By 25 News NORMAL – Illinois State University is honoring one of its baseball standouts who’s became a major leaguer with the St. Louis Cardinals. ISU is building an indoor hitting and pitching facility along the right field line at Duffy Bass Field. Friday, the university’s governing board voted to name it in honor of…… MORE
Two juveniles charged as adults for theft of 25 guns from Bloomington business
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Two juveniles are being tried as adults for allegedly stealing 25 guns from a Bloomington sporting goods store in December of last year, with one of the stolen firearms being used to shoot a 13-year-old boy in Peoria. Earlier this week, 14-year-old Antwan Freeman appeared in adult court on charges…… MORE
Bloomington native Kinzinger denounces both parties as he bids farewell to Congress
By 25 News WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) bid farewell to the U.S. Congress on Thursday by criticizing Republicans and Democrats for not putting the country ahead of politics. Kinzinger, raised in Bloomington and elected to the McLean County Board when he was a sophomore at Illinois State University, was one of…… MORE
Assault weapon debate continues in Springfield
A high-ranking state official – who says he is a two-time survivor of gun violence – is in favor of outlawing assault weapons in Illinois.… MORE
Bloomington District 87 hires administrator in charge of teaching and learning
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – A long-time Central Illinois educator has been chosen as District 87′s next administrator in charge of teaching and learning. The school board Wednesday night approved a three-year contract with Nicole Rummel in which she will be paid a $130,000 salary during the first year. Rummel will replace Diane Wolf, who’s…… MORE
14-year-old boy charged as adult for theft of 25 guns from Bloomington business
By 25 News MCLEAN COUNTY – A 14-year-old boy from the St. Louis area is charged as an adult in McLean County for his role in a burglary in which 25 guns were stolen from a Bloomington business last December, including one weapon reportedly used last year to shoot a 13-year-old boy in Peoria. McLean…… MORE
Man wanted for multiple fraudulent transactions in Central Illinois and Indiana
A man is wanted for multiple fraudulent transactions in Central Illinois and Indiana.… MORE
McLean County Republican Chair Connie Beard set to resign
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – McLean County’s Republican Party Chair is stepping down. Connie Beard announced Tuesday that she is resigning her seat and Dennis Grundler, the vice chairman of the committee, will take over as her successor and lead the county party in her place. Beard released a statement Tuesday morning. “I have been…… MORE
Despite financial concerns, Bloomington will increase tax collections next year
Bloomington will collect more in property taxes next year to help pay down its obligations to police and fire pensions, and to pay off some of the bonds for expansion and renovation of the city’s public library.… MORE
Connect Transit to reduce weekend service routes
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Due to the continued labor shortage, Connect Transit is temporarily reducing weekend service, beginning Sunday, December 18. Connect Transit says the reductions are their way of providing reliability and stability to their service. Service will be reduced in the early morning and late afternoon when some routes have the least…… 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…