Friday, March 31, 2017
Normal Police Looking for Suspect in Liquor Store Robbery
Normal Police are looking for a man with a gun and a mask who robbed University Liquors. Police say it happened yesterday afternoon. NPD has a picture of the robber, but you can't clearly see his face. Officers say if you know something, please call them
Will Normal's Gordmans Stay or Go?
Home Sales Up
Thursday, March 30, 2017
ISU Holding the Line on Tuition Costs
ISU wants to keep tuition flat next year. President Larry Dietz is recommending no tuition increase for the fall. He's also asking trustees to keep housing and fees flat. Dietz says the school is trying to manage it's way through Illinois' budget crisis It costs about 28-thousand dollars a year, all-in, to attend ISU
ISU: Mumps Outbreak
Dems: Comeback Agenda
There's another 'agenda' at the Illinois Capitol, this time from Democrats. Lawmakers yesterday unveiled what they're calling the Comeback Agenda as a way to try and get closer to a state budget. But most of the proposals have very little to do with paying Illinois' mountain of unpaid bills. The Comeback Agenda's first priorities are public funding for political campaigns, a tax increase on big companies, and more child care for parents in college.
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Schock's Shocker
Lawyers for former Congressman Aaron Schock say the federal government crossed the line when it used a staffer as an informant. Newly released court documents paint a picture of a staffer for Schock wearing a wire and turning over a mountain of evidence. Prosecutors aren't commenting on Schock's lawyers' claims. Schock is facing a trial this summer on charges that he abused government and campaign spending accounts for his own gain.
Tiritilli Talks Change for Normal
The toughest part about convincing people there's a need to change Normal is convincing people there's a need to change. But candidate for mayor Marc Tiritilli says once he explains the town's finances to voters, most see the need right away. But Tiritilli says that's the easy part of his campaign. The hard part is running into the status quo mentality about government in Normal. Tiritilli says there needs to be some balance and sanity in Normal. He says uptown is great, but the town can't afford to continue to pay for all of these projects.
Brady Budget Bill
Sen. Bill Brady Tuesday jump-started the conversation to end a two-year budget impasse as he introduced a full and balanced Fiscal Year 2018 budget that protects the state’s highest priority programs, reins in spending and eliminates two-thirds of the state’s mountain of unpaid bills.
Brady’s proposal provides for selling revenue bonds totaling $6 billion to significantly reduce the state’s backlog of unpaid bills and saving the state millions of dollars in late-payment interest costs. The overall proposal will take the total owed back to the June 2015 level of about $4.4 billion. The proposal also includes a hard-spending cap of roughly $36 billion in general funds.
It fully funds the school aid-formula and includes many of the budget-balancing measures proposed by Governor Rauner in February, including the $1.3 billion in pension reform savings, sale of the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago and $435 million savings in restructuring of the state employee group health insurance program. It also includes new across-the-board cuts totaling nearly $800 million and holding MAP grants to their current level.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Accident Involving First Student Bus Spawns Lawsuit
34-year-old Christopher Beck of Bloomington, who was seriously injured when his motorcycle collided with a school bus carrying Unit 5 students, has now filed a lawsuit against First Student and the bus driver, who he accuses of violating Illinois traffic laws. Beck was southbound on Bunn Street on Oct. 17 when his motorcycle struck the front driver's side of the bus as it was making a right turn from Hazel Street.
New Poll: Most People Want Marijuana Legalized In Illinois
IL Out Migration Update
Monday, March 27, 2017
Salamone Memorial
Home Invasion Stabbing
23-year-old Justin R. Roof faces felony charges after he forced himself into a house and then stabbed a man in the eye. Roof is charged with two counts of home invasion, a Class X felony, as well as residential burglary, a Class 1 felony. He also is charged with two counts of aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony.
Downstate Illinois' First Portillo's To Open In May
Downstate Illinois' first Portillo's is about two months away from opening. Developers in Champaign say the restaurant in that city should open sometime in May. Champaign and Normal are both getting the Chicago style hot dog joint. Normal paid a developer two-million dollars to bring it to town, Champaign didn't pay a thing.
Friday, March 24, 2017
Judge Orders Paychecks For Lawmakers
Illinois doesn't have a budget and is drowning in almost 13-billion dollars of unpaid bills, but at least state lawmakers are being paid. A judge yesterday ordered the state to pay lawmakers. Illinois' former Comptroller last year put lawmakers at the back of the line of the state's unpaid bills. Illinois lawmakers have been paid just once since June.
