Gov. Bruce Rauner said the state’s institutions of higher learning are too top heavy and need to think strategically to bring costs down so any dollars they get from the state have the best impact on student outcomes.… MORE
Bloomington Fire Department lowers response times
The Bloomington Fire Department reports calls for service dropped slightly in 2016 compared to 2015.… MORE
Redbird baseball sweeps doubleheader at Western Kentucky
The Illinois State baseball team won both games of a doubleheader Sunday at Western Kentucky, prevailing by scores of 12-4 and 4-3 at Nick Denes Field.… MORE
Thunder top Team USA; extend point streak to five games
Four players found the back of the net, Logan Halladay made 19 saves, and the Bloomington Thunder stretched their point streak to five games with a 4-1 win over Team USA on Sunday afternoon at the Bloomington Coliseum.… MORE
Redbird softball sweeps final day of FAU Tournament
Led by Riley Strandgard’s six-RBI day, Illinois State downed Fordham and Fairfield in Sunday’s doubleheader at the FAU Parents’ Weekend Tournament.… MORE
Winter Weather Advisory issued for Central Illinois; 3 to 7 inches of snow expected
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for McLean County and much of central and northern Illinois.… MORE
UPDATED: Redbirds denied NCAA Tournament bid; draw No. 1 seed in NIT
Illinois State’s record-setting season wasn’t enough to convince the NCAA Tournament committee that the Redbirds were tournament worthy.… MORE
Minors could become organ donors with new bill
New legislation could allow 16 and 17-year-olds to become registered organ donors.… MORE
IWU’s Rundle takes head coaching job in Tennessee
Illinois Wesleyan assistant football coach Travis Rundle has been named the new head football coach at Sewanee University, a Division III school in Tennessee.… MORE
Staff vs. students in Bloomington Junior High charity game
Students and teachers should never be adversaries, unless they are raising money for a good cause.… 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…