Illinois State Police say the roads are passable but add drivers need to slow down.… MORE
Category Archives: Police and Fire
Rantoul man pleads guilty to drug-induced Bloomington homicide
McLean County prosecutors have agreed to limit the sentence of a Champaign County man to a maximum 14 years in prison for his guilty plea to a drug-induced homicide that happened here in March.… MORE
Ex-local prosecutor leads federal case after Bloomington drug raids
The U.S. Attorney’s office has charged two local men with conspiring to distribute crack cocaine in the Bloomington area, and a former McLean County assistant state’s attorney is leading the government’s case against the pair.… MORE
Normal Council okays land sale for future northeast fire station
Normal Town Council members took the first step Monday night toward relocating a fire station across Veteran’s Parkway to a residential area on Normal’s northeast side, despite objections from some homeowners there.… MORE
Normal eyes some property tax relief amid pension stress
After a big jump in property taxes this year, the Town of Normal is trying to provide some relief despite continuing pressure to fund pension plans for police and firefighters.… MORE
UPDATED: High bond for suspected dealer after Bloomington drug raids
A McLean County judge has set a high bond for one of four local men arrested early Friday after Bloomington Police and federal investigators conducted a series of drug raids in the city.… MORE
Normal sees northeast move for fire department to Hershey Road site
The Town of Normal would buy property on the northeast side of town to build a fire station there under a proposal to be considered Monday night by the town council.… MORE
Drug bust ends a three month long investigation
A three month long investigation ended Friday morning as the Bloomington Police Department’s Vice Unit busted up a powder and crack cocaine distribution operation.… MORE
Love conquers hate: Bloomington-Normal remembers the dead from Pittsburgh’s synagogue massacre
It was as if the slaughter of 11 Jews at a Pittsburgh synagogue last Saturday happened next door.… MORE
Three retired Catholic priests removed from ministry on sex abuse allegations
The Catholic Diocese of Peoria, which covers McLean County, is ordering three retired priests to step down from public ministry due to what it said were “credible allegations” of sexual abuse of a minor.… 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…