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Portillo's Update
Lawmakers Propose Legalizing Recreational Marijuana In Illinois
You could fire up a joint legally if two new bills introduced by two Chicago Democrats gets passed. The two bills would allow adults over 21 and to possess, grow, and purchase a limited amount of marijuana. The state would license and regulate businesses growing, processing, testing and selling cannabis to adults, and ant tax it, too, at a rate of $50 per ounce at the whole sale level. You’ll get hit with a 6.25 percent sales tax.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Rauner: Replace Prison Tower Guards with Cameras
Gov. Bruce Rauner wants to replace guards in watchtowers with closed-circuit cameras at nearly two dozen lower-security Illinois prisons, an effort to cut expenses for a cash-strapped state that has gone two years without a budget. The administration is projecting $4 million in annual savings through reduced overtime-pay and more efficient management strategies. No security guards will be laid off.
Shirley Man Faces 9 Felony Child Porn Charges
Obama's Birthday Won't Be a State Holiday...For Now
Former President Obama's birthday won't be designated a holiday in Illinois anytime soon. A proposal that would close state facilities and schools each year on August 4th was voted down yesterday by Illinois House members. Opponents raised concerns about the measure including the economic impact of shutting down state buildings on holidays. Illinois Representative Sonya Harper did use a parliamentary move to keep the proposal alive for another try.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
BPD Seeks Information in Weekend Shootings
Normal Changing Public Comment Policy--Somewhat
Clinton Man Killed
Monday, March 20, 2017
New U Of I Coach: We Will Win
Illinois' Unpaid Bills Hit Milestone
Illinois' total of unpaid bill is enough to saddle every man, woman, and child in the state with a thousand dollars of debt. The state's comptroller on Friday said Illinois' backlog of unpaid bills hit 12-point-eight billion dollars. Comptroller Susana Mendoza says Illinois is in the middle of a "historic financial meltdown" that's only expected to get worse.
Michigan Police Catch Sexually Violent Central Illinois Fugitive
The manhunt in over for a sexually violent fugitive from central Illinois. Deputies in Wakefield, Michigan say they arrested David Hermosillo over the weekend. Hermasillo slipped his ankle bracelet in Bloomington-Normal earlier this month and was on the run. Prosecutors in central Illinois say they want Hermasillo back in a local courtroom, but don't know when it'll happen.
Friday, March 17, 2017
Ordinance Presented to Protect Illegal Immigrants Locally
A.G.: Normal Needs to Adopt New Town Comment Policy
The Illinois Attorney General is the latest to tell the town of Normal to allow people to speak at town meetings more often The AG ruled the town's comment policy, which limits people to just one chance to speak every 45 days, violates Illinois' open meeting rules. The Attorney General says Normal needs to adopt a new policy.
POLL: No to Soda Tax
Whether you call it soda or pop, a new poll says most people in Illinois don't want it taxed. The poll, released yesterday, asked voters about a proposal to tax sugary drinks. The survey says 62-percent of voters in Illinois oppose the idea, just 34-percent support it. Some lawmakers want to add a penny-per-ounce tax as a way to bring-in money and decrease obesity.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Bloomington Mayoral Debate Recap
The two candidates for mayor in Bloomington agree that the city needs more jobs, better roads, and to somewhat cooperate with Normal.
They disagree on how to do that. Mayor Tari Renner and Alderman Kevin Lower met for another debate last night, hosted by Cities 929.
The biggest disagreements are on the role of economic incentives and how much the city has to pay to lure businesses to town.
And there’s always a disagreement between the two over ‘quality of life’ projects.
Voters will make their choice April 4th.
They disagree on how to do that. Mayor Tari Renner and Alderman Kevin Lower met for another debate last night, hosted by Cities 929.
The biggest disagreements are on the role of economic incentives and how much the city has to pay to lure businesses to town.
And there’s always a disagreement between the two over ‘quality of life’ projects.
Voters will make their choice April 4th.
POLL: Not Good for Rauner. Worse for Madigan
Voters in Illinois don’t really like either Governor Bruce Rauner or House Speaker Mike Madigan. But a new poll says they dislike Madigan a little bit more. The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute report, released yesterday, shows 58-percent of voters disapprove of Governor Rauner’s performance. While 61-percent say they disapprove of Madigan.
Motor Voter Bill Approved by State Senate Panel
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
CIRA: Soccer Teams Need to Find New Venue...Soon
Soccer players in Bloomington-Normal need to figure out a new place to play. Soon. That's the word from airport managers who say continuing the lease of field near the Central Illinois Regional Airport isn't a long term solution. A meeting yesterday went over the situation again. Normal City Manager Mark Peterson says supporters need to find more time. No one is guessing if voters in the twin cities will tolerate a 16-million dollar soccer complex.
