Illinois State Police to allow online reporting for single-vehicle, non injury crashes

Posted on August 1, 2023

By WMBD-TV SPRINGFIELD – To reduce the time people have to wait along the side of the road waiting for a state trooper, the Illinois State Police is rolling out a online crash reporting system. The new system, dubbed the Civilian Crash Reporting System, will allow a person to create a crash report online without having to…… MORE

Bloomington police searching for liquor thief

Posted on July 31, 2023

By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington police are in need of the public’s assistance as they are seeking the identification of a liquor thief. According to a post on Facebook, the Bloomington police said the suspect stole 30 bottles of alcohol, which was valued at about $1,100, from a local grocery store on July 25. The…… MORE

COVID unemployment surge led to $5.2 billion in overpaid benefits in Illinois – including fraud

Posted on July 28, 2023

By WMBD-TV SPRINGFIELD – Illinois overpaid unemployment benefits to the tune of $5.2 billion during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with much of it paid to fraudulent claimants, according to a comprehensive new audit. Included in that sum was $6 million paid to 481 dead people and $40.5 million in unemployment checks written…… 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…