After the latest deposit, the state’s rainy day fund just surpassed $1 billion.… MORE
Central Illinoisans turning to food pantries for help during record inflation
With record inflation, central Illinoisans are turning to food pantries for relief, especially in the Village of Mackinaw.… MORE
Town of Normal encouraging residents to enroll in new mass notification system
By Neil Doyle NORMAL – The Town of Normal has rolled out a free mass communication system called Notify Normal. The service will allow residents and community members to be notified by the town in the event of an emergency situation and be updated on community events and town services. Director of Communications Cathy Oloffson…… MORE
Springfield might get another national monument
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Springfield might get another national monument. The National Park Service is studying the sites and stories of a race riot from 114 years ago, a riot credited with leading to the creation of the NAACP. Dan Duster, a great-grandson of journalist and civil rights pioneer Ida B. Wells, cheered on…… MORE
Pork and Pigskins Championship returns to crown best pork chop sandwich in Illinois
By RFD Radio BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois High School Association and Illinois Pork Producers Association are teaming up again this fall to find the state’s best concession stand pork chop sandwich. It’s called the Pork and Pigskins Championship and last year’s winner was Normal Community High School. The IHSA’s Tracie Henry says they received a…… MORE
Butter cow unveiled at the Illinois State Fair
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – You can color Gov. JB Pritzker “gobsmacked,” and when was the last time you heard a governor use that word? He reacted to Wednesday’s unveiling of the 101st edition of the butter cow, an Illinois State Fair staple. Sculptor Sarah Pratt of Iowa has finished her sixth creation for the…… MORE
Nearly $10.5 million raised in St. Jude Runs event for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Community members joined together over the weekend to run for a good cause. St. Jude Runs annual charity event raised over $10 million dollars in their 54 mile trek from Bloomington-Normal to Peoria. Local St. Jude board member James Ingold realizes that it’s difficult to donate with raised inflation on…… MORE
Durbin reacts to FBI raid on former president Donald Trump’s Florida estate
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is defending the FBI’s raid on former president Donald Trump’s Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago. “I feel certain, not knowing any details directly, that they wouldn’t have taken an historic and monumental step without thoughtful consideration and checking all the boxes,” Durbin said at an unrelated news…… MORE
Death investigation on Bloomington’s west side
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – A person was found dead Tuesday afternoon inside a parked car on Bloomington’s west side. Bloomington Police were called around 12:45 p.m. to the 1100 block of West Front Street. No other information is being released at this time and BPD detectives are still probing the incident. Anyone with information…… MORE
Republicans are being asked about gubernatorial candidate comparing abortion to the Holocaust
Now that gubernatorial candidate State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) has drawn more criticism for comparing abortion to the Holocaust, Republicans all over the state are being asked about it.… 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…