Uptown Normal

Candidates competing for three open seats on the Normal Town Council sparred Thursday over how best to handle town finances and infrastructure, future development, and whether divisive politics is tainting town governance.

Pantagraph Media hosted the forum, moderated by Central Illinois Editor Chris Coates. He asked candidates what they viewed as Normal’s recent successes, what policy ideas they’d bring to the table if elected, and how they’d prioritize infrastructure funding, among other questions.   

More train horns are likely to be heard in Normal over the coming weeks, as crews work to repair damage caused by this month's train derailment.

The Normal Town Council on Monday night heard updates about this weekend’s train derailment and fires, including that specialized equipment should arrive Tuesday to transport debris.

The new climbing playspace coming to the Children’s Discovery Museum will be more accessible to those with disabilities and could become an eye-catching after-hours feature for Uptown.

Amtrak riders will soon have fewer options when traveling through Uptown Station.

Vandalism and looting continued for a second straight night in Bloomington-Normal, as police confronted crowds and made several arrests late Monday near the Kohl's store at Eastland Mall.

A black box theater, a temporary post office location, and a long list of restaurants are among the many options considered to fill the vacant first-floor space at One Uptown—or the “missing tooth in a beautiful smile,” as the developer puts it.

The head of the Federal Railroad Administration took to a train ride to Uptown Station to see the facility that's getting $13 million for an underpass.

Thirteen of the artists who painted the Uptown mural are asking a federal judge to keep alive their lawsuit against the Town of Normal while they wait for their work to be moved.

The Hyatt Place hotel in Uptown Normal has a new owner.

The Town of Normal and Trail East developer have asked a federal judge to end a lawsuit filed by some of the Uptown mural artists, claiming that plans to safely move the artwork means “there is nothing here for the court to decide.”

The Town of Normal’s original grant application for the Uptown underpass included a long list of benefits—including enhanced safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and even children’s museum visitors—and also a willingness to put millions in local funding toward the project.

Nearly two years after Rivian first arrived in Normal, community members will finally be able to see the company’s first electric vehicles in person.

An analysis of the tax increment financing (TIF) district in Uptown Normal indicates the effort to spark development in the city center begun in 1999 has been a good value for taxpayers, according to a consultant.

The Normal Town Council has approved a development agreement with an Uptown business to create a two-story brewpub and rooftop dining establishment using the old Bill's Key and Lock shop property.

Updated 4:15 p.m. | Illinois State University is officially a tenant of the planned Trail East Building in Uptown Normal.

The identity of the mystery Uptown Normal mural artist who signed over his rights has been revealed – though the legal fight over the public artwork could soon be rendered moot if the Town of Normal fulfills its promise to safely move it.

UPDATED 3:40 p.m. | The Town of Normal says it has obtained a release and waiver from one of the Uptown mural artists—a potentially significant development in the lawsuit over the public artwork.