Chris Koos

A plan to expand the property-tax base for the Central Illinois Regional Airport – from Bloomington and Normal city limits to the entire county – has resurfaced in a new bill in Springfield. It’s drawing early opposition from the head of a group of small-town McLean County mayors.

Normal Mayor Chris Koos expects the increased tax revenue the town saw in the last year will continue into the future.

The mayor of Normal said he's had it with lengthy traffic jams caused by freight trains. Chris Koos said this has been an issue before and the Union Pacific Railroad has addressed it, but there has been backsliding.

The three-person board will review objections to multiple candidacy petitions that were filed for offices that either do not currently exist within the municipality, or have historically been appointed.

The eight-acre area bounded by the train tracks, Constitution Trail, Linden Street, and Irving Street is planned as green spaces, multi-use business and housing spaces, and a “large format” space for to-be-undetermined use.

Normal Mayor Chris Koos says he'll push for more long-distance passenger train routes if he's confirmed to Amtrak's Board of Directors.

Normal Mayor Chris Koos said he has concerns about privacy protections that he will discuss with the police chief before he votes July 18 on a plan to buy license plate reading cameras.

Extra funding is on the way for three parks and outdoor projects in Bloomington-Normal. The money is coming from the State Farm Century of Good Grant.

The mayors of Bloomington and Normal agree that despite some challenges, the community is on the right track.

The mayor of Normal hopes the massive federal infrastructure bill will include money for water treatment plant upgrades in Bloomington-Normal.