A pair of shootings that left five people dead and three others wounded over an eight day period has taken its toll on Bloomington Police, but the department’s new chief said the stress his officers have experienced is nothing compared to the suffering of grieving family members and friends.… MORE
Fell Ave. in Uptown Normal closing for 2 weeks
NORMAL – Weather permitting, Fell Avenue between North Street and Beaufort Street will be closed to all traffic beginning Monday, July 2, 2018. The road closure is required for the installation of underground utilities at the Waterson Dining Facility at ISU and is expected to last approximately two weeks.… MORE
Community leaders honored for making history in McLean County
The McLean County Museum of History honored the community’s history makers for the seventh year Thursday night, and the latest honorees included a local broadcasting legend and a former Twin-Cities mayor.… MORE
Economic Development Council announces gain of 500 jobs during first quarter
Despite the lack of a Farm Bill to promote job creation locally, Bloomington-Normal added 500 jobs in the first quarter this year.… MORE
Crowd gathers in Uptown Normal calling for families to remain united at the border
Protesters circled Uptown Normal this afternoon to call on legislative leaders to enact laws that keep illegal immigrant families together.… MORE
Easterseals opens Twin Cities autism learning center
Easterseals is continuing to expand its autism efforts.… MORE
Man wounded as gunfire erupts in north Normal
Normal Police are investigating a shooting Wednesday night that left one person wounded.… MORE
Anonymous tip leads to arrest of suspect named ‘Law’ in Orchard Road double murder
The shooting that left two people dead and wounded two others outside an Orchard Road apartment building earlier this month may have been gang related.… MORE
Rep. Brady: McCann entry into governor’s race might take votes from both Rauner and Pritzker
State Rep. Dan Brady says he’s not sure which of the major candidates for governor will be affected by the entry of a third party nominee into the race.… MORE
U.S. Supreme Court strikes down forced union fees as unconstitutional
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday ended the practice of forcing public sector workers to pay union fees as a condition of employment.
… 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…