Visitors to the Old State Capitol in Springfield will soon see a reminder of two times Barack Obama made history there… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
14th annual St. Jude Radiothon ongoing at Radio Bloomington
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON- The St. Jude Radiothon has returned to Radio Bloomington airwaves today (Feb 10) and tomorrow (Feb 11) to raise money to help pay for childhood cancer treatment and research. The two-day event raised $91,426 in 2021, and St. Jude is seeking your help with donations during this year’s Radiothon. Breaking ground…… MORE
Unit 5 School Board keeps mask mandate in place
By HOI ABC NORMAL – The mask mandate remains in place for McLean County’s largest school district. The Unit 5 School Board is not ready to make mask wearing optional in the district, defying demands from some community members after a Sangamon County judge issued a temporary restraining order last week making Gov. JB Pritzker’s…… MORE
McLean County man charged with harassing jurors in his domestic violence trial
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – McLean County prosecutors contend a Heyworth man on trial for domestic battery went to extraordinary and illegal lengths to convince a jury that he’s not guilty. Prosecutors on Wednesday filed 14 charges, 13 of them felonies, against Steve Abdullah. Authorities say Abdullah and his wife, who is the alleged victim…… MORE
Bill aiming to protect young sexual assault victims in court crafted by area lawmaker, local prosecutor
A Central Illinois lawmaker and McLean County’s chief prosecutor hope to protect all minor victims of sexual assault when they appear in court.… MORE
Lincoln man dies after accident at Sam’s Club in Normal
A Lincoln man was killed early Wednesday morning in an accident at the Sam’s Club loading dock.… MORE
Congressman Davis: Lifting of the mask mandate is ‘way past time’
As the state is set to lift the mask mandate at the end of the month, a central Illinois Congressman said the move was needed a long time ago.… MORE
Two Bloomington men behind bars after a domestic dispute
Two Bloomington men remain behind bars at the McLean County Jail after a domestic dispute.… MORE
Lane reduction in Normal for water improvements
By WJBC Staff NORMAL – Beginning Wednesday, at the intersection of College Avenue and Towanda Avenue there will be lane reductions in the north lane of westbound College and the west lane of southbound Towanda. The lane reductions are for water distribution system improvements. Drivers are urged to use caution when traveling through the area.…… MORE
U.S. Transportation Secretary to visit Bloomington-Normal
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is coming to Bloomington-Normal this weekend to highlight work the Department of Transportation is doing to make electric vehicles more accessible to more Americans. According to a news release, that includes launching a new Rural EV Toolkit and announcing historic infrastructure funding under the bipartisan infrastructure law.…… 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…