By HOI ABC SPRINGFIELD – The mother of Jelani Day, the late Illinois State University graduate student, is pleased the bill named for her son is now the law in Illinois. Gov. JB Pritzker has signed legislation requiring local law enforcement notify the FBI within 72 hours after the discovery of a body. Day went…… MORE
Sen. Durbin: “Prices are too damn high”
Illinois’ Senior Senator is pointing the finger at energy companies for the high gas prices.… MORE
Radio Bloomington exclusive: American Idol’s Leah Marlene revisits her roots
It’s not every day an American Idol Top 3 Finalist comes to visit Radio Bloomington.… MORE
Uptown Normal preps for hometown parade and concert for American Idol finalist
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – She’s in the Top 3 of American Idol and she’s coming home. Leah Marlene will be rejoicing with fans on today as the Town of Normal is organizing a parade and concert in Uptown Normal. The community is invited to join in the festivities celebrating Marlene’s milestone achievement as a…… MORE
Train hits semi on Bloomington’s west side
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Police say no one was injured Monday afternoon after a train clipped the back of a tractor trailer. Public Information Officer Brandt Parsley says it happened around 2:20 p.m. Monday near the intersection of Market Street and White Oak. No one was injured.… MORE
Governor Pritzker is sticking with his DCFS director
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Four days after another bad report card for his child welfare agency, Gov. JB Pritzker defended both the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and its director, Marc Smith. An audit released last week blasted the Department of Children and Family Services for not keeping up on children’s vaccinations,…… MORE
Illinois farmers were able to do some catching up last week
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 5.4 days suitable for field work during the week ending May 15, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 75.8 degrees, 14.1 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.19 inches, 0.71 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 2 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture…… MORE
State Treasurer celebrating one million claims from I-Cash program
In not quite eight years, the state treasurer’s office has completed one million claims from its Unclaimed Property program. That’s twice the number as in the twelve years prior to Mike Frerichs taking office.… MORE
Prices at the pump remain unchanged in past week
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Gas prices remain high across Illinois but the average price was unchanged over the week, sitting at $4.83 a gallon. According to GasBuddy, prices in Illinois are 47 cents higher than a month ago and $1.63 higher than a year ago. “Those filling their tanks last week saw another jolt…… MORE
Tractor hits power line, catches fire in El Paso
By HOI ABC EL PASO – Firefighters say a tractor caught on fire after hitting a power line Sunday morning, leading to hundreds of thousands in damages. El Paso Fire Chief Neil Gauger says it happened in the 2700 block of County Road East, near 1100 North. Gauger said the wings of the tractor’s cultivator…… 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…