Category Archives: Local News

Central Illinois falls under Heat Advisory until Wednesday

Central Illinois falls under Heat Advisory until Wednesday

By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Highs in the upper 90s and heat index readings in the triple digits are expected over the next few days, making for dangerous heat. As a result of the heat, there is a Heat Advisory in effect from noon Monday until 8 p.m. Wednesday. Cooling centers have been opened throughout…MORE

Illinois gas prices up 18 cents over the week

Illinois gas prices up 18 cents over the week

By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Illinois gas prices continue to rise, up about 18 cents over the past week, averaging $5.62 a gallon. According to GasBuddy price reports, prices in the state are 79 cents higher than a month ago and $2.35 higher than a year ago. The national average has risen 15 cents per…MORE

Republican candidate for governor makes stop in Bloomington

Republican candidate for governor makes stop in Bloomington

By Dave Dahl BLOOMINGTON – The reported reboot of the Richard Irvin campaign looks a lot like how it started. The Aurora mayor and Republican gubernatorial candidate is back to telling people he is Democrats’ “worst nightmare.” Irvin, speaking with sheriffs in Bloomington Friday, is also back to saying he is intimidating Gov. JB Pritzker…MORE

ISU basketball legend visits local therapy clinic

ISU basketball legend visits local therapy clinic

By HOI ABC NORMAL – An Illinois State University basketball legend was in the Twin Cities Sunday to talk about the importance of a local therapy resource. Doug Collins, whose number 20 is retired by the Redbirds, held a special press conference at Marcfirst – an organization that specializes in speech & language, physical and…MORE

Volunteers needed for Special Olympics Illinois next weekend

Volunteers needed for Special Olympics Illinois next weekend

By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Thousands of Special Olympics athletes from across the state will be in Bloomington Normal to compete in the Special Olympics Illinois State Summer Games later this week. This annual event will be held predominately at Illinois State University with additional competition at Normal Community High School and Kingsley Junior High.…MORE

Global candymaker Ferrero North America set to announce another Bloomington expansion

Global candymaker Ferrero North America set to announce another Bloomington expansion

By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Global confectionery giant Ferrero North America will be expanding by building a production center at its existing Bloomington site. The company – known for making Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Tic Tac, and Kinder Joy – plans to unveil details of its expansion plans at a Monday news conference. An alert sent…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…