State health officials Wednesday reported 9,757 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus and 238 additional deaths.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
House GOP ask Madigan to resign, Durkin wants to be speaker
Four defendants indicted for allegedly trying to bribe House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) have pleaded not guilty.… MORE
Trying to play college hoops amid COVID-19
College basketball is underway across the country, but COVID-19 hasn’t made things easy, especially in Bloomington-Normal.… MORE
Local man faces lengthy prison sentence for child molestation
A man from Normal has pleaded guilty to committing multiple sex crimes against a child.… MORE
2 more COVID-related deaths in McLean County; 97% of local hospital beds in use
Two additional McLean County residents have died from COVID-complications as local health officials Wednesday reported 90 new cases.… MORE
Central Illinois Regional Airport achieves perfect score as FAA conducts virtual inspections
Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington is celebrating a perfect inspection from the Federal Aviation Administration.… MORE
Former McLean County spokesperson files federal lawsuit against county alleging racial discrimination
A former McLean County spokesperson has filed a federal lawsuit against the county alleging racial discrimination.… MORE
State Rep. Brady: Bars and restaurants turning into “survival of the fittest”
As COVID-19 mitigations set forth by Gov. Pritzker continue to clamp down on bars and restaurants, it’s turning into “survival of the fittest,” according to one State Representative.… MORE
Cancer center opens at OSF St. Joseph
OSF St. Joseph Medical Center is opening a cancer center on its campus in Bloomington.… MORE
Who will get a coronavirus vaccine first?
With talk of a coronavirus vaccine becoming closer to reality, the question becomes – who gets it first?… 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…