Illinois’ greatest assets, Mark Denzler says, are its people and its higher education.… MORE
Category Archives: Top Stories
On Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day advocates speak up about funding in Springfield
Black legislators and advocates celebrated Black HIV / AIDS Awareness Day Wednesday by ripping into the Illinois Department of Public Health, accusing the state of inequitable funding, even when Blacks have a disproportionate share of the cases.… MORE
Special Illinois Senate committee looking into prison sentencing
Some numbers-crunchers presented to a special Illinois Senate committee on criminal law and public safety Wednesday, saying one service they offer is to examine bills.… MORE
Annual two-day St. Jude Radiothon kicks off Thursday
The annual St. Jude radiothon kicks off Thursday with WJBC and Radio Bloomington to help raise thousands of dollars to fight childhood cancer. … MORE
Bloomington Fire Dept. prepared for the worst as hundreds of EVs sit at State Farm
A thousand Rivian automotive vehicles are sitting at State Farm Corporate South, and city leaders have a plan in case a fire breaks out. … MORE
New bill in Springfield makes mishandling corpse a felony
The allegations of mishandling dozens of corpses at the Heinz Funeral Home in Carlinville have inspired central Illinois lawmakers to draw up a bill making this a felony.… MORE
Normal Police need help identifying suspects accused of 2022 shooting
A 21-year-old Normal man stands accused of firing a weapon during a shooting in 2022.… MORE
Normal native Leah Marlene to launch new E.P. on Friday
A Normal native, formally in the top three on American Idol, is out with new music on Friday.… MORE
Illinoisans rally for higher wages as lawmakers return to Springfield
With lawmakers back in Springfield, it’s the season for rallies at the Lincoln statue outside the Capitol.… MORE
Aaron Rossi pleads guilty in federal court to fraud and false tax return charges
By WMBD-TV PEORIA – After months of denials, several civil lawsuits and a federal grand jury, the world found out Tuesday that Aaron Rossi, once a local wunderkind, lied and committed fraud regarding a Bloomington medical practice. Rossi, 39, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and filing a false tax return at Peoria’s federal courtroom, just days before…… 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…