A fire in the 1500 block of Hunt Drive last night left one person dead.… MORE
Category Archives: Police and Fire
Police discover ‘elaborate’ marijuana lab in Woodford County
Two men are in custody and police said there likely will be additional arrests after investigators said they uncovered an elaborate marijuana production lab in Woodford County.… MORE
Bloomington man charged in Wednesday night carjacking, armed robbery
Bloomington Police have arrested a local man who’s one of four suspects in a Wednesday night armed robbery and carjacking.… MORE
Husband of key state witness allowed to testify at Zimmerman murder trial
A judge issued a ruling Thursday in a high profile McLean County murder case, deciding to allow statements from the husband of a key prosecution witness, who placed the suspect at the crime scene.… MORE
Champaign creates police review board
One week after Bloomington approved creation of a civilian board to review complaints against the city’s police force, Champaign is creating a similar panel that will provide greater oversight.… MORE
Piatt County teen dies in bicycle crash
A Piatt County teen was killed Tuesday night when he bicycle collided with a car.… MORE
Judge allows DNA testing from gun in local homicide case
A judge is allowing a crime lab to analyze DNA from a handgun in a McLean County murder case.… MORE
Investigators to probe how child survived boating accident that killed Twin-Cities woman
Authorities said the investigation into the death of a Twin-Cities woman in a boating accident on the Kankakee River will include how a young girl riding with her survived the tragedy.… MORE
Woman from Normal dies in weekend boating accident on Kankakee River
The Bloomington-Normal community is mourning the death of a woman who died in a weekend boating accident on the Kankakee River in Wilmington.… MORE
Police arrest Carlock woman for hit-and-run pedestrian crash in Normal
Normal Police have caught up with a motorist from Carlock they believe struck a pedestrian on N. Main Street two weeks ago, then fled the scene.… 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…