By WJBC Staff CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker and State Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike on Thursday announced new vaccination requirements and reimplemented a statewide indoor mask mandate for all Illinois residents, regardless of vaccination status. All healthcare workers, including nursing home employees, all pre-k-12 teachers and staff, as well as higher education personnel…… MORE
By HOI ABC SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker is expected to announce a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for all K-12 teachers and staff. The same mandate will apply to college professors and staff in Illinois. A source with knowledge of the announcement confirmed this with WEEK’s Capitol Bureau Chief Mike Miletich. The deadline for educators to get…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – McLean County health officials say a majority of the new COVID-19 cases locally are kids and young adults. The health department on Wednesday reported 395 new cases over the last week. Here’s the weekly age breakdown for the new cases, according to MCHD: 0-11: 39 12-17: 39 18-19: 32 20s:…… MORE
Due to COVID-19, the 2021 Day of the Dozer event at the McLean County Fairgrounds is postponed.… MORE
After a lengthy nationwide search, Bloomington has named a new top cop to lead the law enforcement agency.… MORE
Flu shots are now being offered at Hy-Vee Pharmacy locations around the nation, including the twin cities.… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – More businesses and organizations are mandating the COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, the is no vaccine requirement for employees who work for the City of Bloomington. City Manager Tim Gleason says things could change if the numbers get worse. “I’m hoping that I do not get to a point to where we have to…… MORE
By HOI ABC SPRINGFIELD – A Peoria native is the second Democrat to announce a challenge to 13th District Republican Congressman Rodney Davis. Nikki Budzinski is a labor activist, former senior advisor to Gov. JB Pritzker, and most recently worked at the Office of Management and Budget in the Biden Administration. “Rodney Davis isn’t getting the…… MORE
Car theft is rising in the twin cities, and a spokesperson for Normal Police says it’s partially due to keys being left in cars.… MORE
One of the largest Corvette shows in the world is returning to its roots in the Twin Cities.… 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…