On the heels of a $5 million donation, Illinois State University is on pace to crack over $30 million raised in the past fiscal year.… MORE
Category Archives: Uncategorized
State Farm ends partnership with group promoting LGBTQ+ education
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – State Farm Insurance is ending its partnership with an organization promoting education about transgender youth, saying the topic should not be required learning in schools. The Bloomington-based company acknowledges its support for the “philanthropic” program GenderCool, has been the subject of news and customer inquiries. Backlash against State Farm included an…… MORE
Sen. Durbin: “Prices are too damn high”
Illinois’ Senior Senator is pointing the finger at energy companies for the high gas prices.… MORE
McLean County judge to decide if Barton McNeil case moves to 3rd stage of evidentiary hearing in ‘98 murder
It will be at least two months before the Illinois Innocence Project learns what evidence they can present in the case of Barton McNeil, the Bloomington man convicted of killing his daughter in 1998. This is because both the state and McNeil’s counsel agree a 3rd stage evidentiary hearing is necessary.… MORE
Political newcomer takes his seat as Bloomington alderman
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council is backing Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe’s pick to fill a council vacancy even though an alderman complained the selection is part of the mayor’s plan to move the council to the right. Monday night, the council voted 6-2 to approve Grant Walch to replace Jamie Mathy as…… MORE
Popular Lake Bloomington Establishment on Fire
By A.J. Harris HUDSON – Green Gables Bar and Grill, the popular bar and restaurant is on fire. Reports of the fire started coming in around 3:30 Monday. Initial reports indicated the fire was under control, but as more information was available it appears the blaze spread. Eye witnesses who were out at the scene…… MORE
Roe v. Wade reactions continue from Illinois Politicians
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The morning after the news about the possible reversal of Roe v. Wade broke, Gov. JB Pritzker gathered two or three dozen Democratic lawmakers for a news conference in Chicago – ready for a fight. The group, including State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (far right) (D-Chicago), issued a warning: “It’s not…… MORE
Leah Marlene advances to Top 7 on ‘American Idol’
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Normal native Leah Marlene is one step closer to the top spot on singing competition ‘American Idol.’ Marlene advanced to the Top 7 Sunday night, singing ‘When She Loved Me’ from Toy Story 2 as part of ‘Disney Night.’ “THANK YOU with my entire heart, soul and being for all…… MORE
Earmarks can be used for good
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Here’s an old joke: it’s pork if it’s in somebody else’s district. But seriously, folks, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) says earmarks are good and always have been. Example: the announcement Monday of a $10.2 million project to consolidate seven buildings – up to seventy years old – into one…… MORE
New information about the deadly Amazon warehouse collapse last year in Edwardsville
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – An engineer whose job with the government is to respond to such things has critical new information about the deadly Amazon warehouse collapse last year. Attorney Jack Casciato of Clifford Law Firm in Chicago says the evidence is damning. “Within the last few weeks,” he told an online news conference,…… 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…