By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council Monday night unanimously approved a three-year contract with 107 union employees that will cost taxpayers almost $800,000 over the life of the deal. The contract covers employees in Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and other departments. They’ll receive a 3.5% raise the first year, a 3%…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 5.7 days suitable for field work during the week ending August 21, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 71.3 degrees, 2.5 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.89 inches, 0.11 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 7 percent very short, 20 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 5…… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – On a 5-4 vote, the Bloomington City Council Monday night signed off on an agreement to pay an engineering firm $750,000 for a Downtown Bloomington revitalization plan. It’s called a Streetscape design as Heart of Illinois ABC reported in late July and may lead to an estimated $25 million to $30 million…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Gas prices fell just a penny across the state as the latest gas report shows average prices in Illinois stand at $4.24. According to GasBuddy, prices in Illinois are 62.9 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand $1.02 a gallon higher than a year ago. The cheapest…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Fairgoers had a chance to put on some virtual reality goggles which are supposed to imitate the effects of having a .08 percent blood alcohol level. That’s too drunk to drive. Participants then attempted tasks which are seemingly simple – if you are sober. “Fatalities are up on…… MORE
By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Normal Police are investigating an armed robbery that happened Sunday night near Illinois State University. Authorities were called around 7 p.m. to the 707 Liquors and Mart at 315 West Beaufort Street. Police say a man in a ski mask pulled a knife on the store clerk and ran away…… MORE
By 25 News NORMAL – A challenge has been made to efforts aiming to create town council districts in Normal rather than the current system of council members representing the entire community. Normal resident Patrick J. Dullard has filed with the clerk’s office an objection to petitions calling for a voter referendum this November. Dullard…… MORE
A woman who co-founded the Multicultural Leadership Institute in the Twin-Cities is being honored as Normal’s Citizen of the Year.… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Kiddos are returning to school this week throughout the Twin City, and keeping them safe is a top priority. Under Illinois law, motorists are prohibited from driving faster than 20 mph while passing a school zone on a school day when children are present. Bloomington Police Department’s Public Information Officer,…… MORE
By 25 News NORMAL – McLean County’s largest school district will be asking voters’ permission this fall to raise property taxes to reduce multi-million dollar structural deficits in the education fund. The Unit 5 School Board voted unanimously Wednesday for a referendum that asks for an increase in the district’s tax rate to $3.60 per…… 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…