By WMBD-TV NORMAL – The McLean County Unit 5 school board approved contracts which results in higher pay for staff in the district. The four-year agreement with the Unit Five Education Association (UFEA) states that beginning this upcoming school year, the starting salary for full-time staff will be at least $40,000 and will increase to…… MORE
By WMBD-TV EL PASO – A Bloomington man faces charges one day after allegedly trying to solicit sex from what he thought was a 15-year-old girl. Instead, Angel Espinoza, 38, got more than he bargained for Wednesday night when he arrived at a gas station in El Paso and instead of a girl, found several…… MORE
By Blake Haas LEROY- A LeRoy man is behind bars in McLean County on multiple weapon charges. On July 13, LeRoy police learned 52-year-old Kenneth Downey possibly possessed firearms and allegedly had homicidal ideations. Two days later, a McLean County Judge issued a search warrant for Downey’s residence, where LeRoy and Illinois State Police searched…… MORE
The Mackinaw community continues to mourn the sudden death of a 9-year-old boy.… MORE
A farebox issue that prevented Connect Transit from collecting money has been fixed.… MORE
Two men were arrested in Bloomington on Thursday for child pornography charges.… MORE
The Normal Police Department on Thursday announced two arrests have been made in relation to several vehicle burglaries in April.… MORE
FBI Springfield put out a news release Wednesday warning the public to be wary of suspicious and unsolicited phone calls.… MORE
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – A former State Representative has decided not to seek elected office in 2024. Dan Brady previously considered seeking a spot in the 17th congressional district but has changed his mind. He confirmed he will not be putting in his bid for the 2024 election cycle. In 2022, he was the Republican…… MORE
There were 4.9 days suitable for field work during the week ending July 9… 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…