Miller Park Zoo’s pair of North American River Otters, “Tallulah” and “Ozzie,” are the parents of two male pups born at the facility last month.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
State Farm cuts viewed as ‘minor setback’ for local housing market
The sky isn’t falling for the local housing market, according to the president of the Bloomington-Normal Association of Realtors, even as State Farm plans to cut nearly 900 information technology jobs in Bloomington.… MORE
Biss visits ISU College Democrats
Democratic candidate for Illinois governor Daniel Biss visited the Illinois State University campus Tuesday afternoon.… MORE
Bloomington police chief nominated for US Marshal
Bloomington Police Chief Brendan Heffner is President Trump’s choice to become U.S. Marshal for Central Illinois.… MORE
State Farm cuts nearly 900 IT jobs in Bloomington; some to be relocated
State Farm Insurance has notified its employees that 890 information technology jobs are being cut in Bloomington as part an ongoing restructuring of its IT department.… MORE
Oakland Avenue at Gridley Street to close
Effective Wednesday at 7 a.m., the intersection of Oakland Avenue and Gridley Street will be closed to all traffic due to sewer repair work.… MORE
Normal council boosts rates for key services, switches to monthly water bills
Residents in Normal will have to pay more for water and for the town to pick-up their garbage beginning April 1.… MORE
Local activist urges city to get tough on landlords who don’t repair property
A community activist is urging Bloomington city leaders to come down hard on landlords who don’t fix their property.… MORE
Brady: Government should stay out of youth athletics
While a bill in the House of Representatives seeks to ban children under the age of 12 from playing tackle football, State Senator Bill Brady doesn’t believe government has a place in youth athletics.… MORE
800 Block of Mercer Avenue closed
The City of Bloomington Water Department is making an emergency water main repair in the 800 block of Mercer Avenue between Kemmer Lane and Benjamin Lane. … 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…