The nation’s high court is being asked to take up the issue of whether government employees should be forced to pay dues and fees to government unions.… MORE
CornBelters bounce back with win over Slammers
The Normal CornBelters ended a three-game skid with a big sixth inning in a 4-2 win over the Joliet Slammers on Tuesday night at the Corn Crib.… MORE
Franklin Avenue in Bloomington to close
Effective 7 a.m. Wednesday, Franklin Avenue between Emerson and Beecher streets will be closed to through traffic due to contractor work. … MORE
Five confirmed mumps cases in McLean County, unrelated to ISU outbreak in March
A mumps outbreak is hitting McLean County, and it’s separate from the one that affected Illinois State University in March.… MORE
Rivian hosts hundreds of hopeful chamber members as company moves into shuttered Mitsubishi plant
In the same mammoth car plant that the CEO of Chrysler, Lee Iacocca, and the head of Mitsubishi stood with then-Illinois Governor Jim Thompson almost three decades ago, about six-hundred members of the local chamber of commerce gathered Tuesday to receive a pep talk about the local economy.… MORE
Former escapee from Bloomington gets prison time
A convicted Bloomington man who cut off his ankle monitoring device has been sentenced in McLean County court to eight years in prison.… MORE
Bennett adds voice to those frustrated with Madigan
With legislators leaving Springfield last week without a budget, leading to overtime sessions later this summer, many are voicing continued frustrations, including State Representative Tom Bennett.… MORE
Clinton power plant online after scheduled refueling outage
The Clinton nuclear power station has returned to full power after a scheduled refueling outage that lasted nearly one month.… MORE
Bloomington Young Men’s Club makes donation to History Museum camp
The Young Men’s Club of Bloomington is giving the McLean County Museum of History a donation to cover the cost of eight full scholarships for campers participating in the Futures in History Camp summer program.… MORE
IHSA baseball administrator: Pitch count policy here to stay
High school baseball in Illinois adjusted to a new pitch count policy this season and an IHSA administrator said the rule is here to stay.… 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…