7th grade students at Blue Ridge Intermediate and Junior High School in Mansfield will return to remote learning for the rest of the week due to COVID-19.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Fines paid by Bloomington COVID violators to help city’s needy
The City of Bloomington is working with District 87 schools to provide some financial help for the needy.… MORE
First COVID-19 vaccines administered at OSF in Peoria
Health care workers at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria were some of the first to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Illinois.… MORE
Barickman and local restaurant owners want public hearings on COVID-19 mitigation plans
State Sen. Jason Barickman and local restaurant owners gathered Tuesday to discuss the impact of Gov. JB Pritzker’s executive orders in response to COVID-19.… MORE
Sen. Durbin proposes a $748 billion COVID stimulus
As finger-pointing continues in Congress about a second COVID-19 stimulus bill, Illinois’ senior U.S. Senator is taking things into his own hands in hopes American’s get relief before Christmas.… MORE
ISU names four finalists for athletic director position
The search committee for the next athletic director at Illinois State University has announced four finalists for the position.… MORE
4 additional COVID-related deaths reported in McLean County
Local health officials Tuesday reported four more coronavirus-related deaths as the number of McLean County residents hospitalized nearly doubled. … MORE
Council meeting gets heated in Bloomington discussing immigration legislation
The Bloomington City Council voted 7-2 to back further consideration of the ‘Welcoming America’ ordinance, but it didn’t go without drama.… MORE
IDPH reports 7,214 new cases of coronavirus
The Illinois Department of Public Health Monday reported 7,214 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus and 103 additional deaths.… MORE
ISU trustees approve COVID-19 testing contract, external search firm for new president
Illinois State University trustees met Saturday and approved a contract for processing COVID-19 tests during the spring semester.… 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…