By Neil Doyle NORMAL – “A rich tradition of athletic success” is one of the reasons Allie Matters accepted the volleyball coaching job at Illinois State University. Matters was introduced to the community Monday morning on the Scott Miller Show on WJBC. Matters comes to ISU after spending the last four seasons as the head…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – A boys lacrosse team has been added at Central Catholic High School. The team will compete this spring at the IHSA junior varsity level and move to varsity next season under the leadership of head coach Vincent Rasa, according to a news release. Rasa founded the Bloomington-Normal Warriors Lacrosse Club.…… MORE
The Normal CornBelters are introducing a new Field Manager and Bench Coach with local ties for the 2022 season.… MORE
By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Illinois State University has named Allie Matters the eighth head coach in the history of the Redbird volleyball program. “I am so grateful for this opportunity to lead the Illinois state volleyball team,” Matters said in a news release. “I want to thank President Terri Goss Kinzy, Director of Athletics…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-Following another underwhelming 13-20 season by the Illinois State men’s basketball team, the University moved swiftly to find it’s next head coach. Nearly an hour after the Redbirds loss to Northern Iowa on Friday, ISU announced that Ryan Pedon, Ohio State Buckeyes assistant, would fill the vacant head coach position for the…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-Following a loss to Northern Iowa in the second round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, Illinois State Athletics has confirmed that Ohio State Top Assistant Ryan Pedon will take the reigns of the men’s basketball program as it’s next head coach. “I am extremely excited to be joining the Redbird family.…… MORE
By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Around 15,000 fans are expected to travel to the Twin-Cities this weekend for the Illinois High School Association girls basketball state finals. This is the first year all classes are competing on the same weekend as the games will take place at Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena. According to the…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Boys high school basketball sectional semifinals started Tuesday night. Class 4A: Normal Community beat Moline 61-44. The Ironmen will face Quincy in the sectional finals Friday night in Collinsville. Class 2A: Central Catholic got a win 58-46 over Auburn. The Saints will face the winner of Maroa Forsyth and Quincy…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – It was the super sectional round Monday night in girl’s high school basketball with teams advancing to the state semifinals. Class 2A: U-High lost to Quincy Notre Dame 30-28. Fieldcrest beat Chicago Noble 43-30 and the Knights advance to the state semis and face Winnebago Thursday morning at Redbird Arena.…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Boys high school basketball regional semifinals started Wednesday night. Class 4A: Normal Community 60 Pekin 25 Class 3A: Morton 51 Bloomington 45; Champaign Centennial 50 Normal West 48 Class 2A: Central Catholic 65 Olympia 55; U-High 51 Riverton 44; Warrensburgh-Lathem 49 Tri-Valley 38; Prairie Central 53 Iroquois West 48; Seneca…… 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…