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
Category Archives: Local News
Apartment fire reveals strain on Bloomington rental inspection program
Bloomington city officials say the city has enough rental property inspectors, though they have struggled to keep up with the city’s goal of inspecting properties every three to four years.… MORE
Bloomington Edge educates public on football concussions
The Bloomington Edge is trying to inform the public about athletic related concussions.… MORE
Chicago man gets prison time for defrauding State Farm
An accomplice to former McLean County Board Chairman Matt Sorensen in a fraud case against State Farm is headed to prison.… MORE
District 87 rejects pleas from students, fires teacher who narrowly lost 2017 Normal mayor race
What a parent described as a public relations nightmare, the District 87 School Board fired Bloomington High School physics teacher Marc Tiritilli after students pleaded with board members to save his job.… MORE
Unit 5 approves roof renovations, examines holiday name change
Upgraded roofs are in the future for a number of Unit 5 schools.… MORE
Bloomington-Normal students take part in anti-gun walkout
More than 300 students took part in a 17-minute rally outside Normal Community High School on Wednesday morning as part of a national school walkout to protest gun violence.… MORE
McLean sees slight drop in county health rankings
McLean County dropped slightly in the annual health rankings.… MORE
Rep. Davis welcomes walkouts: Students ‘deserve to be heard’
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, said he welcomes students engaging in a national protest against gun violence on Wednesday even if he opposes one of its main themes, more gun control.… MORE
Blood drive to honor 9-year-old battling brain tumor
Every two seconds in the United States someone is in need of blood, according to the American Red Cross.… 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…