By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – A duplex fire Tuesday afternoon in Bloomington resulted in two families being displaced from their homes. Bloomington fire crews were called around 1:03 p.m. to 1017 West Monroe Street. Authorities say the stairs in the duplex were on fire and the blaze was contained to the basement. The first and…… MORE
UIS will soon have a presence near the Capitol
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield campus of the University of Illinois is a step closer to the bright lights of downtown. UIS chancellor Janet Gooch says the former Illinois Sheriffs’ Association building at Fourth and Washington Streets, a few blocks from the Capitol, will host the university’s business incubator, plus pursuits that can…… MORE
Efforts underway in Normal to throw out election petitions for jobs that don’t exist
By 25 News NORMAL – Two residents of Normal, including an ex-town council member, have formally objected to election petitions for two government jobs that don’t exist, and a third that is an appointed position. The objections were filed Monday, which is the first step toward a possible legal battle. They call for the town’s…… MORE
Rivian signs wind energy deal to power factory in Normal
By 25 News NORMAL – Rivian Automotive plans to buy wind-produced energy from a Virgina-based firm to power the electric vehicle plant in Normal. The agreement is for Apex Clean Energy to sell Rivian 50 megawatts of electricity from Apex’s proposed Goose Creek wind farm in Piatt County. Apex is attempting to secure local permits for the…… MORE
Teenager arrested for SUV theft in Stanford
By 25 News STANFORD – Stanford Police have arrested a 17-year-old juvenile suspected of stealing a sport utility vehicle that was later found wrecked and abandoned in Urbana. Police Chief Dustin Carter said in a Facebook post that the SUV was stolen October 31. Police entered the report in a database that can be seen by all…… MORE
McLean County Board splits party leadership
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – A split McLean County board will also have split leadership. Board member John McIntyre will retain his seat as chairman, a position he’s held since 2016. Joining him as Vice-Chair will be Democratic member Elizabeth Johnston, who has sat on the board since 2016. Both represent District 5, covering the…… MORE
Fatal car crash Monday afternoon near LeRoy
By Neil Doyle LEROY – Authorities are investigating a deadly car crash that happened Monday afternoon in southeast McLean County. Coroner Kathy Yoder says the crash happened around 3:30 p.m. just east of LeRoy at the intersection of 3100 East and 400 North Road. One person died in the accident and the victim’s name is…… MORE
Bloomington Republican announces retirement from Illinois Senate
By WJBC Staff BLOOMINGTON – State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) announced on Monday his retirement from the Senate at the end of his current term, which expires Jan. 10, 2023. Barickman has served in the General Assembly for 12 years. He currently represents the 53rd District, which covers parts of McLean, Livingston, Woodford and Ford…… MORE
Racial gaps in medical care – in which pregnant woman and new moms consider suicide
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Correct diagnosis of suicide risk among pregnant women and new mothers lags far behind if the woman is Black. Karen Tabb Dina (DEE-nuh), an associate professor of social work at the University of Illinois, says the numbers are there. The answers are not. “We’re finding that it is different; the…… MORE
Losing candidate for governor last month is preparing for whatever is next
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Looking back on his losing campaign for governor and just weeks away from being out of office entirely, State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) says it’s not as if some part of him were left unknown to the public. “I don’t think anything,” Bailey said this week. “I have no regrets.…… 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…