Merchant's Group Opposes Bill That Would Raise Threshold for Felony Theft
The group that represents Illinois' shopkeepers says its worried about the message lawmakers may be sending to shoplifters. The Illinois Retail Merchants' Association yesterday told lawmakers that its a bad idea to raise the threshold for felony theft to a thousand dollars or more. Right now its at 300-dollars. The Merchants' Rob Karr says thieves will steal up to the threshold, and will only steal more if that threshold is higher.
2018 Gov's Race Could Feature Two BIllionaires
Illinois' next governor's race could be a choice between two billionaires. Democrat JB Pritzker yesterday announced an exploratory committee for a run next year. Pritzker is seen as someone who can counter Governor Rauner's personal fortune with his own. Pritzker is the latest Democrat to move toward a showdown next year. The Democratic primary will be in March of next year
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
City Mgr Hales Passses on New Gig in Wisc.
Bike-Share Program Starts Next Week
A new bike-sharing program is set to launch in the Twin Cities next week. Bike Share 309 allows residents and visitors rent bikes at nine locations scattered across Bloomington and Normal with their smart phone. Fees are $3 hourly, or $40 a year for an annual membership that includes at free 1-hour bike ride with each use.
Monday, March 13, 2017
Winter Weather Advisory Until 7pm
Light snow will continue through the morning before mixing with rain south of I-74 this afternoon. Storm total snowfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are expected along a Canton to Minonk line...and 3 to 5 inches along a Galesburg to Lacon line. Expect slick and slushy roads for the morning commute. Motorists are advised to drive with caution and plan on extra time to arrive at their destinations.
Possible New State Taxes
You may soon pay sales taxes on cable TV and streaming, tattoos, and your next oil change. Illinois lawmakers are considering a plan to expand the base of the state's sales tax. Right now the state doesn't tax many services, lawmakers this week could vote to change that. But there's plenty of opposition in Springfield. Critics say some of the new taxes will hurt the people least able to pay.
Illini & Redbirds in NIT
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Illini: Groce is Gone
Winter Weather Advisory for Snow
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a
Winter Weather Advisory for Snow, which is in effect from 10 PM this
evening to 7 PM CDT Monday.
* TIMING...Snow will develop west of the Illinois River by late
evening...then will spread eastward across the Advisory area
overnight. The snow will be heaviest late tonight into Monday
morning. Snowfall amounts of 3 to 4 inches are expected along a
Canton to Bloomington line...with 5 to 6 inches possible further
north from Galesburg to Lacon.
* MAIN IMPACT...Expect snow-covered and slick roads for the Monday
morning commute. Motorists are advised to drive with caution and plan
on extra time to arrive at their destinations Monday morning.
Winter Weather Advisory for Snow, which is in effect from 10 PM this
evening to 7 PM CDT Monday.
* TIMING...Snow will develop west of the Illinois River by late
evening...then will spread eastward across the Advisory area
overnight. The snow will be heaviest late tonight into Monday
morning. Snowfall amounts of 3 to 4 inches are expected along a
Canton to Bloomington line...with 5 to 6 inches possible further
north from Galesburg to Lacon.
* MAIN IMPACT...Expect snow-covered and slick roads for the Monday
morning commute. Motorists are advised to drive with caution and plan
on extra time to arrive at their destinations Monday morning.
Friday, March 10, 2017
BPD Looking For a Sexually Violent Person
Bloomington police are looking for 50-year-old David Hermisillo who is listed as a sexually violent person and whose ankle tracking device was cut off, and they are warning the public to consider him armed and dangerous. Hermosillo is described as Hispanic, 6' 1" , 225 pounds, bald and having brown eyes. Hermosillo's tattoos include a rose on his left hand; a heart, panther, skull and rose on his left arm; a Tasmanian devil on his chest; and a hat with a crown above it on his back.
State Farm Layoffs
The twin cities' largest employer is announcing layoffs. In a state-mandated letter to the City of Bloomington on February 22nd, State Farm warned of a future layoff. Originally, 54 employees from Corporate South stood to lose their jobs in April. As of today, that number is down to 35. State Farm says it's working with the affected employees to find other positions within the company. Despite the layoff announcement, State Farm remains committed to Bloomington.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Chateau Could Reopen in About 10 Days
The Chateau Hotel and Conference Center could re-open in a week to 10 days after fixing an alarm system. Reports indicate that system stopped working sometime in early November. The hotel was closed Wednesday by the city after a contractor notified them that the fire alarm system was not operating. The hotel's ownership still owes the city about $100,000 in back taxes with full repayment scheduled for this spring.
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