Lt. Gov. Stratton hears from minority women business owners

Posted on January 19, 2024

By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – Lieutenant Gov. Juliana Stratton (D-Ill.) stopped by the Minority Business Development Center at Eastland Mall in Bloomington to hear from minority women business owners for her new initiative “We Thrive”. “We Thrive” is an effort spearheaded by Stratton to financially empower minority women business owners by increasing access to existing resources. Bloomington was…… MORE

Statewide preschool program having success through first year

Posted on January 18, 2024

By Dave Dahl ROCHESTER – Gov. JB Pritzker’s initiative to expand access to pre-school in Illinois has exceeded its goal in its first year. At an appearance at Rochester Elementary School Thursday morning, he said an additional 5,886 three- and four-year-olds were able to attend pre-school. The goal for Smart Start’s first year was 5,000.“To…… MORE

Two shots fired incidents being investigated by Bloomington Police Department

Posted on January 18, 2024

By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Police Department is investigating two shots fired incidents that transpired on Wednesday. An officer heard shots being fired near their location at 6:45 Wednesday night. An additional investigation led to the 800 block of South Summit Street, where officers located evidence that a shooting had taken place. There…… 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…