A group of residents at The Loft Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Normal are filled with joy and letters after a post on Facebook asked for pen pals.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
YWCA launch’s new program to help formerly incarcerated women
This past week the YWCA in McLean County launched a new social enterprise program.… MORE
McLean County sees advantageous election judge surplus
McLean County has more election judges ready to help during the 2020 presidential election. The waitlist for registered judges has grown to over 100. The county uses over 400 judges each election cycle and can use the extra hands.… MORE
Coronavirus testing for ISU students
Students who live in on-campus housing at Illinois State University will soon be required to get tested for COVID-19.… MORE
15 new COVID cases in McLean County
The McLean County Health Department Monday reported 15 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the county total to 3,162.… MORE
School leaders in the Twin-Cities sound off on education’s key issues
Local education leaders spoke out during a forum Thursday night about such hot-button issues like diversity, inclusion, and social justice.… MORE
IHSA Director says he supports “Let Us Play” rallies
With coaches, players, and fans set to hold a rally in Springfield and Chicago this weekend to bring back high school sports, the top leader of the IHSA says he supports the movement.… MORE
WBRP Bed Blitz postponed due to COVID-19
The annual Bed Blitz event hosted by the West Bloomington Revitalization Project has been postponed due to COVID-19.… MORE
Judge sets bond for local man suspected of using butane torch in domestic violence case
A Bloomington man suspected of holding a lit butane torch to a woman’s face during a domestic violence attack earlier this month can be released from jail if he’s able to post bond.… MORE
MCHD reports 50 new COVID cases; 71 additional people recover
McLean County’s rolling positivity rate has decreased drastically over the last week, but local health officials said there is still community spread of the virus across all age ranges.… 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…