District 87 students in grades 7-12 will continue full-time remote learning for the rest of the fall semester.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Drug trafficking charge filed against Peoria man arrested for pot possession at Twin-Cities airport
A Peoria man remained jailed Tuesday night in McLean County after prosecutors said police found almost 26 pounds of marijuana in his luggage at Central Illinois Regional Airport.… MORE
44 new COVID cases in McLean County
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – McLean County’s rolling positivity rate jumped a whole percentage point Wednesday as local health officials reported 44 new cases of coronavirus. The county’s rolling positivity rate is 4.9%, according to McLean County Health Department Administrator Jessica McKnight. There are 11 people currently hospitalized and 304 are isolating at home.…… MORE
Library set to re-open with new visitor policies
The Normal Public Library is officially reopening Wednesday, with some changes to what visitors can expect.… MORE
State’s corn and soybean harvests roughly halfway complete
Possible frost in the forecast might be incentive for Illinois farmers to step it up in the fields.… MORE
Victim identified in Bloomington shooting
The victim in Monday’s shooting in Bloomington has been identified.… MORE
Construction underway for a new exhibit at Miller Park Zoo
Construction is now underway at Miller Park Zoo for a new monkey exhibit.… MORE
3 more COVID-related deaths in McLean County
The McLean County Health Department Tuesday reported three additional coronavirus-related deaths.… MORE
Swimming pool, trail upgrades win Bloomington City Council backing
The Bloomington City Council is willing to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars on a pair of projects to upgrade recreational facilities.… MORE
BPD: Three in critical condition after shooting on west side
Bloomington Police are investigating a shooting that happened Monday afternoon in the 1600 block of Iowa Street.… 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…