The national spelling bee winner crowned Thursday night spent most of his grade school years in Normal.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Grossinger Motors Arena sees yearly deficit, fourth quarter profit
Despite a profitable fourth quarter for Grossinger Motors Arena, the VenuWorks-operated arena saw an overall loss for fiscal year 2018.… MORE
Six Points Road in Bloomington to close
Six Points Road in Bloomington between Longden Avenue and Timbers Court will be closed to thru traffic on Tuesday at 8 a.m. while a contractor installs a new water main on Szarek Drive.… MORE
Mulberry Street in Normal to close
Beginning Monday at 7 a.m., Mulberry Street from Linden Street to Constitution Trail Boulevard will be closed for sanitary sewer replacement. … MORE
Willow Street in Normal to close
The westbound lane of Willow Street, between Fell Avenue and School Street, will be closed for sewer repairs starting Monday, weather permitting.… MORE
State lawmakers approve TIF extension for Uptown Normal
The Town of Normal will get the extension it wants for the tax increment financing district for Uptown development.… MORE
Gibson City man gets 20 years for stabbing wife, another man in Saybrook
One of the victims of an attempted murder in Saybrook almost two years ago described what he said was a “nightmarish bloodbath.” The man who pleaded guilty to the crime was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison.… MORE
Labor leader wants local workers used in TIF developments
A local labor leader wants future tax increment financing districts in Bloomington to require developers to use union workers.… MORE
Illinois lawmakers ratify Equal Rights Amendment, Senate passes balanced budget
It was a momentous night for the Illinois General Assembly on Wednesday. Illinois became the 37th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment on the same evening the Illinois Senate passed a balanced budget for the new fiscal year.
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ISU’s Yarbrough admits failing to appear in court, awaits reckless conduct trial
Illinois State University basketball player Milik Yarbrough has pleaded guilty to a petty charge of failing to appear in McLean County Court for a traffic offense, but Yarbrough still has to answer to a misdemeanor charge in an unrelated case.… 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…