Inmates’ use of computer tablets at the McLean County Jail has become the subject of a political battle between County Board Democrats and Republican Sheriff Jon Sandage.… MORE
Category Archives: Police and Fire
Sydney Mays gets three life sentences for ‘callous’ 2018 triple murder
The man accused of killing three people in Bloomington in 2018 will spend the rest of his life in prison.… MORE
LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate the death of ISU Graduate student
The investigation into the death of Illinois State University graduate student Jelani Day continues after a dive team found no clues in the Illinois River.… MORE
Two Central Illinoisans arrested after high-speed chase in McLean County
Two people from Central Illinois face charges after a high-speed chase in McLean County a few weeks ago.… MORE
Decades-old unsolved murder weighs heavily on Bloomington’s new police chief
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington’s new police chief revealed more about his background Monday while speaking publicly for the first time to the city council. Jamal Simington said he understands first-hand the impact of violent crime. Simington said his father was shot to death in 1975 in a killing that remains unsolved. “That experience…… MORE
Fairbury officer is home recovering after a traffic crash in Livingston County
By HOI ABC FAIRBURY – A Fairbury police officer is recovering at home after a high-speed chase Friday night. Officer Gary Lisewski was involved in the accident that sent three people to the hospital, according to Fairbury Police Department. In a Facebook post, police said his squad car rolled over several times and he was…… MORE
BPD probing shots fired on east side
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Police are investigating a shots fired incident from the over the weekend on the city’s east side. Authorities were called Saturday around 11:15 p.m. to the area of Willedrob Road. When officers arrived, they located evidence that a shooting had occurred. Officers also learned that gunfire had struck an…… MORE
Man in custody after police standoff in Normal
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Normal Police say a man is in protective custody after being in a standoff with police for almost two hours Sunday evening. Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner said they called in crisis negotiations after there was a report of a man in a yard at the 1200 block of Brentwood…… MORE
Man goes to prison as authorities track gun he carried from McLean County theft to Peoria shooting
During a federal sentencing hearing in Peoria, authorities tracked a handgun from the time it was stolen in McLean County, a shooting in Peoria, to the coat pocket of a man sentenced to prison Friday for carrying that gun.… MORE
Bloomington Police launching an investigation into Thursday night shooting
Bloomington Police are probing a shooting incident late Thursday night.… 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…