By HOI ABC NORMAL – A police officer in Normal is being honored for his service to families of officers who have died in the line-of-duty. Normal Police Chief Steve Petrilli on Thursday presented Officer Chad Bock with the Meritorious Police Service Award. Bock is a member of the Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors Critical…… MORE
Illinois is trying to get a step ahead of people who commit crimes with guns
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Illinois is using technology to better trace guns used in crimes. Attorney General Kwame Raoul and State Police director Brendan Kelly led a news conference Wednesday to announce Crime Gun Connect. “Each one of those flags on the screen represents a discrete recovery,” said Adam Braun, executive deputy attorney general.…… MORE
Leah Marlene announces hometown concert at The Corn Crib
By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Normal native Leah Marlene is making a return to the Twin-Cities for a hometown concert later this summer. Marlene announced she’ll be performing August 27 at The Corn Crib. Joining the show will be fellow American Idol contestant Fritz Hager. Marlene was scheduled to perform at Make Music Normal and…… MORE
Rivian hosts public hearing on its proposed wind energy project
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Rivian is meeting with the public to discuss plans to put up a wind turbine at its plant in Normal. About a dozen curious people showed up at public comment session Wednesday night at Heartland Community College, and no one who attended indicated they’re opposed to the plan. Rivian wants…… MORE
Cause unknown in early morning Bloomington fire
By HOI ABC and Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Authorities were called early Wednesday morning near Downtown Bloomington for a fire at the corner of Market and Lee Streets. A building, which was under construction, was on fire and the roof had partially collapsed. Public Information Officer Frank Friend told our news partner HOI ABC the…… MORE
Half-century in prison for Bloomington man convicted of 2018 homicide
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington man was sentenced Tuesday to 50-years in prison for a fatal shooting in the Twin-Cities almost four years ago. A jury in February convicted Jordyn Thornton, 22, of first-degree murder for shooting-to-death Trevonte Kirkwood in the 1300 block of North Oak Street in Bloomington in October 2018. It…… MORE
Bailey to face Pritzker in the race to be the next governor of Illinois
By WJBC Staff BLOOMINGTON – State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) beat six candidates in Tuesday’s primary election and will face Gov. JB Pritzker in the November election. Bailey received 57% of the vote, with Jesse Sullivan getting 16% and Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin receiving 15%. Local Republican State Rep. Dan Brady easily beat John Milhiser…… MORE
Heartland Community College breaks ground on $23M ag building
Ground has been broken on the new 29,500 square foot Ag facility at Heartland Community College.… MORE
Illinois farmers appear to have made up for a slow start
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 6.1 days suitable for field work during the week ending June 26, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 76.4 degrees, 2.6 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 1.00 inches, 0.08 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 9 percent very short, 22 percent short, 68 percent adequate, and 1…… MORE
Council votes 5-3 for Bloomington’s second cannabis dispensary
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council has approved the city’s second cannabis dispensary for recreational use, although three of the newest council members voted no. The council Monday night granted Project Equity’s request for a special use permit to open a dispensary at 1006 JC Parkway, close to Walmart and Blain’s Farm…… 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…