McLean County has seen such a surge in cases, its contract tracers are no longer able to keep up.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Illinois State University to adapt U. of I. testing
While Coronavirus cases continue to rise at Illinois State University, the campus will soon get a helping hand from a neighbor 53 miles from campus.… MORE
146 new COVID cases in McLean County; More ISU students test positive
McLean County’s rolling positivity rate continues to rise as local health officials Monday reported 146 new cases of COVID-19.… MORE
Two events, one city – Bloomington home to Back the Blue and Black Lives Matter Rally
Union Park in Bloomington was the center of two different rally’s on Sunday, both with different messages.… MORE
ISU athletic director apologizes to student-athletes for saying ‘All Redbird Lives Matter’
Student-athletes at Illinois State University said in their annual meeting with Athletic Director, Larry Lyons, on Wednesday, he brought up the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement and said during the meeting, “All Redbird Lives Matter.”… MORE
Bloomington man gets 50-years in prison for fatal 2019 shooting
A convicted killer from Bloomington was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison for a fatal shooting last year on the city’s east side.… MORE
Normal mayor issues two emergency orders to prevent spread of COVID-19
Normal Mayor Chris Koos issued two emergency orders Friday that limits gatherings in/around Illinois State University to 10 people or less and requires customers of establishments with liquor licenses to be seated to be served.… MORE
Corn Belt Energy sends crews to assist with Hurricane Laura
Crews from Corn Belt Energy are departing for Louisiana to assist with Hurricane Laura storm restoration efforts.… MORE
ISU’s police chief says lives are at stake if police are defunded
While protesters call for police defunding, Illinois State Universities Police Chief says lives are at stake if police personnel budgets are limited.… MORE
ISU, IWU report more coronavirus cases
College students in Bloomington-Normal continue to test positive for COVID-19.… 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…