By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Connect Transit will be hosting several community engagement sessions to discuss the proposal to merge the current Lime Express route with a new route that will serve west Bloomington-Normal. The proposed new route will provide service between Uptown Station and Downtown Bloomington, and will serve Rivian, OSF, Walmart and several…… MORE
Gas prices country wide nearing $5 mark in latest gas report
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Gas prices in Illinois jumped up last week by 43 cents, averaging $5.44 a gallon. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Illinois is priced at $4.59 while the most expensive is $6.79. Gas prices in the state are 85 cents higher than a month ago and $2.20…… MORE
Hundreds dressed up for Cogs and Corsets in Downtown Bloomington
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – A passion for the past came alive in Bloomington as the McLean County Museum of History hosted an event focused on all things steampunk. Cosplayers and fans of the genre flooded downtown for the ‘Cogs and Corsets’ festival. Activities included a market, Tea room, workshops and even a murder mystery…… MORE
Miller Park Zoo celebrates 131st birthday in splashy fashion
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – The Miller Park Zoo hosted a party on Saturday over a century in the making. The Twin Cities attraction celebrated its 131st birthday, complete with games, crafts, and a wide variety of activities. The zoo originally started in 1891 as a side exhibit for those going to boat and swim…… MORE
IWU President: “The only answer is going to be gun control”
On the heels of a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Illinois Wesleyan’s President calls for more gun control.… MORE
Bloomington man raises $3K for Uvalde, Texas school shooting families
A Bloomington man is giving back to Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and two adults were gunned down in one of the nation’s deadliest school shootings.… MORE
New innovation building coming to Illinois Wesleyan University
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Three new programs and a new innovation building are making their way to Illinois Wesleyan University. A multi-million dollar donation from Dave and Ellen Petrick allows construction to begin on the new Innovation building, dubbed the Petrick Idea Center. IWU President Georgia Nugent says lots of excitement is taking place…… MORE
Springfield boy in custody after alleged threat on Sandy Hook Elementary School
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – A phone call from Springfield to Newtown, Ct., late Wednesday was an alleged threat on Sandy Hook Elementary School. A fourteen-year-old Springfield boy is in custody and charged with disorderly conduct. City, Sangamon County, and school officials here say after an investigation the boy, a Springfield High School freshman, was…… MORE
Illinois Republican candidates for governor debate Thursday night
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The six men seeking the Republican nomination for governor debated Thursday for ABC-7 in Chicago. Unsurprisingly, guns and school safety were major issues. “Our schools can be soft-armored. Each classroom can become a safe zone,” said State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia). “In our area, law enforcement takes a very active…… MORE
City officials break ground on a $25M Bloomington Library expansion
At the tune of $25 million, public officials and the members of the Bloomington Public Library broke ground on a new expansion.… 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…