By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington had five-gun related homicides last year. So far, in 2023 there have been no shots fired incidents or homicides. Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington says the goal is to keep it that way by working with the youth and with a potential gun buyback event. “Our…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Will it be Kansas City or Philadelphia this weekend in the Big Game? One of the animals at the Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington has made his prediction. King Julian, the lemur who has been living at the Miller Park Zoo, is riding with the Eagles this weekend. WJBC’s Scott…… MORE
By 25 News NORMAL – The Bed Bath & Beyond stores in Normal and Peoria will soon close, according to an updated store closing list posted by the company. A closing date for the stores is currently not known. The struggling company announced Tuesday 150 more stores set to close. The announcement came after the company based in Union,…… MORE
By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Four residents were displaced after an overnight house fire in Normal. Firefighters were called Thursday at 12:42 a.m. and responded to 208 Parktrail Road for a blaze in an upstairs bedroom. According to a news release, firefighters fought the fire upstairs while other crews searched the residence for any other…… MORE
By 25 News NORMAL – Normal Police arrested a 14-year-old boy Tuesday after a lengthy investigation into two separate armed robbery incidents. Police say that on December 7, 2022, two victims were approached bys suspects in Fairview Park who displayed a firearm and threatened the victims. The suspects took the victims’ cell phones and ran…… MORE
By 25 News NORMAL – The McLean County Libertarian Party has adopted a resolution claiming the Normal’s Town Council’s refusal to allow a recreational use cannabis dispensary runs counter to free market economic principles. The council Monday night voted 6-1 against allowing business owners to turn a Chinese restaurant into the High Haven dispensary near College…… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – A District 87 board member has officially resigned after his conviction and sentencing for repeat drunk driving. Superintendant Dr. David Mouser says that during the current 2022-2023 school year, Fitzgerald Samedy attended two meetings – in August and November. He pleaded guilty December 2022 to aggravated DUI and driving with a revoked…… MORE
The Bed Bath & Beyond stores in Peoria and Normal will soon close.… MORE
By 25 News GRIDLEY – A food and ingredient manufacturing company with a facility in Gridley pleaded guilty February 3 to a charge that it manufactured breakfast cereal under insanitary conditions that was linked to a salmonella outbreak in 2018. A release from the Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs says Kerry Inc. pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor…… MORE
By 25 News LIVINGSTON COUNTY – Only months after successfully prosecuting a high-profile triple murder case, Livingston County State’s Attorney Randy Yedinak will soon become a judge. The elected judges of the 11th Judicial Circuit picked Yedinak to become an associate judge for Livingston, McLean, Woodford, Logan and Ford Counties. Yedinak will replace Associate Judge…… 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…