As the community gathers later this week for a vigil to honor a victim of domestic violence, Bloomington Police Chief Brendan Heffner said he worries for every case reported, many are not.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Schooners to reopen kitchen this week
The home of ‘wings and rings’ will soon be grilling up your favorites again.… MORE
Christensen murder trial set for 2019
The man accused of kidnapping and killing a Chinese scholar in Champaign will be heading to trial in April 2019.… MORE
Walgreens unveils new medication disposal kiosks
There’s a new approach to combating the opioid epidemic in the Twin Cities.… MORE
Bloomington council won’t privatize garbage pickup
Bloomington aldermen have chosen not to investigate privatizing solid waste pick-up to see if it might help close a $2.9 million budget gap.… MORE
Bloomington aldermen hire consultant to perform city manager search
Bloomington aldermen have decided to conduct a national search for the next city manager even though the man serving in an interim capacity has won over some city leaders.… MORE
Emotions run high as council blasts Renner’s tactics in ‘welcoming city’ debate
The debate over a ‘welcoming city’ ordinance intended to protect undocumented immigrants in Bloomington may have severed any goodwill that existed between Mayor Tari Renner and aldermen reluctant to enact the resolution.… MORE
Normal announces community garden registration and renewals
The Town of Normal will open registration for its two organic community gardens at on March 13 at 8:30 a.m. for Normal residents only. Non-residents may begin on March 15 at 8:30 a.m.… MORE
BPD releases suspect description in pizza delivery heist
Police have released a description of a suspect who robbed a pizza delivery driver on Friday night.… MORE
Bloomington fire caused $650,000 in damages; victims helped by ‘overwhelming’ donations
Bloomington fire investigators say a blaze to a 12-unit apartment building on Bloomington’s east side Saturday caused $650.000 in damages, while they say they still don’t know what caused the fire.… 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…