Bloomington police are investigating an early morning report of gunshots just east of downtown.… MORE
Category Archives: Police and Fire
Blazes keep firefighters busy in rural Bloomington and Dwight
Area fire departments were busy battling three major fires late Sunday afternoon and into the evening hours.… MORE
State Police release Memorial Day weekend enforcement results
State Police have released the result of the Memorial Day weekend enforcement campaign.… MORE
BPD arrest man for alleged meth delivery
Bloomington Police have arrested a Bloomington man for allegedly delivering narcotics.… MORE
Gibson City man gets 20 years for stabbing wife, another man in Saybrook
One of the victims of an attempted murder in Saybrook almost two years ago described what he said was a “nightmarish bloodbath.” The man who pleaded guilty to the crime was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison.… MORE
Dixon school shooting hero says schools need support
The resource officer that shot an alleged school shooter in Dixon was honored at the Illinois Capitol on Wednesday.… MORE
ISU’s Yarbrough admits failing to appear in court, awaits reckless conduct trial
Illinois State University basketball player Milik Yarbrough has pleaded guilty to a petty charge of failing to appear in McLean County Court for a traffic offense, but Yarbrough still has to answer to a misdemeanor charge in an unrelated case.… MORE
Alderman sees ‘harmony’ as council adopts civilian police board rules
Almost a year ago, one of the most contentious issues in Bloomington was the creation of a civilian police board. Tuesday night, Bloomington aldermen approved rules for the seven-member Public Safety and Community Relations Board, and brochures that are being distributed to the public.… MORE
Bloomington PD investigates donut shop robbery
Police have released a description of a man suspected of robbing a donut shop over the weekend.… MORE
Three hurt as farm tractor, two other vehicles crash on Yuton Blacktop
A three-vehicle crash Sunday involving a farm tractor on the Yuton Blacktop just northwest of Normal left three people hurt.… 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…