Category Archives: Police and Fire

BPD’s Wheeler speaks out on officers’ stress, pain of grieving families

BPD’s Wheeler speaks out on officers’ stress, pain of grieving families

Posted on June 29, 2018

A pair of shootings that left five people dead and three others wounded over an eight day period has taken its toll on Bloomington Police, but the department’s new chief said the stress his officers have experienced is nothing compared to the suffering of grieving family members and friends.… MORE

BPD’s Wheeler sees no link between Twin Cities multiple murders

BPD’s Wheeler sees no link between Twin Cities multiple murders

Posted on June 27, 2018

Bloomington’s police chief is assuring the public his department is doing everything in its power to solve the multiple murders that have happened in the city over an eight day period this month. So far, authorities have found no connection to what the chief described as horrific and senseless crimes.… 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…