Politics and Government

The decade-old Underpass project in Uptown Normal has had another hitch. The contractor, Millstone-Weber, said it can't meet the requirements and construction timeline and has pulled out.

The City of Bloomington is stepping into what promises to be a thorny issue: rules about signs. City Manager Jeff Jurgens said the city hasn't revised the sign code since the 1970s.

A woman is suing the state of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Corrections, alleging the state prison system forced her to give birth before she was due. Amy Hicks was in custody at the Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln in early 2024, held on a drug conviction. Over her objections, she was taken to a hospital and labor was induced two weeks before her due date.

The City of Bloomington doesn't know what's happening to up to 3 million gallons of water per day — and it could be more during the summer. An aging treatment and distribution system is a root cause.

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.

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

Homebuilders put up just 58 single-family homes and duplexes in Bloomington last year — fewer than the 66 built in 2024. City officials hope other actions focusing on existing housing will help ease the community housing shortage.

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood has concerns about tariffs, but not enough to break with President Trump in a largely symbolic House vote against them.

Water conservation measures by Bloomington residents are still voluntary for now. Mayor Dan Brady said if the levels in the reservoir fall another two feet, they might not stay optional.

Congressman Darin LaHood is not breaking entirely with the Trump administration on the vaccine question — even while acknowledging he now has more than just concerns.