By Jake Fogal NORMAL – A person armed with a knife was taken into custody late Friday morning near the police station in Normal. According to NPD, officers responded to the 100 Block of East Phoenix Ave in Normal after 11 a.m. for a subject armed with a knife. The individual was located and shortly…… MORE
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – The Illinois Department of Transportation joined Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday to announce more funding to make it safer for kids to walk or bike to school. According to an IDOT news release, $9.8 million in grants will be going to 47 projects as part of the Safe Routes to School…… MORE
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Bison announced that its team will be affiliated with the New York Rangers during a press conference at Grossinger Motors Arena on Thursday. The affiliation is a five-year agreement. Team owner Jim Hallett gave Ranger jerseys to Bloomington City Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe and the City Manager Jeffrey Jurgens immediately after…… MORE
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL – Connect Transit was bestowed one of 23 federal grants in the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Bill. Spearheaded by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Il.), the money will go towards onboard communication systems and camera systems. “Everyone deserves a safe ride when they hop on the bus to get to work, run errands,…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The first employee hired by the Bloomington Bison hockey franchise and longtime voice of the Indy Fuel has passed away. According to the McLean County Sheriff’s Office, 59-year-old Scott Mcilrath of Kokomo, Ind., died from multiple blunt injuries after a two-vehicle crash. He was known to most as Scott Alan,…… MORE
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – The Town of Normal announced its plans on Tuesday to rename the Fairview Aquatic Center. According to a press release from the town, they will rename the center to the Kent M. Karraker Aquatic Center in honor of the town’s former mayor. Normal Mayor Chris Koos shared the news with Karraker’s family…… MORE
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The city of Bloomington announced a new partnership on Friday that will be giving back to area veterans. The city’s Arts & Entertainment Department stated that it has partnered with the nonprofit organization Vet Tix to provide local and regional veterans with tickets to live events free of charge. The tickets would be for events…… MORE
By WMBD-TV SPRINGFIELD – The 2024 Illinois spring turkey season netted a statewide record of 17,208 turkeys harvested, according to an Illinois Department of Natural Resources news release. This is an increase from last year’s total of 16,123 turkeys and bests the previous record of 16,659 turkeys in 2006. The top five counties were Jo…… MORE
By WMBD-TV PEORIA – If your car or license plate are stolen in Illinois, you’re financially responsible for the replacement fees. But that may soon change as State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria) applauded the Illinois House and General Assembly passing Senate Bill 3471, which would waive fees for replacing a license plate or registration sticker.…… MORE
A teacher, paratrooper, lawmaker, college and pro athlete, and Secretary of State will have his name on a state office building in Chicago.… 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…