By WMBD-TV NORMAL – Pickle Ball players can look forward to new indoor pickleball locations in central Illinois. According to a news release, The Picklr is expanding its indoor pickleball franchise to Bloomington-Normal. It will be located at 1503 E. College Avenue in Normal and is expected to open in Fall 2024. “We are thrilled…… MORE
State treasurer’s office reports January missing money returns
By WMBD-TV PEORIA – Nearly $17.2 million in missing money was returned by the Illinois State Treasurer’s office in the month of January, state treasurer Michael Frerichs announced Tuesday. The total includes more than $15.7 million in cash and interest and more than $1.4 million in stock value. The missing money comes in the form…… MORE
Transportation workers rally for new contract amid negotiations with state
Groups of Illinois Department of Transportation workers represented by local Teamsters unions rallied at facilities in Collinsville and Springfield Wednesday after recently passing a strike authorization and filing complaints against the state.… MORE
Comptroller Susana Mendoza honors five Illinoisans during Black History Month
It’s Black History Month, and Comptroller Susana Mendoza honored five Illinoisans who are helping others.… MORE
IHSA announces girls flag football will debut in fall of 2024
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) on Wednesday announced that girls flag football will be the latest sport to debut an IHSA State Championship Series in 2024.… MORE
Second alarm sounded for Bloomington apartment fire; several units impacted
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – No one is injured from an early morning apartment building fire in Bloomington that led to a second alarm being sounded. A second alarm means the initial crew needed more help to battle the blaze at the Brickyard Apartments, 20 Brickyard Drive. Off-duty firefighters and crews from the Normal Fire Department were…… MORE
McLean County woman who died in fire identified by coroner
McLean County Coroner Kathy Yoder has identified the woman who died in a fire Monday afternoon just outside the Twin-Cities.… MORE
Gun rights groups ask SCOTUS to review Illinois’ assault weapons ban
In a long-expected move, national gun rights organizations are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Illinois’ ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines.… MORE
Illinois State University Presidential search down to four candidates
The search for Illinois State University’s next President is down to four candidates.… MORE
Bloomington’s top cop completes Homeland Security Leadership program
Bloomington’s top cop recently completed the Executive Leadership Program at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security.… 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…