Local high schoolers spoke in opposition of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s Veto of the Gun Dealers Licensing Act at the Stand Up for Social Justice vigil outside the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Council candidate Carrillo sees her place among bold, progressive women
Progressive organizer Jenn Carrillo said she’s taking on the exciting, yet scary step of running for political office.… MORE
City suspends CJ’s liquor license for failing to pay local taxes and fees
Troubles continue to pile up for a well-known Bloomington restaurant. Bloomington’s liquor commission has suspended the liquor license for CJ’s Restaurant and Catering, located in the old terminal at Central Illinois Regional Airport.… MORE
Benecke named LIFE CIL director
The LIFE Center for Independent Living has named a woman with a long history with the organization as its next executive director.… MORE
Normal Fire Department honors life-saving citizens
The Normal Fire Department is recognizing three people who saved the life of a man who had a heart attack at the corner of Veterans Parkway and College Avenue last December.… MORE
Bloomington adopts $210 million budget
The City of Bloomington has used a combination of fee increases and other cuts to balance its budget.… MORE
Coroner: Tazewell County man dies of suspected synthetic drug use
A Tazewell County man was reportedly become the third person in Illinois to die from the use of synthetic marijuana.… MORE
Gregory Street in Normal to close
Gregory Street between Cottage Avenue and Parkside Road will be closed to through traffic from Wednesday through Friday.… MORE
Worried about water quality, city orders removal of some Lake Bloomington boat docks
Property owners crowded into city council chambers Monday night to save their boat docks at Lake Bloomington, but they weren’t pleased with the outcome.… MORE
Council narrowly agrees to work with Normal on sports complex study
Bloomington is joining Normal in paying a consultant to study the feasibility and economic impact of a multi-sports complex at a yet-to-be determined McLean County site… 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…