Michael Bakana has been found guilty of all charges connected to the Jan. 30, 2021, shooting death of 22-year-old Mariah Petracca outside Daddios, a downtown Bloomington nightclub.… MORE
Illinois House GOP lawmakers propose some job-friendly legislation
With just a week to go in the legislative session, Illinois House Republicans say they have numerous good bills, if supermajority Democrats would only pay attention.… MORE
State officials saluted health care workers as the pandemic has finally ended
Gov. JB Pritzker, at the Sangamon County Department of Public Health today Thursday, saluted health care workers as the pandemic has finally ended.… MORE
Juvenile injured after early morning shooting in Bloomington
A girl is recovering from a gunshot wound after an early Thursday morning shooting on Bloomington’s east side.… MORE
Bakana interrogation footage released; Prosecutors wrapped up their case against Bakana, closings likely on Friday
Prosecutors have rested their case and the jury has been sent home as day three wound down in the Michael Bakana murder trial.… MORE
Some Illinois Republicans accusing Pritzker administration of trying to entrap law-abiding gun owners
The state’s assault weapons ban is still not sorted out.… MORE
Trial begins without Bakana as testimony details the events leading up to the fatal shooting
Testimony got underway in the trial of a man who is accused of shooting a woman in early 2021 outside a Downtown Bloomington bar.… MORE
Fourteenth annual Bloomington Kiwanis Mother’s Day Flower Sale up and running this week
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Kiwanis Club is putting on it’s annual Mother’s Day Flower Sale this week ahead of the celebratory holiday this Sunday. This year the Mother’s Day Flower Sale fundraising event got underway on Wednesday. The tent will be open again Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., and 9:00am-2:00pm…… MORE
FBI warning of growing reports of elder fraud
By WMBD-TV SPRINGFIELD – The Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) is raising concerns after the Internet Crime Complaint Center’s (IC3) 2022 Elder Fraud Report showed an increase in losses from 2021. According to an FBI Springfield office press release, Seniors saw an 84% increase in total losses in 2022. A large part of their losses were…… MORE
Road closure in Normal for water main replacement project
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – Beginning on Thursday, May 11, a water main replacement will start on Livingston Street and Morgan Street, between Hovey Avenue and Adelaide Street, Illinois Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday. Work is expected to last until mid June, weather permitting. Access will maintain for local traffic while project is being completed.…… 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…