Unit 5

The revenue from the countywide sales tax will help to pay the debt off, but that will not roll in before the summer when repairs are most needed.

Rules regarding cell phone use in school varies by district, and sometimes even by school, across McLean County. The Illinois Senate has passed a bill aimed at ending phone use during class instruction.

A food distribution that serves hundreds of Bloomington-Normal residents each month is ending.

The new sales tax takes effect July 1. Earning around 53% of the vote, the referendum was one of several factors contributing to an increased voter turnout compared to previous municipal elections.

A Trump administration effort to remove the federal government from wide swaths of American life continues to spread. Libraries and museums in Bloomington-Normal and around Illinois also will feel the impact.

The Twin City school districts have added transparency dashboards on their websites to show where funding would be spent if the new sales tax is approved April 1.

There are only two Bloomington City Council seats that have contested races in the April 1 election. Ward 9, which covers a good part of the northeast side, is one of them.

Unit 5 adopted a standards-based practices model several years ago and is continuing to make improvements for teachers, students and parents. On Wednesday, presenters outlined the recommendations task forces made for elementary, middle and high schools.

A summary of issue positions held by incumbent council member Jenna Kearns and challenger Ben Zimmerman.

Jimmy Buffett's longtime bassist says if he weren't a musician, he’d be a psychologist. Jim Mayer not only continues to tour with the Coral Reefers, the band of the late Buffett, he plays in hundreds of schools per year, trying to teach kids social-emotional skills.