A semi-trailer truck struck and killed a Bloomington man early Sunday while he was walking along Interstate 74 near Farmer City. … MORE
Category Archives: Local News
McLean County Health Department warns of teen vaping this summer
Now that school’s out for the summer in most Central Illinois communities, McLean County health officials want to educate parents about something their children might experiment with in their down time – e-cigarettes.… MORE
OSF Life Flight shifting one aircraft to Bloomington full-time
A medical helicopter is staying in Bloomington on a full-time basis to improve the availability of emergency air service.… MORE
E-waste recycling sites dwindle in McLean County
Recent law changes will result in the Town of Normal having only one electronic waste recycling center.… MORE
Fire damages Stanford home during Friday night storm
A Stanford home was damaged by fire during a rain storm Friday evening, but the fire department is not revealing a cause.… MORE
Prosecutor: Normal West teen killed in crash may have run a red light
Authorities have completed the investigation into a crash in early March that claimed the life of Normal West High School student Olivia Sonetz, and evidence shows the Bloomington teenager may have run a red light, while the other driver was allegedly speeding.… MORE
Museum of History dedicates garden to Illinois bicentennial
Red, white, and blue flowers on the four corners of the McLean County Museum of History have been dedicated to Illinois’ bicentennial celebration.… MORE
Young girl bullied, injured at daycare in Bloomington
The parents of a young girl are sharing their story after they say a bully hurt their daughter at a local daycare.… MORE
Bloomington-Normal jobless rate reaches 18-year low
Bloomington-Normal lost 600 jobs over the last year, but the local unemployment rate still dropped to its lowest level since 2000.… MORE
Road in Ellsworth to close
Construction will be on Holder Ellsworth Road between 2800 East and Ellsworth roads on Friday through July 6.… 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…