McLean County Health officials Thursday reported three additional COVID-related deaths.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
District 87 set to honor late BHS swim coach
District 87 administrators believe they’ve come up with a way to forever remember a beloved Bloomington High School coach who died earlier this fall.… MORE
Unit 5 School Board fires teacher despite dismissal of child molestation charges
A long-time Unit 5 school teacher has been fired even though prosecutors earlier this year dismissed all child molestation charges against him.… MORE
Mother of Rica Rountree, attorneys plan to file lawsuits against Illinois, others in 8 year old’s death
The family of Rica Rountree and several attorneys plan to file state and federal lawsuits against state agencies and individuals who they say are responsible for the 8 year old’s death in 2019.… MORE
MCHD reports 117 new cases of COVID-19
McLean County Health officials announced 117 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, increasing the total county cases to 9,562.… MORE
Architect hired to design agriculture complex at Heartland Community College
An agriculture complex, with an estimated cost of almost $29 million, is a step closer to reality at Heartland Community College in Normal with the hiring of an architectural firm to do the design work.… MORE
Bloomington apartment building damaged in Wednesday morning blaze
A person was rescued from a balcony with a ladder during an apartment building fire Wednesday morning in Bloomington, according to authorities.… MORE
Bloomington mayor says he has tested positive for COVID-19
Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner says he has tested positive for COVID-19.… MORE
COVID vaccine could land in Illinois next week
The state’s trying to promote the coronavirus vaccine as a good thing.… MORE
ISU professor: Wind energy has been an economic boost in McLean County
McLean County is the top renewable energy producer in the state, according to a new study on the economic impact of wind and solar energy.… 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…