By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts is hosting a free Family Day event on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the North Pavilion in Tipton Park. Activities slated for the family fun day include The Unique Twist balloon artists, an inflatable obstacle course and other games. Program Manager…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-The latest gas report from GasBuddy shows Illinois gasoline prices increase in the past week. According to GasBuddy, prices are up 19.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $4.60 per gallon. In the latest report, the cheapest station in the state is priced at $3.93, while the most expensive was…… MORE
By Dave Dahl PEORIA – There’s more to “climate change” than you might have known. “Climate change has local impacts, primarily,” says state climatologist Trent Ford. “That sort of thing, what climate change means for Peoria, means for central Illinois, means for the Quad Cities – that’s not studied at the federal level. That has…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Normal native Leah Marlene has advanced to the Top Five after Sunday night’s episode of ‘American Idol.’ Marlene sang ‘Electric Love’ by American singer-songwriter Børns and ‘Sanctuary’ by the cast of Nashville, moving on after viewers voted for her to continue on her journey. Seven-time Grammy winning artist and producer…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – State Farm Insurance is raising auto rates again in Illinois, but the Bloomington company said rates are still cheaper than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. State Farm said it’s filed for a 3% rate hike taking effect June 13, following a 5% increase announced in late February. Together, the…… MORE
By HOI ABC CARLOCK – Fire ripped through a large metal shed in rural Carlock Thursday afternoon destroying several vehicles inside. Several area departments were called to aid the Carlock Fire Protection District in fighting the blaze at 8540 U.S. Route 150, about 1 1/2-miles east of Carlock. The call came in about 12:55 p.m.…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The singing sensation from Normal, Illinois is nearing closer to the top spot on American Idol. Leah Marlene is in the Top 7 of the singing competition, and hopes to continue her run into the Top 5 and beyond. The golden ticket was put in Marlene’s hand nearly two months…… MORE
The Illinois Community College Board is announcing a new grant that will bolster a program for African American students.… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Illinois State Police issued a public safety announcement Thursday morning alerting the public of an escaped individual who is possibly located in Woodford County. Police say he is considered a danger to himself and others. Javier Aguirre, a 47-year-old man from Hoopestown, escaped from a hospital transport van around 11:20…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington Police officer rescued a man from a burning west side home Wednesday evening. The man is hospitalized with burns, but the officer is fine, according to Bloomington Police Lt. Clayton Arnold. Bloomington Fire Department Battalion Chief Gavin Pitcher said firefighters saw fire and smoke coming from the back…… 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…