By 25 News NORMAL – It’s up to the local government whether Normal will soon get its second dispensary selling cannabis for recreational use. Normal’s Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing next Thursday, Jan. 19 to consider a special use permit for a dispensary where the Mandarin Garden Restaurant now stands on…… MORE
By 25 News PEORIA – The reported victim in a gang-related shooting a year ago in Bloomington is himself going to prison for trying to hide evidence in his mouth when he was in the hospital. U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid sentenced Javares Hudson, 22, of Bloomington to two-years and nine-months in a federal…… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – State Farm Insurance has selected India-based HCLTech to assume its day-to-day IT help desk and infrastructure services work. Beginning this year, HCLTech will manage hardware, infrastructure software, and network connections support for State Farm, the insurer said. State Farm says it did not make this decision lightly. Both companies say employees at…… MORE
By 25 News NORMAL – In the face of a $12 million deficit, the McLean County Unit 5 school board has approved a ballot question to ask voters on increasing the tax rate – again. In November, Unit 5 voters decided not to increase taxes for the education fund, but the board says the feedback…… MORE
Illinois State Police are investigating a fatal crash involving a semi and a motorcycle.… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – On-campus housing for first-year students is about to undergo a $16.5 million renovation at Illinois Wesleyan University. Munsell and Ferguson Halls will be getting the upgrades this summer thanks to the family of the late B. Charles Ames, from Wesleyan’s Class of 1950 and Joyce Ames from the Class of…… MORE
By 25 News NORMAL – Facing a nearly $12 million structural deficit in 2023, McLean County Unit 5 is going to try again to put a question raising the existing property tax on the ballot. In a statement, the district says that Unit 5 maintains the lowest education fund tax rate of all the neighboring districts. Despite…… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – If you need a bus ride around the Twin Cities, you may soon be able to get one for free. Connect Transit, Bloomington-Normal’s public transit system, is considering a proposal to eliminate bus fares entirely, thanks to $28 million in state and federal grants that can offset the possible deficit…… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Police sergeants and lieutenants will receive pay raises, and they’ll have to submit to random drug and alcohol testing each year under terms of a new, four-year union contract. The deal approved unanimously Monday night by the Bloomington City Council calls for the 21 union members to get 2.5%…… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Local Republican leaders have chosen who will replace outgoing State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington). Barickman chose to resign after winning re-election in the new 53rd District. Current 106th State Rep. Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City) will now take his place, receiving 87% of the vote from party chairmen. Normal Town Council…… 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…