By 25 News NORMAL – The newest plans were unveiled Monday night for the Uptown South redevelopment in Normal. The designer and architect, Douglas Farr with Farr Associates, says there is no price tag yet but assumes the projects will be in the tens of millions of dollars. In May of last year, the council agreed…… MORE
Corn dog king of the Illinois State Fair has passed
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Fair has lost its corn dog king. Loved ones of Bob Vose posted to social media Monday afternoon that Vose has passed away at 94. The Vose family has been feeding fairgoers for decades. Jeff Vose, a nephew, says he believes the corn dog legacy started with…… MORE
Skate ‘N’ Place will officially close doors in April
By AJ Harris BLOOMINGTON – The building is sold, and now the Skate ‘N’ Place in Bloomington has announced its last day of operation. Owners announced via Facebook that the last day for the iconic roller rink will be Saturday, April 1. The Skate ‘N’ Place, located at 1704 South Morris Avenue, has been in…… MORE
Some lawmakers and dental society biting back at insurance companies
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – A new package of proposals at the statehouse takes on Big Insurance. In short, this would bring dental insurers under the same regulation as medical insurance. “This legislative package, More for Your Smile, is all about improving oral health care for patients by providing more transparency, more access, and more…… MORE
Ex-McLean County piano teacher awaits sentencing for sex assault, child porn involving student
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – A former piano teacher is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday for sexually assaulting a student at his home in Normal. Authorities confirmed Michael Schnieder, 35, was also a choir director at Bloomington’s St. John’s Lutheran Church. Schneider has been in jail on $2 million bond since his arrest in July…… MORE
Rebuilding costs to run in the millions for fire-damaged ISU farm
By 25 News NORMAL – Illinois State University expects it will cost about $3 million to get its Lexington farm up and running again after a fire there last November. ISU’s Board of Trustees will be asked to approve the project at its meeting this afternoon. ISU expects its insurer will pay for the entire…… MORE
Gov. Pritzker testing his State of the State budget message
Gov. Pritzker is road-testing his State of the State and budget message.… MORE
Illinois Republican lawmakers critical of new spending in the governor’s budget
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – Republican state lawmakers are critical of new spending in the governor’s proposed state budget. There’s about $3 billion in new spending in the plan, which doesn’t sit well with the GOP. They say it’s not wise as the nation faces a potential recession. State Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) adds that…… MORE
ISU Graduate Workers Union files unfair labor practice against university
By 25 News NORMAL – Attorneys for more than 400 graduate student workers at Illinois State University have filed papers with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board initiating an unfair labor practice against the university and its board of trustees. The complaint by the SEIU Local 73/ISU Graduate Workers Union alleges that the university and…… MORE
Gov. Pritzker delivers State of the State and budget address
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker is unveiling a nearly $50 billion new state budget that makes a heavy investment in early childhood education. One of the biggest components of the governor’s spending plan is called “Smart Start Illinois.” It focuses on the importance of pre-school, quality child care, early intervention and home…… 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…