Tazewell County readers under the age of 5 will soon be able to pick up a free monthly book.… MORE
Category Archives: Top Stories
Judge orders prison officials to relocate Stateville population by Sept. 30
A federal judge is ordering Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration to move the vast majority of those incarcerated at Stateville Correctional Center near Joliet out of the aging prison by the end of September, citing health and safety concerns posed by the facility.… MORE
Senator Durbin discusses child safety online at stop in Springfield
When the big tech companies enable online child abuse, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) wants to hit them in the pocketbook.… MORE
Pritzker signs law allowing digital driver’s licenses among hundreds of other bills
Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday signed a measure designating the “giant puffball” as the state’s mushroom after signing hundreds of bills on Friday, completing action on legislation sent to him by lawmakers this spring. … MORE
State leaders honor Vets at the first Sunday of the Illinois State Fair
Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd (pictured), recently installed as commander of the Illinois National Guard, gave some insight into the lives of the few who serve: “Veterans have faced our fair share of some challenges. … MORE
LL Flooring to close several stores including ones in East Peoria and Bloomington
LL Flooring, formerly known as Lumber Liquidators, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy late Sunday night.… MORE
Tazewell County is set to get a new justice center annex
By WMBD-TV PEKIN – After months of talk, the Tazewell County Board made it official — the county is getting a new justice center annex. The board voted 12-5 to spend $44 million on the annex which will go across the street from the current Tazewell County Courthouse. While the price tag is steep, thanks…… MORE
Sangamon County sheriff says he’ll retire by end of month in wake of Massey shooting
A little over a month after the shooting death of Sonya Massey by a sheriff’s deputy, Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell on Friday announced his retirement, effective no later than Aug. 31.… MORE
Bloomington man charged with seven Class X felonies
A Bloomington man with a lengthy criminal record stands accused of delivering hundreds of grams of heroin to an undercover Illinois State Police agent.… MORE
Local taxpayers could be on the hook for a new ‘homeless hotel’
If the plans come to fruition, local taxpayers could be responsible for funding a new homeless hotel.… 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…