Crime

McLean County court records indicate Michael Mitchell, 26, reached a plea agreement with prosecutors for his role in the Nov. 3, 2024 crash near Fox Creek and Beich roads in Bloomington.

A vendor for the City of Bloomington suffered a ransomware cyberattack early this month. That criminal action disrupted about 1,500 credit and debit card payments to the city.

The family of the 16-year-old Bloomington girl who died last week remember her as a loving and caring person. Aunt Sarah Kletz says her Mariah Kletz was her "forever best friend."

Bloomington Police now call the death of a 16-year-girl earlier this month a homicide investigation. But they have released few other details, including a cause of death.

With the release of Bloomington's 2025 crime statistics, gun-related and property crimes decreased, but drug offenses increased. Police Chief Jamal Simington said the department's proactive approach has led to greater intervention throughout the community.

The four Republican Party candidates for governor of Illinois told a Central Illinois audience Thursday evening they favor property tax caps, pension reform, ending Illinois' status as a "sanctuary state," and rolling back the SAFE-T criminal justice reform act which ended cash bail.

Teri Ross is the executive director of ILAO. She says it is important to understand the law because it effects the everyday lives of Illinois residents.

Former Commonwealth Edison CEO Anne Pramaggiore has been sentenced to 24 months in prison in addition to a $750,000 fine — the second of the “ComEd Four” to face sentencing after their 2023 convictions on bribing ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan via jobs and contracts for his political allies.

Normal Police were called to a local massage spa Wednesday and reportedly found a victim of human trafficking.

Derek Siebring, one of three people charged with the murder of Jamere Bew of Bloomington in 2023, has pleaded guilty and will serve decades in prison. His co-defendants' cases are pending.