Town of Normal

A new trailer dropped Thursday for "Normal," a neo-Western thriller film set in a small Midwestern town called Normal. It stars Bob Odenkirk from "Breaking Bad" fame.

Last year, many Bloomington-Normal residents saw their electric bills jump 40% in some cases, even after the municipalities teamed together with other Illinois governments. And there are signs the summer could produce some volatile electric rates again.

A $1.9 million federal grant announced by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin will fund engineering and construction of the new stretch of trail that will extend the current endpoint at Gregory Street and Parkside to the west and south.

Single-family housing starts grew in Normal last year by nearly 49% — though the total number only reached 55.

The Bloomington Normal Economic Development Council has three infrastructure projects and one workforce development program earmarked for a request for funding by Congress and federal agencies as part of the annual One Voice trip to Washington.

Town of Normal staff are signaling a potential need for significant rate increases in several programs including water and sewer, recycling, landscape waste and trash pickups. City Manager Pam Reece said a need for new sewage lift stations and cost recovery for hauling will require a council policy discussion.

The Normal Town Council on Monday heard a presentation on the proposed operating budget for the next five years.

A delay last year in finishing the external audit for McLean County government put grants at risk and further heightened periodic and recurring tensions. McLean County Board Chair Elizabeth Johnston said in a WGLT interview she thinks this year will go much better.

The Town of Normal is extending the temporary closure of a pedestrian-heavy stretch of School Street near Illinois State University as it gathers more data for potential permanent changes.

The union representing firefighters in the Town of Normal is continuing its campaign to keep the soon-to-close College Avenue fire station open — after a new station opens on the east side of town. The town insists there is no situation that needs to be addressed.