The Illinois Department of Public Health Tuesday reported 12,623 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus and 79 additional deaths.… MORE
Community compost kiosk coming to Bloomington-Normal
Designed to help with the large amount of take-out containers infiltrating landfills, a new community compost kiosk is coming to the Twin-Cities. … MORE
Bloomington City Council continues discussion about replacing Columbus Day
A proposal to replace Christopher Columbus day with Indigenous Peoples’ day is still up for discussion for the Bloomington City Council.… MORE
12 infected and 37 firefighters quarantined after exposure to COVID-19
Coronavirus has hit the Springfield Fire Department.… MORE
Community leader remembered for effort to launch Not In Our Town movement in the Twin-Cities
In the words of Bloomington’s mayor, the city is mourning the loss of an “incredible jewel” to the community.… MORE
167 new COVID cases in McLean County; Positivity rate above 9%
The rolling seven-day positivity rate in McLean County is now 9.2%, the highest it has been in nearly two months.… MORE
Cash crop harvest nearing completion
Corn and soybean harvests are almost finished and, as of Sunday, ahead of the average. The USDA crop report shows corn and soybeans 95 and 96 percent complete, respectively.… MORE
State health officials announce 10,573 new cases of coronavirus
By Neil Doyle SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health Monday reported 10,573 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus, including 14 additional deaths. Tier 2 Resurgence Mitigation’s for Regions 5,7,& 8 begin Wednesday. Learn more: https://t.co/633Ld4sH6N pic.twitter.com/DjOkIBS107 — IDPH (@IDPH) November 9, 2020 Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 498,560 cases, including…… MORE
Bloomington Dr.: Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trials results are a ‘game-changer’
A ‘game-changer’ is how one Central Illinois doctor describes Coronavirus vaccine trial announcements while cases are on the rise.… MORE
2 additional COVID-related deaths in McLean County
McLean County health officials Monday reported two additional coronavirus-related deaths, brining the number of lives lost to 41.… 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…