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
Normal native Leah Marlene advances to Top 3 on ‘American Idol’
By Neil Doyle and HOI ABC NORMAL – Normal native Leah Marlene is moving on to the top three on singing competition ‘American Idol.’ Marlene sang her own renditions of ‘I’ll Stand By You’ by The Pretenders and ‘Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)’ by Journey. During the episode, contestants were guided by former ‘Idol’ champion and…… MORE
County Board delays vote on proposed solar farm in southwest Bloomington
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Elected leaders who have the final say whether a solar farm will sprout up in southwest Bloomington are holding off on a decision in hopes local workers will be used to build the project. Cypress Creek Renewables wants to build the county’s second solar farm, to be located in Dale…… MORE
25 years in prison for man convicted in Livingston County child molestation, pornography case
By HOI ABC LIVINGSTON COUNTY – A man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for predatory sexual assault in a deal that Livingston County’s chief prosecutor said spares the victim from having to testify in open court. State’s Attorney Randy Yedinak said Jeremy Coates, 39, of Frankfort, sexually assaulted the child in Flanagan…… MORE
McLean County judge to decide if Barton McNeil case moves to 3rd stage of evidentiary hearing in ‘98 murder
It will be at least two months before the Illinois Innocence Project learns what evidence they can present in the case of Barton McNeil, the Bloomington man convicted of killing his daughter in 1998. This is because both the state and McNeil’s counsel agree a 3rd stage evidentiary hearing is necessary.… MORE
Illinois Republicans discuss Richard Irvin as top competitor to Gov. Pritzker
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Most or all top Republicans in Illinois say the state needs a Gov. Richard Irvin. So much so that when the subject came up at an unrelated news conference Thursday, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) twice – committing a “Freudian slip” – referred to “Gov. Irvin.” The support…… MORE
Rivian Automotive to recall certain R1T vehicles due to airbag safety concerns
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Electric vehicle maker Rivian has issued its first-ever vehicle recall over concerns of a sensor for the front airbag malfunctioning in certain R1T vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the Occupant Classification System on R1Ts produced between September 21, 2021 through April 12, 2022 may not deactivate the airbag when…… MORE
Potential abortion law change challenged from a doctors perspective
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Let’s take a minute to step away from the discussion of whether abortion should be legal and ask for a doctor’s perspective. When somebody says, “Abortion is health care,” what do they mean by that? Dr. Michelle Brown of Chicago is legislative chair of the Illinois chapter of the American…… MORE
Leah Marlene community watch party to be hosted by Normal West High School
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Leah Marlene sang her way to top five on American Idol. Now, Normal West is hosting a community watch party for Marlene on Sunday. There will be a pre-party on Normal West’s front lawn with food trucks, games, face painting and more. The community will then gather in the school’s…… MORE
Rivian’s loses almost $1.6 billion in 1Q, top priority to boost production in Normal
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Rivian Automotive said it lost $1.59 billion in the first quarter of this year even as the company works to ramp up production of electric powered vehicles at its plant in Normal. “As we produce vehicles at low volumes on production lines designed for higher volumes, we have and will…… 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…