By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – On Thursday night, with less than 40 days until the puck drops the Bloomington Bison revealed the team jerseys. “There’s still a little bit of apprehension in the community about hockey not being successful here in the past. And people not understanding this is a different level of hockey,” said Co-Owner Sean Hallett.…… MORE
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – September is sickle cell awareness month. On Thursday, organizations came together to host the “United Against Sickle Cell” blood drive at Illinois State University. It was a partnership with the association of black employees at ISU, the Bloomington-Normal alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, incorporated, and the Chi Beta Beta…… MORE
By Jake Fogal NORMAL – U-High unloaded for six touchdowns in Week 3 as the Pioneers opened conference play in the Central State Eight against Decatur MacArthur. University High kept the General’s sputtering on offense throughout the contest, and picked up the blowout win 48-7. U-High quarterback Alek Weiland shared the pigskin all night with…… MORE
Agribusiness giant ADM violated federal regulations, a federal permit and the Safe Drinking Water Act earlier this year when a monitoring well at their carbon sequestration site in Decatur leaked liquified carbon dioxide into “unauthorized zones,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. … MORE
With criminal justice and the disproportionate arrests of people of color in the news the last several years, you have to go back thirty years to see the legislation a Springfield interfaith group wants to repeal.… MORE
By WMBD-TV MORTON – The Morton Pumpkin Festival reported that a boy was injured while getting off a ride on Thursday. According to a post from the festival, a 6-year-old was injured while taking part in the festival’s Annual Pumpkin & Pals event. A witness on the scene reported that the boy was riding the Sizzler…… MORE
A new mobile app, lower fees, and management by TIAA are the changes to the state’s 529 college savings program, Bright Start, announced Thursday by the treasurer’s office.… MORE
A 67-year-old Manito man is listed as missing and endangered, according to an alert issued Thursday morning by the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office. … MORE
As the federal corruption trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza formally kicked off on Wednesday, prosecutors and defense attorneys painted two very different pictures of a political hire the telecom giant made in 2017.… MORE
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – We now know the results from the Million Meal Pack that happened over the weekend. Illinois State University, State Farm, and U.S. Hunger partnered together to combat hunger for Good Neighbor Month. Volunteers packed meals, which were then distributed to local food banks in Illinois. More than a million total meals…… MORE
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.” …
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…
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…
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…