Hundreds of motorcycles roared through Springfield Sunday morning for an annual observance of 9-11: the “Ride to Remember,” starting at the Harley-Davidson dealership in town and ending at the 9-11 memorial on the Capitol grounds.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Plans for first cannabis dispensary on Monday’s Bloomington city council agenda
Bloomington will have its first cannabis dispensary if the city council approves the request Monday night.… MORE
Pandemic continues to impact the ag industry
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted farmers across the country, including right here in Illinois.… MORE
From rules to consequences: What Bloomington businesses are facing
Cadillac Jacks in Bloomington is the first business to face the possibility of fines or potentially the loss of its liquor license.… MORE
Bloomington man scammed after scammers pose as Bloomington Police
Bloomington Police are warning the public about a phone scam popping up in the community.… MORE
Police probe theft at Bloomington pawn shop
Bloomington police are asking for the public’s help to identify two suspects who stole multiple gold coins from a pawn shop.… MORE
Donation aims to keep McLean County businesses safe from COVID-19
Businesses in McLean County wanting to be COVID-compliant won’t have to go far to find protect face coverings.… MORE
No bond for Bloomington man charged with domestic violence
A Bloomington man is jailed without bond after authorities say he held a lit butane torch to a woman’s face and threatened her with a knife.… MORE
2 cases of Legionnaires’ disease reported at Pontiac Correctional Center
The Illinois Department of Corrections and Department of Public Health are investigating two cases of Legionnaires’ disease at the Pontiac Correctional Center. … MORE
Positivity rate drops, McLean County remains at warning level for COVID
The McLean County Health Department Friday reported 105 new cases of coronavirus as the county will remain on the state’s warning list for COVID.… 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…