The railroad quiet zone in Normal is temporarily suspended while crews continue to repair damage from the train derailment earlier this month.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
LeRoy community mourns loss of football coach
Unique and hardworking is how head coach B.J. Zeleznik describes 28-year-old Jordan Reinhart.… MORE
40 new cases of coronavirus reported in McLean County
McLean County’s rolling positivity rate inched up to 3.1% as local health officials Tuesday reported 40 new cases of coronavirus.… MORE
McLean County announces new dates for COVID-19 vaccine clinics canceled last week
The McLean County Health Department has received last week’s shipment of COVID-19 vaccines which got delayed by winter weather.… MORE
LaHood heading to Washington hoping to secure more vaccines and funding
Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-18) toured Grossinger Motors Arena vaccine distribution center Monday afternoon before his trip to Washington DC and said his top priority headed there is securing more vaccines.… MORE
Bloomington’s mayor blasts blogger’s claims of police misconduct
Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner is angrily denying claims city leaders covered up alleged misconduct by a former police officer.… MORE
Double murder suspect found guilty after two week bench trial in Bloomington
A man has been found guilty of murder in a 2018 shooting outside an apartment in Bloomington. … MORE
Town sets date for Sugar Creek Arts Festival
Annual events around the Twin-Cities have been on hold due to the ongoing pandemic, but there is some hope in the coming months.… MORE
Panel of tourism and hospitality professionals urges state senators to get Illinois moving
A Senate committee hearing gave the hotel and restaurant people of Illinois another chance to air out their complaints.… MORE
MCHD reports 62 new cases of coronavirus
McLean County has added 62 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday, according to the health department.… 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…