Tornado

The proclamation must be approved at the federal level before McLean County will have an opportunity to receive aid.

The National Weather Service confirmed 172 tornadoes have struck the state this severe weather season. That's an all-time state record, and the most for any state in the U.S. this year.

The National Weather Service has preliminary confirmation of nine tornadoes in Central Illinois on Wednesday and Thursday of last week.

The federal Small Business Administration said McLean County failed to qualify 25 homes for low-interest loans for home repair, finding not enough hit the agency's threshold for assistance.

So far, State Farm and Country Financial have fielded a combined 656 insurance claims in McLean County from the April 17 storms and tornadoes.

The City of Bloomington is getting close to the end of cleanup from the tornadoes that swept through the Twin Cities on April 17. City Manager Jeff Jurgens said city crews have hauled away 442 truckloads of debris.

In his first State of the City speech, Bloomington Mayor Dan Brady said the city has accomplished a lot in his first year in office.

The Red Cross will be at The Hub at the Government Center in Downtown Bloomington from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday.

Bryce Janssen, public information officer for the Bloomington Police Department, said to avoid scams, go with a trusted contractor or talk with your insurer about recommended contractors. Illinois lawmakers also are looking to stop storm chaser scams.

The Town of Normal has collected more storm debris in less than a week than all the waste it hauled away in March.