Jim Stahly Jr.

A grocery store in the middle of a “food desert” around Illinois State University, and an emphasis on smaller businesses and buildings, topped public input Thursday night on possible design plans for Uptown South.

Unit 5 administrators detailed the consequences of looming financial shortfalls and shared a community wish list of district improvements Tuesday night. Now, they're asking district residents to prioritize those lists — and say what they might be worth.

Speaking to McLean County Democrats on Thursday night, Gov. JB Pritzker placed the blame squarely on his Republican predecessor. Gov. Bruce Rauner’s two-year budget impasse put the state into a nose-dive, Pritzker said, while crediting Democrats with turning Illinois around.

McLean County Republicans heard a largely united front from GOP candidates for governor and U.S. Senate on Friday night, touting support for law enforcement, reformed government and lower taxes, while ripping Democratic handling of education and the pandemic.

The head of the House subcommittee that oversees humanitarian aid says the U.S. sent a clear message about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with recent sanctions and continued diplomatic efforts.

Nearly a year before cash bail is set to end in Illinois, supporters of the Pretrial Fairness Act in Bloomington-Normal are bracing to fight for its existence.