By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Helping kick off a series of legislative hearings about nursing homes – eighteen months into the pandemic – State Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) hardly sounded a vote of confidence. “We need to encourage more seniors to stay in their homes,” said Flowers. “The assisted living facilities (are) not a safe…… MORE
A 36-year old Wisconsin man remains behind bars in DeWitt County after leading multiple police agencies on a chase throughout DeWitt and Macon county.… MORE
As vaccine clinics return to Grossinger Motors Arena, the McLean County Health Department reports 84 new cases of COVID-19.… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Frontier Airlines started nonstop service to Las Vegas from the Bloomington airport last month, but that service is being suspended in October. Central Illinois Regional Airport executive director Carl Olson says the increased COVID-19 levels in Las Vegas hindered the amount of travelers, resulting in Frontier suspending the service. Central Illinois…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Several fights broke out earlier this week at Bloomington High School and the leader of District 87 says there “will be pretty severe disciplinary consequences.” Superintendent Dr. Barry Reilly says three separate incidents happened on Monday, with one of the fights causing an injury to the school resource officer.…… MORE
By HOI ABC NORMAL – The School Street Food Pantry, located in a church on Illinois State University’s campus, served a record number of students the past few weeks. “Right now, we’re serving between probably 100-120 students each week,” said Doris Groves, the chair of the pantry’s board. Groves said there could be a lot of reasons…… MORE
By RFD Radio BLOOMINGTON – We might have to wait until October for it to feel like fall across Illinois. State Climatologist Trent Ford says the 14-day outlook shows above normal temps for most of the state. “Low 80s to high 70s across the state and the kind of warm pattern we’ve seen over the last…… MORE
Illinois State University and Normal Police are addressing social media rumblings about attempted abductions near ISU’s campus.… MORE
Fall enrollment numbers are out, and Illinois Wesleyan University’s incoming class includes the most diverse class in school history.… MORE
The first full-battery electric R1T truck from Rivian Automotive is now on Illinois roadways after months of production delays.… 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…