Even minor moves by State Farm can become a story in the Bloomington-Normal media. So when something big actually happens—like its former downtown headquarters being at risk for demolition—it's bound to get attention.
Stories from State Farm, Rivian, and the cornfields of central Illinois all made our list of the Top 10 Most-Read Stories of 2019.
1. Report: Insurance Industry Faces 'Talent Crisis'
Any news about insurance jobs will find an audience in Bloomington-Normal, where both State Farm and COUNTRY Financial are based. In this story, we reported on a report from the Chicago-based Jacobson Group which said insurance companies will have to be more proactive—and pay more—to find and retain employees amid a “talent crisis” for the industry. Low unemployment and more retirements have combined to create a highly competitive recruiting climate in the insurance industry, the report found.
2. State Farm To Demolish Downtown Building After Sale Falls Through
2019 was quite an eventful year for State Farm’s former downtown Bloomington headquarters. In March, State Farm said it had found a buyer (who was never disclosed publicly). But that deal fell apart in July, and the company said it planned to demolish the building instead. By September, State Farm had lined up another buyer—this one a developer from Rockford who planned to build upscale apartments at the site. That sale has since closed, with a next-to-nothing purchase price.
3. Failing Rica: B-N Girl's Death Exposes Holes In State's Child Protection System
Rica Rountree’s death was one of the most tragic stories of 2019 in Bloomington-Normal. Her father’s girlfriend, Cynthia Baker, was convicted of chronically abusing and ultimately killing the 8-year-old girl. WGLT reporting ahead of Baker’s trial showed that the Department of Children and Family Services allowed Rica to live with Baker, despite her being a known child abuser. Lawmakers, including state Rep. Keith Sommer, say Rica’s case may inspire new legislation. Baker will be sentenced Jan. 31.
4. Normal Police Officer Accused Of Stealing Money After 911 Call
Veteran Normal Police officer Brian Williams was arrested in November and accused of stealing—and then trying to return—$12,000 in cash from the residence of someone who overdosed. Williams is on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. "The Normal Police Department holds the public’s trust in the highest regard and will work diligently to complete a thorough and effective investigation," Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner said. Williams is due back in court Dec. 20.
5. Kirk Zimmerman Acquitted In Murder Trial
A jury took less than eight hours to find Kirk Zimmerman not guilty of killing his ex-wife Pamela, swiftly ending a case that took nearly five years to reach trial. Prosecutors failed to win over jurors during a four-week trial that called on 60 witnesses and four terabytes of evidence. The Bloomington case—including interviews with Kirk and Pamela’s children—was later featured on an episode of “Dateline.”
6. Unit 5 HR Director Faced Harassment Allegations Before Resignation
Last spring the Unit 5 school district approved a resignation agreement with its now former director of HR and student services, James Harden. Subsequent WGLT reporting found that a pattern of workplace harassment preceded Harden's exit from Unit 5. WGLT met with three people who worked closely with Harden and said they felt his harassment firsthand. Their experiences tell a story of improper behavior spanning more than a year and a half.
7. Unit 5 Teacher Charged With Abusing First Graders
Charges remain pending against Jonathan Hovey, a former first-grade teacher at Unit 5’s Glenn Elementary School. He was charged in August with sexually abusing two of his students—including one victim who prosecutors say first made her allegation 14 years ago. Hovey’s lawyer says he’s not guilty and plans to mount a “vigorous defense.” Hovey's teaching license has been suspended while the case plays out.
8. 85 Years After Founding In Normal, Challenges Put Steak 'n Shake On The Brink
Steak ’n Shake is one of Bloomington-Normal’s most famous exports, right up there with State Farm and Beer Nuts. Sardar Biglari, a mysterious young investor, took over Steak ’n Shake in 2008, amid the Great Recession. But the company has been in a slide in recent years, and many locations have closed (including in central Illinois).
9. This Young Farmer Just Bought Her Own 20 Acres. Now Comes The Hard Part.
Grace Weinzierl is a 27-year-old farmer who just bought her first 20 acres of farmland. She’s an outlier: a young, female producer in an industry dominated—at least on paper—by older men. Her journey (from farm-adjacent kid to college student to landowner) shows one possible path for navigating the many barriers that prevent young people from farming.
10. Plant Finds Second Life With Rivian—And So Do Ex-Mitsubishi Workers
2020 stands to be a big year at Rivian, with production of its first two vehicles set to begin in Normal. The year 2019 began a bit more quietly, as the company began retooling the former Mitsubishi Motors plant after the big LA Auto Show debut. WGLT spoke to a former Mitsubishi worker, Wade Jensen, who gladly showed off his plant as it slowly comes back to life.
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