A former Normal Police officer, who used to be a school resource officer, has pleaded guilty to drunken driving.… MORE
Category Archives: Police and Fire
Bloomington fatal fire considered ‘suspicious’; Coroner identifies victim
Bloomington Police are launching an investigation into the cause of the fire that killed a 62-year old man, as investigators call the fire “suspicious.”… MORE
Day two of trial against Ex-Pekin Piano teacher ends
Court was brief on Tuesday, for the trial against Aaron Parlier. Parlier is accused of sexually assaulting his piano students.… MORE
Jelani Day laid to rest: “We want closure for this family”
Illinois State University graduate student Jelani Day was laid to rest on Tuesday, more than a month after his body was discovered in the Illinois River.… MORE
One man dead and five injured in early Tuesday fire
An older man is dead after an apartment fire in Bloomington late Monday night.… MORE
Five hospitalized after apartment complex fire in Bloomington
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Fire Department confirms five people were hospitalized after a late night fire. It broke out around 11:15 PM Monday night in the 600 block of West Market Street in a building that had been converted into an apartment complex. The condition of the five injured is unclear at…… MORE
McLean County woman charged with financial exploitation of elderly pair
A McLean County woman remained jailed late Monday on charges she defrauded two elderly people of more than $130,000.… MORE
Ex-Pekin piano teacher directed child porn videos involving Twin-Cities student, state’s attorney says
By Heart of Illinois ABC BLOOMINGTON – Three years after he was charged, the first of what could be many trials started Monday for a Pekin piano teacher accused of sexually abusing six of his students in the Twin-Cities. Aaron Parlier, 40, faces 38 charges in all, including predatory criminal sexual assault and child pornography,…… MORE
McLean County Sheriff’s Office asking for help in identifying suspects involved in burglaries
The McLean County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying two suspects involved in several burglaries this past weekend.… MORE
Clinton man behind bars in McLean County on car burglary charges
A Clinton man faces charges in McLean County after a joint investigation with LeRoy and Clinton Police.… 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…