A Bloomington man arrested on child molestation allegations is a convicted killer. It was revealed in McLean County Court on Thursday that Andre Banks, 53, was convicted in a 1990 Cook County murder case.
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Category Archives: Police and Fire
Car-semi crash kills Saybrook woman and her cousin
Two cousins, one of them from McLean County, were killed late Thursday morning in a crash between a car and a semi in southern Ford County.… MORE
Normal considering officer representation on new police board
Normal’s police board will be in place in the coming weeks, according to City Manager Mark Peterson, although it’s not known yet if the so-called Community Policing Culture Board will be an entirely civilian panel.… MORE
Man whose gun didn’t go off in north Normal indicted for murder attempt
A Logan County man accused of trying to shoot someone in North Normal a couple of weeks ago now faces an attempted murder charge. … MORE
Bloomington man charged with sexual assault and abuse of minor
A nearly two-month-long investigation has led to sexual assault and abuse charges against a Bloomington man.… MORE
Local man and juvenile arrested for alleged rape at hotel in Normal
Normal Police have arrested a local man and a juvenile boy for allegedly trying to sexually assault a young woman in a car, then raping her at a hotel in early November.… MORE
Tazewell County crash victim still critical after 7 1/2 hours of surgery
A young Central Illinois woman, badly hurt when her car collided with a box truck in eastern Tazewell County, remains in critical condition at Peoria’s OSF St. Francis Medical Center. However, Jamie Schick’s family is hopeful for her recovery after 7 1/2 hours of surgery on Friday.… MORE
Snow makes driving dangerous to begin holiday weekend, brutal cold to follow
Mother Nature is offering a repeat performance from a week ago when Central Illinois received a White Christmas followed by frigid temperatures.… MORE
Bloomington woman’s family offers thanks, requests privacy
The family of Carmon Edwards is expressing gratitude to all who helped find the Bloomington woman who disappeared on Christmas Day.… MORE
UPDATE: Woman badly hurt in Tazewell County crash
A young woman is in critical condition after a crash between her car and a box truck in eastern Tazewell County on Wednesday.… 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…