The McLean County Health Department is highlighting the AmeriCorps members serving the area during AmeriCorps week.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Yoga studio teaches mindfulness to educators
A local yoga studio is seeking to arm teachers with positive mental health practices that can be brought into the classroom.… MORE
ISU, IWU host Illinois Special Olympians striving to achieve their hoop dreams
While Peoria hosts the original March Madness, Bloomington-Normal is where hundreds of Illinois Special Olympians will see their hoop dreams come true this weekend. … MORE
Judge rejects nurse’s plea for lower bond in opioid patch case
A McLean County judge has refused to lower the bond for a nurse suspected of stealing painkilling opioid patches from patients at two local nursing homes last month.… MORE
As primary approaches, Ives ramps up attacks on Rauner
Conservative State Representative Jeanne Ives said it’s laughable that incumbent Governor Bruce Rauner is trying to link her to Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan.… MORE
Budget priorities debated as Bloomington seeks private help to fund BCPA
The role of government, especially during a budget crunch, played out this (last) week as the Bloomington City Council decided to work with private partners to help fund the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.… MORE
Livi Sonetz’ presence felt as Normal West softball teammates play home opener
People with heavy hearts and tear-filled eyes packed Maxwell Park Thursday for a ceremony to remember Normal West High School softball player Olivia Sonetz at the Wildcats’ home opener against Metamora.… MORE
Bloomington-Normal jobless rate remains lowest in state
By Greg Halbleib SPRINGFIELD – Bloomington-Normal continues to record the lowest unemployment rate in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports the Twin Cities jobless rate for January was 4.1 percent. It was 5.5 percent one year earlier. The department’s Bob Gough says Bloomington-Normal added 600 jobs during the year, and is one of 11…… MORE
Lovell named to head McLean County Museum of History
The new director of the McLean County Museum of History carries nearly two decades of museum experience to Bloomington. … MORE
District 87 to stay silent on reasons for firing Tiritilli
Rules about confidentiality prevent District 87 Superintendent Barry Reilly from discussing personnel issues, including the dismissal Wednesday night of Bloomington High School physics teacher Marc Tiritilli.… 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…