There will be no Fourth of July fireworks show in Mackinaw this year.… MORE
Corn Belt Energy to return $9 million in credits to members
Corn Belt Energy plans to distribute $9 million in credits to its members.… MORE
Gypsy moth treatment continues Wednesday
By Cynthia Grau PONTIAC – Phase two of treatment to control gypsy moths will begin Wednesday morning, including portions of the listening area. The area will be dusted via plane with a product called Splat-o, which is an organic and biodegradable alternative to chemical pesticides. This treatment will prevent the invasive moth from breeding. There will…… MORE
Oakland Ave. closed for emergency water main repair
BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington Water Department will be repairing an emergency water main repair on E. Oakland Ave. between S. Gridley St. and S. McLean St. Due to the area where the water main is located the street will be closed to thru traffic. The street will be reopened to traffic by 3 p.m. on…… MORE
Illinois lawmakers set to return for special session with budget deadline approaching
Illinois lawmakers will be back in Springfield Wednesday after Gov. Bruce Rauner called them back for a special session.… MORE
Normal to consider underpass at Uptown Station
Town staff in Normal is recommending the town council approve an underpass at the Uptown Station railroad crossing.… MORE
Man from Normal to face arson charges for vehicle fire
A man from Normal is being extradited back to McLean County to face arson charges.… MORE
Railroad crossing in Normal to close
The Union Pacific Railroad will be performing crossing repairs on their tracks. … MORE
First mosquitoes infected with West Nile Virus reported this year in Illinois
Finding perching birds like crows or blue jays dead in a neighborhood could be a sign that mosquitoes in the area are infected with the West Nile virus.… MORE
Study: Heroin use costs U.S. more than $51 billion a year
Heroin use and addiction in the U.S. costs more than $51 billion every year.… 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…