As people tend their gardens and visit Farmer’s Markets, there are important things to remember to stay safe and healthy to enjoy these coming summer months.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Illinois surrounded by states with legal fireworks
The cost of getting fireworks in any of Illinois’ neighboring states depends on what kind of buy-one, get-one sales that fireworks stands are running. In Illinois, the cost of getting fireworks could land you behind bars.… MORE
Danvers Town Band introduces summer concert series
Sounds of the Summer will hit the streets of Danvers, as the Danvers Town Band introduced their summer concert series.… MORE
County board’s Rankin sees Knapp and Woods ‘rising to the top’ in state’s attorney’s search
A McLean County Board member is revealing a couple of the leading candidates being considered to replace State’s Attorney Jason Chambers, who’s leaving his job in August to become a circuit judge… MORE
Three endangered Red Wolves born at Miller Park Zoo
Zoogoers in Bloomington now have the chance to see new born pups that were once endangered.… MORE
Annual Spanish convention set to bring $1 million to local economy
More than a million dollars of economy boost will come to the ‘Twin-Cities’ this weekend when the Jehovah’s Witness welcomes all to the 2018 “Be courageous”! Spanish Regional Convention.… MORE
BPD’s Wheeler speaks out on officers’ stress, pain of grieving families
A pair of shootings that left five people dead and three others wounded over an eight day period has taken its toll on Bloomington Police, but the department’s new chief said the stress his officers have experienced is nothing compared to the suffering of grieving family members and friends.… MORE
Community leaders honored for making history in McLean County
The McLean County Museum of History honored the community’s history makers for the seventh year Thursday night, and the latest honorees included a local broadcasting legend and a former Twin-Cities mayor.… MORE
Economic Development Council announces gain of 500 jobs during first quarter
Despite the lack of a Farm Bill to promote job creation locally, Bloomington-Normal added 500 jobs in the first quarter this year.… MORE
Crowd gathers in Uptown Normal calling for families to remain united at the border
Protesters circled Uptown Normal this afternoon to call on legislative leaders to enact laws that keep illegal immigrant families together.… 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…