Jelani Day art removal brings strong emotions to Normal Council chambers
NORMAL – A group of emotional public commenters chastised the Normal Town Council during its regular meeting Monday — as well as during an outdoor rally preceding that meeting — about the town’s controversial removal of an artwork honoring Jelani Day, an ISU graduate student whose death police continue to investigate. “The taking down of a […]
Illinois Supreme Court: Alan Beaman Can Sue Town Of Normal, Police
NORMAL – The Illinois Supreme Court has again overruled the appeals court in Alan Beaman’s attempt to sue the Town of Normal and three police officers for malicious prosecution. In a 4-2 ruling, the justices have sent the case back to McLean County Circuit Court for trial, seven years after it was first filed in 2014. Beaman was […]
State Invests $15 Million To Fuel Two New Manufacturing Programs Downstate
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker announced Wednesday the state was distributing funds to two downstate Illinois community colleges for electric vehicle manufacturing and renewable energy generation training programs. Pritzker made the announcement at Heartland Community College in Normal, where one of the new programs will launch. “I’m committed to building an Illinois that is focused […]
News Around Illinois – Aug. 28, 2020
Attorney: R&B Singer R Kelly Attacked In Federal Detention CHICAGO (AP) — The lawyer for R. Kelly said Thursday the R&B singer, who is awaiting trial on child pornography and other charges, was assaulted by a fellow detainee at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago. Attorney Steve Greenberg revealed in a tweet that he learned […]
News Around Illinois – July 31, 2020
Homeland Security Has Seized $200 Million From Travelers At O’Hare Airport Since 2000, Report Finds The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has seized more than $203 million in cash from travelers at O’Hare International Airport since 2000 – more than any other airport in the country, according to a report released Thursday. And more than […]
News Around Illinois – July 23, 2020
Illinois Reports July’s Highest One-Day Total Of Virus Cases SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — As parts of the nation struggle with a worse coronavirus outbreak than during its high points last spring in other states, Illinois, where officials continue to congratulate residents for keeping the new virus in check, announced Wednesday an increasing number of newly […]
News Around Illinois – July 16, 2020
At Least 36 Students Test Positive For Virus After Camps LAKE ZURICH, Ill. (AP) — At least three dozen high school students in northern Illinois have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus after some attending summer sports camps showed symptoms of the disease. Investigations and contact tracing of the infections are tied to the camps […]
News Around Illinois – July 13, 2020
Illinois Launches Campaign To Prevent Abuse Of Seniors SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois is launching a $2.1 million campaign to prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of seniors and adults with disabilities, a problem officials fear has worsened during the coronavirus pandemic. The Illinois Department on Aging’s Office of Adult Protective Services received federal funds for […]
News Around Illinois – July 10, 2020
Gov. Pritzker Names New Head Of Unemployment Department Months After Complaints Pile Up Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker Thursday named a new director of the agency that manages unemployment claims after the department encountered serious problems dealing with the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. The Illinois Department of Employment Security also started a new approach […]
News Around Illinois – June 19, 2020
At Some CPS Schools, Conversations And Peace Circles Will Replace Traditional Punishment When Iysha Jones and her team took over Doolittle Elementary School last year, it was a place where students had trouble talking about how they felt because they expected bad behavior to result in harsh discipline, like suspensions. So Jones was elated when […]
News Around Illinois – June 11, 2020
State Grants To Help Child Care Centers Reopen As Illinois begins to re-open, and people go back to work, they’ll need safe and reliable child care. That was the message Wednesday from Gov. JB Pritzker when he announced a sizeable portion of federal CARES Act funds will go to child care providers. At Skip-a-long Child […]
News Around Illinois – June 10, 2020
A Dialogue On Race Begins With Police In Bloomington-Normal NORMAL – On Saturday, a diverse group of around 60 people gathered in the parking lot of CrossFit Bloomington-Normal to have a conversation about race. Called “The Community Unification Project,” the event was organized by CrossFit owner Chad Hobbs in coordination with the Normal Police Department […]
News Around Illinois – January 10, 2020
Michael Madigan’s Friend Dodges Questions About ‘Rape’ Comment In An Email Consummate Illinois Democratic insider Michael McClain dodged questions Thursday about an email in which he sought leniency for a state worker in a disciplinary case, having argued that the man was politically loyal and had stayed silent about “the rape in Champaign.” In his […]