By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – People who watch the Tournament of Roses parade Jan. 2 – in person or on tee vee – should get a hankering to visit Illinois, if the state’s Office of Tourism has its way. For the first time, Enjoy Illinois is entering a float in the Rose Parade. At one…… MORE
Kankakee judge rules the state’s planned elimination of cash bail is unconstitutional
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – A Kankakee County judge, presiding over a consolidated group of more than sixty lawsuits by state’s attorneys, says the state’s law to eliminate cash bail effective Sunday is unconstitutional. Early reaction to the ruling is conflicted as to whether any part of the “pretrial fairness act,” part of the overall…… MORE
Students out after pipe bursts at IWU, won’t be reimbursed for damage
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Dozens at students at Illinois Wesleyan University will be relocated for the next semester after a water pipe broke on Christmas Eve. IWU in Bloomington has to now conduct repairs on the Gates-Fricke student apartments. This will affect 45 students who have to be relocated for the spring semester while…… MORE
Former Bloomington surgeon accused of sexual assault takes plea deal
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – A former orthopedic surgeon in Bloomington has accepted a plea deal in a sexual assault case brought by a patient. Shaun Kink pleaded guilty to one count of solicitation of a sexual act. In exchange, prosecutors dropped the other charges against him – aggravated criminal sexual assault of a handicapped person and…… MORE
Fatal Christmas Day crash near Carlock linked to North Carolina man
By Jake Fogal CARLOCK – A deadly collision that occurred on Christmas Day in McLean County was linked to a man from North Carolina. Herbert Vance Rich III, 71, of Wallace, North Carolina, reportedly suffered multiple brutal injuries in a car accident as the driver of a van that veered off the road, according to the…… MORE
Potential candidates beginning to arise for open Senate Seat in 53rd District
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Republican Party chairs for 13 area counties are releasing details how they will fill the Illinois State Senate seat vacated by Bloomington’s Jason Barickman, and some familiar names in Central Illinois politics are apparently interested in replacing him for a two-year term. Barickman officially resigned Wednesday from the seat he…… MORE
New state law aims to end stigma about GED’s
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – The GED is getting a new name come January. Starting in 2023, the GED certificate will be called the State of Illinois High School diploma says Community College Board spokesperson Matt Berry. “This is important because often a high school equivalency can have a stigma that it’s less than or…… MORE
ICC offers tips for saving on home energy costs
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – Winter has settled in across the state and the Illinois Commerce Commission is offering some tips to help save on home energy costs. Recommendations include changing the furnace filter at least once a month, using LED lighting and sealing up drafty windows with heavy plastic. ICC chairman Carrie Zalewski suggests…… MORE
Illinois sees third highest decline in US population over past year
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Illinois lost an estimated 104,000 residents between 2021 and 2022, the third highest loss after New York and California, according to a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday. Only New York’s 0.9% decrease was greater than Illinois’ 0.8% decline to 12.6 million residents. The statistics account for…… MORE
Fall freshman enrollment up 5% at Illinois public universities
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – Freshman enrollment is up at Illinois public universities. There’s been a five percent increase in the number of freshmen enrolled this school year. That compares to a decrease of more than two percent nationally says State Board of Higher Education spokesperson Jose Garcia. “This definitely does set us ahead of…… 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…