Category Archives: Local News

Corn Belt Energy celebrates 80th anniversary

Corn Belt Energy celebrates 80th anniversary

By Blake Haas BLOOMINGTON – Over 5,300 miles of power lines have helped serve the Central Illinois area over the years as Corn Belt Energy celebrated its 80th year in service on Friday. Since opening in 1938, Corn Belt Energy continues to serve over 36,000 households and over 18 counties in Central Illinois. Corn Belt…MORE

ISU professor provides small business tips

ISU professor provides small business tips

A local business professor says one of the most important things for small business owners is to know what they’re doing and to know how to tell employees what kind of work ethic they expect.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…