According to the alert, smoke from wildfires in Canada is moving into Central Illinois and is pushing our air quality into unhealthy or worse categories.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Normal kicking off efforts for Vernon Avenue Project
On Tuesday, the Town of Normal held the first public input meeting for the Vernon Avenue Complete Streets Project.… MORE
Poor cell service an issue at Tailgate N’ Tallboys for second straight year
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – It was another successful showing for Tailgate and Tallboys earlier this month, as the country music festival headlined by Nickelback, Kane Brown and Jelly Roll entertained thousands of people at the Interstate Center in Bloomington, but cell phone service took a plunge during the Twin Cities big summer spectacle. Cell…… MORE
Danvers man to appear in court in August for death of Bloomington woman
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – A Danvers man will next appear in court in late August regarding charges he allegedly killed a Bloomington woman. Joshua Livingston, 41, of Danvers, appeared in McLean County Circuit Court on Monday for a status hearing. At issue were concerns he had that the public defender’s office had a conflict of interest as one…… MORE
Weekly USDA crop report
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 6.8 days suitable for field work during the week ending June 25, 2023. Statewide, the average temperature was 75.5 degrees, 1.7 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.49 inches, 0.49 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 39 percent very short, 50 percent short, and 11 percent adequate. Subsoil…… MORE
Man dead after two-vehicle crash in Bloomington
A man died after a two-vehicle crash near Morrissey Drive and Woodrig Road in Bloomington on Friday.… MORE
Prices at the pump remain steady throughout country ahead of July 4
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Average gasoline prices in Illinois have fallen nearly 5 cents in the last week, averaging $3.96 a gallon According to GasBuddy’s survey of over 43-hundred stations in Illinois, prices in the state are a few cents higher than a month ago. GasBuddy price reports show the cheapest station in Illinois…… MORE
Volunteer firefighters in Illinois to get state tax credit
By WMBD-TV SPRINGFIELD – A bill was recently signed into law that gives volunteer firefighters up to a $500 credit towards their state tax return. The measure, announced by State Sen. Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City), will take effect in the 2023 tax year and could be used when people file their returns next year. The…… MORE
Illinois Department of Public Health urging caution against West Nile Virus
By Jake Fogal ILLINOIS – West Nile Virus has been confirmed in four Illinois counties as mosquito’s begin to buzz this summer season. Fifteen mosquito batches have tested positive for the virus in 2023, and the current counties that have detected West Nile are Cook, Morgan, St. Clair, and LaSalle. Angie Crawford with the McLean…… MORE
Two residences, vehicle struck by gunfire in Bloomington
Police are probing a shots fired incident that happened over the weekend on Bloomington’s west side.… 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…