The second annual Birds Give Back – 1 Day for Change at Illinois State University surpassed its goal by receiving 2,188 gifts for a total of $1,118,734.… MORE
IWU athletes, coaches sue Twin-Cities Jimmy John’s after getting sick
Ten Illinois Wesleyan University’s track team members and coaches are suing the owners of a Bloomington Jimmy John’s restaurant claiming they got sick after eating a sandwich.… MORE
Self-defense turns deadly in Delevan
An act of self-defense Thursday night turned fatal in Tazewell County.… MORE
Bloomington man identified in fatal crash on Interstate 74
A Bloomington man has been identified as the victim of a fatal crash Wednesday morning on Interstate 74.… MORE
Illinois public health officials briefing state legislature on coronavirus
By Illinois Radio Network SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Department of Public Health officials have been providing regular briefings to the General Assembly about the novel coronavirus from China and one lawmaker who has taken part in those briefings said residents should remain vigilant. China had reported 78,190 cases, including 2,718 deaths, to the World Health Organization as…… MORE
Illinois lawmakers look to allow parents to exempt kids from school shooter drills
Illinois lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that would allow parents to exempt their kids from their school’s active shooter drills.… MORE
Measure to partially ban red-light cameras passes Illinois House
After a former state lawmaker pleaded guilty to taking bribes to protect the red light camera industry, the Illinois House passed a measure to partially ban the cameras.… MORE
Debate over Illinois’ noncitizen prisoner release policy focuses on money, safety
The Illinois Department of Corrections policy of not holding undocumented immigrants upon release from Illinois prisons could be compounded by a U.S. appeals court ruling on Wednesday that allows U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to withhold federal funds from states and cities with sanctuary policies.… MORE
Illinois universities seek double-digit funding increases from state lawmakers
Officials from three of the state’s public universities went before a Senate committee on Wednesday to detail their funding requests funding, including one double-digit increase.… MORE
Keplr Vision signs lease to move office to former State Farm building
A vision company has announced its leasing space in the former State Farm building in downtown Bloomington.… 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…