State officials buffing up Route 66 roadside attractions ahead of 100-year anniversary

Posted on May 23, 2023

By Jake Fogal MCLEAN COUNTY – Route 66 is getting an upgrade as the historic roadway approaches it’s centennial year in 2026. Plans were approved at last week’s Normal Town Council meeting that places a huge roadside attraction at Normal One Plaza, spelling out in giant letter’s ‘NORMAL’. Bloomington Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s…… MORE

Mobile home fire Sunday night in Bloomington

Posted on May 22, 2023

By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington fire crews responded to a mobile home fire Sunday night on the city’s west side. Firefighters were called to #3 Snow Lane around 7:55 p.m. and reported smoke and fire from multiple windows of a single-wide mobile home. According to a news release, the main body of the fire…… MORE

Springfield hosts Pridefest over the weekend

Posted on May 22, 2023

By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – At downtown Springfield’s Pridefest Saturday, there were as many stories as there were people. Scott March, a teacher at Southeast High School in Springfield, said starting and sponsoring a Gay Straight Alliance was the correct thing to do. “My big brother, who is gay, was also a Southeast Spartan, and…… 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…