On a cold morning in late 2019, Illinois state Sen. Mattie Hunter, D-Chicago, boarded a bus bound for Iowa to knock doors for then-U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris in her bid for the presidency.… MORE
Category Archives: Top Stories
Another hearing set for Georgia man accused in deadly shooting of Peoria teen
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – A Georgia man appeared in McLean County Court for a status hearing in connection to the murder of a Peoria teen. This was Tomiyale Anderson’s second appearance since securing private defense attorney Jennifer Patton. Patton asked for an additional 60 days to go through discovery. The 20-year-old is facing first-degree murder…… MORE
Coroner identifies 90-year-old man killed in collision in rural Green Valley
A 90-year-old man died from injuries sustained in a crash Saturday morning in rural Tazewell County.… MORE
Bloomington business consultant announces bid to run for Ward 5 council seat
A former mayoral candidate in Bloomington announced his plans on Monday to run for Ward 5.… MORE
Five charged in video gaming machines theft ring locally and across Illinois
The state’s top prosecutor announced charges against five men for a burglary ring that resulted in dozens of video gaming machines being stolen across Illinois including in McLean and DeWitt counties.… MORE
Former Sangamon County Deputy, accused of killing Sonya Massey, appears in court
Monday morning saw a brief status hearing in the case of Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy accused of murder in the July 6 shooting death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman, in her Springfield home. Grayson is white.… MORE
Local community members hold open forum on the housing crisis
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Revivalists hosted a public forum at the Bloomington library on Sunday, trying to come up with solutions for the current housing crisis. The group’s mission is to improve their community through bottom-up solutions. Panelists with the Bloomington-Normal Community Land Trust and McLean County Co-Housing discussed issues like homelessness, the…… MORE
No ‘slated’ GOP candidates will be kept off ballot after rulings from Supreme Court, elections board
A law banning political parties from waiting until after the primary election to place a state legislative candidate on the general election ballot won’t keep any Republicans from running this November. … MORE
Up to 18 cows still on the run in Douglas Co. as search efforts continue
After a semi-trailer hauling 67 cows rolled over on I-57 in Tuscola overnight, authorities and community members alike from Central Illinois have banded together to try and find the missing animals on the run.… MORE
White substance in Bloomington creek found to be paint, fire department says
A white substance found in a creek near the intersection of Airport Road and North Hershey Road in Bloomington was discovered to be paint.… 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…