McLean County Sheriff Jon Sandage cites increased drug enforcement and jail expansion as two reasons he deserves to be re-elected.… MORE
Uptown streets to close during Make Music Normal
NORMAL – Make Music Normal is an all-day, free music festival taking place in Uptown Normal on Saturday, June 24, 2017 from 12 noon to 11 p.m.. The following streets will be signed, “No Parking,” after 2 a.m. on Saturday and closed by 8 a.m.: The alley on Linden Street at the exit to East Beaufort…… MORE
Durbin: Time for GOP to release ‘secret’ health care bill
U.S. Senate leaders could release the Republicans proposed health care bill as early as today.… MORE
IWU’s Glueck, Rydell named Academic All-Americans
Illinois Wesleyan senior Eric Rydell and junior Amelia Glueck have been named to the first team of the Division III Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Academic All-America Teams, respectively, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.… MORE
Sports On Air
WJBC 1230 AM: 11:10 a.m. Baseball – St. Louis at Philadelphia WJBC.com: 6:20 p.m. Baseball – Florence at Normal Listen live here … MORE
Obituaries: Vogel
Obituary for Ellen Vogel… MORE
No budget movement on 1st day of special session
The two leaders in the Illinois House differ on the recent history of state’s two-year budget impasse, with Republicans asking House Democrats to show their work.… MORE
ISU archaeological team digs through Native American village
An archaeological team, made up of professionals and Illinois State University students, is working at the site of a Native American village that dates back hundreds of years. It’s the first time in decades the site has been investigated.… MORE
Mayors Koos and Renner claim climate change crusade is part of their job
The mayors of Bloomington and Normal head to Miami Beach this weekend for the first U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting since President Trump announced the federal government would break away from the international agreement to fight climate change.… MORE
Pontiac High School among districts preparing for possibility of continued state budget impasse
With local school fiscal years ending June 30, many administrators are making alternative plans to make their budgets work in the fear the state won’t pull through with their required funding.… 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…