By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The person accused of killing a Bloomington woman who was reported missing has pleaded not guilty to all charges during a brief hearing Friday morning. Man indicted for 1st-degree murder in strangulation case Joshua Livingston, 41, of Danvers, entered his pleas in McLean County Circuit Court to charges of first-degree murder, possession of…… MORE
Annual Illinois police memorial
The first Thursday in May is the day for the annual event.… MORE
California man charged with defrauding more than 50 central Illinois investors
By WMBD-TV URBANA, Ill. — A federal grand jury on Tuesday indicted a California man and his companies for defrauding central Illinois investors out of more than $20 million. According to a U.S. Attorney’s Office news release, 37-year-old Brett Michael Bartlett and his companies Dynasty Toys, Inc. and 7M E-group Corporation have been charged with…… MORE
Senate legislators highlight bills aimed at preventing fentanyl deaths
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – A group of senate lawmakers is highlighting legislation aimed at preventing fentanyl related deaths in Illinois. One measure requires all public high school students enrolled in health class to learn about the dangers of fentanyl says Senator Laura Ellman of Naperville. “This bill instructs school districts to talk about the…… MORE
Pork Producers Association celebrates inaugural “Illinois Bacon Day”
Illinois pig farmers, Illinois Pork Producers Association staff, and FFA state officers handed out BLT sandwiches to legislators and discussed the role that pork production plays in Illinois, the fourth largest pork producing state in the United States.… MORE
State lawmakers pass bill that punishes public libraries for book banning
HB 2789 awaits the governor’s action.… MORE
Bill intended to watch out for bullied school kids awaits a vote in the Illinois Senate
In the year 2023, bullying means cyberbullying. … MORE
Illinois Republicans react to the Com Ed Four verdicts
Illinois Republicans were eager Tuesday evening to react to the guilty verdicts in the Com Ed Four trial.… MORE
Coroner: Edwardsville woman died in early morning crash on Monday
An Edwardsville woman died in an early morning car crash on Monday, according to the Livingston County Coroner.… MORE
Bloomington man arrested after Monday shooting incident
A Bloomington man was arrested after a shooting incident near the 400 block of Valley View Circle Monday.… 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…