By 25 News NORMAL – Starting this summer, students at Heartland Community College will pay almost 5% more in tuition and fees after the schools’ trustees unanimously approved the increase. Administrators said uncertainty about tax revenue and state funding, anticipated salary increases for Heartland employees and inflation all contributed to the need to boost tuition…… MORE
McLean County Sheriff’s Office asking for public’s help to identify vehicle linked to homicide investigation
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Sheriff’s Office and Illinois State Police are probing a deadly shooting that happened Monday night in Bloomington. McLean County Coroner Kathy Yoder identified the victim Kiejoun Watts, 20, of Bloomington. Watts died from a gunshot wound and his body was found by authorities near Victory Church in…… MORE
Rookie member of Congress, who used to work in the Biden administration, is praising her old boss
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Rookie U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Springfield) was in her district Tuesday to convene an agriculture roundtable. Budzinski said she learned a lot. “What we were able to pull together with our agricultural advisory council is an eclectic group of voices, all people who touch the agricultural space. Agriculture is critically…… MORE
Bloomington’s Salvation Army misses bell ringing campaign goal by small margin
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The Salvation Army of Bloomington fell short of their campaign goal for the bell ringing season. The Red Kettle Campaign saw a decline in funds raised as consumers have been doing more shopping online this winter season. The Salvation Army totaled $572,673 through donations, just missing their campaign goal of…… MORE
Plans unveiled for latest Uptown redevelopment in Normal
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
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…