The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association are kicking off fundraising efforts for this year’s McLean County Heart & Stroke Walk in October.… MORE
Contois added to Thunder coaching staff after another Division I departure
The Bloomington Thunder announced on Thursday that Andy Contois has been added to the hockey operations staff as an assistant coach following the promotion of assistant coach Leon Hayward to an NCAA Division I coaching position with Colorado College.… MORE
Green space in each neighborhood on public’s wish list for Bloomington parks master plan
Bloomington’s next master plan for city parks should call for public green space in every neighborhood and place more emphasis on senior citizens’ recreational needs, according to wish lists of some residents providing input for the master plan.… MORE
Crime Stoppers raises reward to find missing U of I scholar
Champaign County Crime Stoppers will announce Friday they are boosting the reward for information that would lead authorities to the whereabouts of missing University of Illinois visiting scholar Yingying Zhang.… MORE
Bloomington man gets 5 1/2 year sentence in federal child porn case
A federal judge in Peoria has sentenced a Bloomington man to five years and eight months in prison for receiving child pornography on a computer.… MORE
YWCA ends local home care service due to state budget turmoil
Illinois has a budget to run state government, but the end of the legislative stalemate was not enough to save a local program providing care to older, low-income people so they can remain at home.… MORE
Hales finalist for Topeka city manager
Bloomington City Manager David Hales is reportedly a finalist for the same position in Topeka, Kansas.… MORE
Boil order lifted in Towanda
By WJBC Staff TOWANDA – The boil order that was issued in Towanda has been lifted. The order had been issued earlier this week for residents on Taylor Street and east of Taylor.… MORE
Area lawmakers tell business group work in Springfield isn’t done
Area lawmakers agree that despite passage of a new state budget, the work in Springfield is not done.… MORE
Early morning fire damages garage in Normal
A garage in Normal was heavily damaged by an early morning fire Thursday.… 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…