Illinois State Senator Tom Bennett is retiring from the General Assembly.… MORE
Illinois State University police to partner with mental health professionals
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – Mental health professionals will assist Illinois State University police officers with on-campus 911 calls. This comes after Campus Police Chief Aaron Woodruff said that his department has received more mental health-related calls in recent years. These mental health professionals will be contracted from the Center for Human Services, which runs the…… MORE
New housing units approved by Bloomington city council
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – In Monday night’s city council meeting, the proposed addition of around 800 residential units was approved. Bloomington City Council authorized the annexation and zoning of a 77-acre plot of land north of West Market Street near Rivian Motors. The housing units range from apartments to townhomes. The project, called Bloomington 77…… MORE
Heartland Community College to hold classes at Mid Central Community Action
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — Heartland Community College is partnering with Mid Central Community Action to open a new facility that will hold classes. The new facility was renovated to hold classes in industrial maintenance, construction, and other work-ready programs. Representatives from the two organizations as well as Bloomington-Normal community members gathered at Mid…… MORE
Illinois crops ahead of averages per USDA crop report
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 6.3 days suitable for field work during the week ending July 23, 2023. Statewide, the average temperature was 72.9 degrees, 3.7 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.71 inches, 0.27 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 14 percent very short, 35 percent short, 46 percent adequate, and 5…… MORE
Normal Police looking to locate a man called the ‘Lego Bandit.’
By Blake Haas NORMAL – Authorities in Normal need the public’s help identifying a man they are dubbing the ‘Lego Bandit.’ In early July, authorities say the Lego Bandit allegedly stole over $700 worth of legos from Meijer. The man is described as a tall white male with glasses. He was last seen wearing a…… MORE
Bloomington Police investigating shooting on cities east side
By Blake Haas BLOOMINGTON – A home and vehicle in Bloomington sustained damage from gunfire, and police need help identifying a suspect. On Saturday around 12:45 p.m., Bloomington Police responded to the 7-hundred block of Fairmont Drive for a shooting. Authorities say there were no injuries from the shooting. The case remains under investigation. Anyone…… MORE
Gas prices in Illinois stay steady over last week
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Gas prices in Illinois came down a little over the week, averaging $3.80 a gallon, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of over 43-hundred stations in Illinois. Illinois gas is down 17.0 cents compared to a month ago. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Illinois is priced at…… MORE
Bloomington-Normal first responders to host Battle of the Badges Blood Drive
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – First responders in the Bloomington-Normal area will be hosting a Battle of the Badges Blood Drive throughout August. The American Red Cross announced via press release Thursday that there will be a chance to give blood at five locations in the area throughout the month. The goal of the drives is…… 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…