By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington house fire displaced four near Rock Garden Court and Eddy Road Tuesday. According to a Bloomington Fire Department news release, firefighters responded to the fire at 4:36 p.m. and arrived on the scene at 4:42 p.m. Upon arrival, they saw smoke coming from the first floor of the home. The…… MORE
Midwest Food Bank sends relief to victims of tornados in the southern United States
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – Midwest Food Bank announced it will send disaster relief to support the victims of a number of powerful tornadoes in the Southern United States Two semi tractor trailers carrying water and food boxes recently left the Midwest Food Bank’s Disaster Relief hub in Morton. One trailer left Saturday and was bound…… MORE
Air quality remains unhealthy Wednesday due to smoke from Canadian wildfires
According to the alert, smoke from wildfires in Canada is moving into Central Illinois and is pushing our air quality into unhealthy or worse categories.… MORE
Heartland’s Sam Antonacci named NJCAA DII baseball Player of the Year
Heartland Community College infielder Sam Antonacci has been named the 2023 NJCAA Division II Baseball Player of the Year.… MORE
Normal kicking off efforts for Vernon Avenue Project
On Tuesday, the Town of Normal held the first public input meeting for the Vernon Avenue Complete Streets Project.… MORE
New Amtrak high speed rail between Chicago and St. Louis
The Chicago-St Louis run is now less than five hours… MORE
Poor cell service an issue at Tailgate N’ Tallboys for second straight year
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – It was another successful showing for Tailgate and Tallboys earlier this month, as the country music festival headlined by Nickelback, Kane Brown and Jelly Roll entertained thousands of people at the Interstate Center in Bloomington, but cell phone service took a plunge during the Twin Cities big summer spectacle. Cell…… MORE
Danvers man to appear in court in August for death of Bloomington woman
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – A Danvers man will next appear in court in late August regarding charges he allegedly killed a Bloomington woman. Joshua Livingston, 41, of Danvers, appeared in McLean County Circuit Court on Monday for a status hearing. At issue were concerns he had that the public defender’s office had a conflict of interest as one…… MORE
Weekly USDA crop report
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 6.8 days suitable for field work during the week ending June 25, 2023. Statewide, the average temperature was 75.5 degrees, 1.7 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.49 inches, 0.49 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 39 percent very short, 50 percent short, and 11 percent adequate. Subsoil…… MORE
Republican primary shaping up for southern Illinois congressional seat
Darren Bailey, the former state lawmaker whom Republicans nominated to run for governor last year, is now considering a run for Congress in 2024 – against five-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro).… 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…