By Blake Haas BLOOMINGTON – A home and vehicle in Bloomington sustained damage from gunfire, and police need help identifying a suspect. On Saturday around 12:45 p.m., Bloomington Police responded to the 7-hundred block of Fairmont Drive for a shooting. Authorities say there were no injuries from the shooting. The case remains under investigation. Anyone…… MORE
Sweet New Summer Merch
Limelite Graphics is your one stop shop for all your custom made t-shirts, wraps, signs and more. We love the way they made our Summer Merch happen all over Central Illinois this summer!… MORE
Volleypalooza 2023: Sand Volleyball Tournament for Charity
Join us for the 2nd Annual Volleypalooza, a multi-venue sand volleyball tournament to benefit local charities!… MORE
Gas prices in Illinois stay steady over last week
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Gas prices in Illinois came down a little over the week, averaging $3.80 a gallon, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of over 43-hundred stations in Illinois. Illinois gas is down 17.0 cents compared to a month ago. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Illinois is priced at…… MORE
Bloomington-Normal first responders to host Battle of the Badges Blood Drive
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – First responders in the Bloomington-Normal area will be hosting a Battle of the Badges Blood Drive throughout August. The American Red Cross announced via press release Thursday that there will be a chance to give blood at five locations in the area throughout the month. The goal of the drives is…… MORE
Unit 5 school board approves pay increases for staff
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – The McLean County Unit 5 school board approved contracts which results in higher pay for staff in the district. The four-year agreement with the Unit Five Education Association (UFEA) states that beginning this upcoming school year, the starting salary for full-time staff will be at least $40,000 and will increase to…… MORE
Bloomington man faces grooming charges for allegedly trying to entice a 15-year-old
By WMBD-TV EL PASO – A Bloomington man faces charges one day after allegedly trying to solicit sex from what he thought was a 15-year-old girl. Instead, Angel Espinoza, 38, got more than he bargained for Wednesday night when he arrived at a gas station in El Paso and instead of a girl, found several…… MORE
Illinois and UK discuss collaborations for energy efficient future during Pritzker’s visit to UK
By WMBD-TV LONDON, United Kingdom – Governor JB Pritzker, along with the Illinois delegation, has concluded the trade mission trip to the United Kingdom. The latter part of the trip consisted of Pritzker joining the delegation in London to discuss continued collaborations between the UK and Illinois. According to a press release from Pritzker’s office,…… MORE
LeRoy man charged with aggravated battery to a police officer
By Blake Haas LEROY- A LeRoy man is behind bars in McLean County on multiple weapon charges. On July 13, LeRoy police learned 52-year-old Kenneth Downey possibly possessed firearms and allegedly had homicidal ideations. Two days later, a McLean County Judge issued a search warrant for Downey’s residence, where LeRoy and Illinois State Police searched…… MORE
Winter wheat harvesting nearly complete
There were 5.1 days suitable for field work during the week ending July 16, 2023.… 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…