A rural McLean County police officer charged with official misconduct wants a jury to decide his case.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Hate crime trial set Monday for Bloomington man charged with injuring marchers protesting George Floyd’s killing
A motorcyclist charged with hate crimes for allegedly driving through a crowd of protesters in Downtown Bloomington last year is scheduled to stand trial next week.… MORE
Serious crash between bicyclist and pickup truck in Bloomington
Bloomington police are investigating a serious crash that happened Thursday afternoon on the city’s east side.… MORE
McLean County adds 32 cases of coronavirus
Local health officials Thursday reported 32 new cases of coronavirus as the number of McLean County residents hospitalized went up to 58.… MORE
District 87 sees coronavirus increase in student population
Some school districts across central Illinois have seen an uptick in coronavirus cases among students.… MORE
ISU graduate workers approve strike authorization
Illinois State University issued a statement late Wednesday on the graduate workers’ strike authorization vote, indicating it believes the two sides can make progress on a contract.… MORE
Durkin: Supermajority Democrats are going back on their word to have a bipartisan redistricting process
Illinois Republicans say they do not trust the supermajority Democrats to do a fair job of redrawing legislative maps.… MORE
MCHD to offer evening and drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinics
To increase access to the COVID-19 vaccine, the McLean County Health Department will be offering evening clinic hours and its first drive-through clinic next week. … MORE
2 additional COVID-related deaths in McLean County
The McLean County Health Department Wednesday reported two more coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the number of lives lost to 216.… MORE
CIRA passenger numbers up 27% last month
A local airport says passenger numbers last month were the highest they’ve been since the start of the pandemic.… 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…