Emergency Services

Delays and glitches in a new McLean County Computer Aided Dispatch system are frustrating public safety agencies. McLean County is implementing a new suite of software applications to speed up fire and police response in the county. It has not gone well.

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood said Wednesday he is working with the Trump administration to secure federal aid for McLean County and surrounding counties damaged by storms in August.

State and federal emergency management officials announced upcoming assessments of damage caused by the recent severe storms and flooding.

In all, 655 phone calls came into Bloomington and Normal emergency call centers during recent thunderstorms and high winds. That volume overloaded dispatchers at certain points, but the system functioned as designed.

The ACLU of Illinois has concerns about implementation of new restrictions on soliciting and unattended property near and in Uptown Station. WGLT asked Mayor Chris Koos about the issue during a Sound Ideas interview.

Notify Normal has relaunched through Everbridge to alert Town of Normal residents on emergencies, community events, road closures and more.

The union representing firefighters in the Town of Normal is giving up its request to add a fourth fire station. And the town is considering new traffic signal preemption technology that could cut 15-20 seconds off the average drive time to emergencies.

A program that works to reduce caseloads at Bloomington-Normal emergency rooms and the McLean County jail has seen significant growth in the last two years. It's the Frequent User System Engagement, or FUSE program.

A cybercrime organization has breached a system used by the Town of Normal to send out emergency and event notices to subscribers.

The LeRoy school district now has up-to-date 3D school maps, allowing first responders to more quickly respond to emergencies. Other countywide schools are showing interest.