Police in Normal are seeking drunk driving charges against a 19-year-old man from Heyworth following a three-car crash Thursday night that sent three people to the hospital. … MORE
Category Archives: Police and Fire
Fire destroys vacant home in McLean
A vacant house in McLean was destroyed by fire Thursday night. … MORE
Flames tear through three Pontiac mobile homes
Fire destroyed two mobile homes and damaged another in Pontiac on Tuesday.… MORE
Police await DNA tests to identify remains
Tazewell County authorities said skeletal remains discovered Monday might near Pekin may very well be that of missing boy Robert Bee, however investigators can not positively identify the remains until the completion of DNA testing sometime next week.… MORE
Chief: civilian advisory board disappoints Bloomington Police officers
Bloomington Police officers are apparently unhappy having a civilian set of eyes examining the department’s internal investigations, but Police Chief Brendan Heffner said there will be no change in how the officers do their jobs.… MORE
Revised civilian police board plan wins overwhelming council backing
A compromise proposal on creation of a civilian advisory board for Bloomington Police won overwhelming support Monday night from the Bloomington City Council.… MORE
Civilian police board in Bloomington won’t include felons under compromise plan
A compromise proposal to create a civilian advisory board for Bloomington Police is aimed at unifying the city council, but Mayor Tari Renner acknowledges no one will be completely satisfied when aldermen finally resolve the contentious issue.… MORE
Chenoa nursing home: Staffers acted swiftly when they learned about abuse
Operators of a Chenoa nursing home are defending their actions in the midst of a criminal probe into the alleged abuse of six residents, and they are challenging a fine imposed by a state agency for not protecting those residents.… MORE
Prosecutors charge McLean man with sex crimes dating back to early 1990s
A man from the village of McLean is jailed on sex abuse allegations dating back to the early 1990’s.… MORE
Local jury convicts gunman of attempted murder, shots narrowly missed hitting holiday shoppers
A Bloomington man has been convicted of attempted murder and eight other charges for a shooting last Thanksgiving weekend that a prosecutor said “only the grace of God” prevented a tragedy.… 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…