Dana Vollmer

McLean County’s COVID-19 metrics are trending in the wrong direction. The McLean County Health Department (MCHD) reports 29 new confirmed or probable COVID cases in the past week, in addition to another coronavirus-related death.

The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over, and neither is the increased community need for food. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton visited the Midwest Food Bank (MFB) in Normal on Tuesday to discuss the continued challenge of food insecurity, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Illinois’s top military officer says the growing threat of cyber attacks requires more resources to tackle them.

McLean County health officials report two more COVID-related deaths, as the numbers of new and active coronavirus cases continue to drop.

Illinois State University is following the state’s lead, using money to encourage people to get vaccinated. ISU is offering $1,000 scholarships to 100 students who submit proof of vaccination before the start of the fall semester.

A pilot program at Illinois State University that is helping low-income people get their lives back after a conviction will continue, with the help of university funding and an endowment.

Heartland Theatre Company’s first in-person performance since the COVID-19 pandemic struck centers the voices of BIPOC community members. Six speakers will share their experience with race through their own personal lens, telling their stories in a variety of mediums: monologues, poetry, song and da…

Human service providers not only better the lives of individuals and families, but have significant economic benefits for McLean County. That’s the finding of a new report conducted by Illinois Partners for Human Service and the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council.

It’s a big year for the Miller Park Zoo: new exhibits, expanded capacity, and bolstered conservation efforts. Now, the zoo has a rebrand to go along with it.

Bloomington-Normal high school students say they reject the idea that making curricula more inclusive “divides” students. That comes in response to a conservative campaign against the way students are taught about race, American history and sexual health.

COVID-19 caseloads, hospitalizations, and deaths have steadily dropped recently in the United States. As Illinois moves into a full economic reopening, it’s easy for some to act like the pandemic is over. But in India, a major crisis rages on. Bloomington-Normal’s Indian community wants others to pa…

Bloomington-Normal NAACP leaders say a conservative campaign of pushback against the way Black history is taught in schools shows a need for more honest conversations about what divides the community.

Bike rides are a summer staple. But those looking for a new set of wheels are having a hard time finding them. Bicycles are among the growing list of supply-and-demand issues emerging from the pandemic.

Sometimes a creative outlet can be a lifesaver—literally. Marine veteran and Heartland Community College graduate Richard Casper is a Purple Heart recipient, artist and entrepreneur. The central Illinois native suffered a traumatic brain injury during a tour in Iraq. Now, Casper dedicates himself to…

You’ve heard of “dog moms.” Now get ready for “plant parents.” More people are discovering their green thumb as interior design and social media trends expose people to beautiful flora in all shapes and sizes.

It takes a village to support people experiencing mental health challenges. That’s the premise behind Mental Health First Aid training, which prepares everyday people to respond when others are in crisis.

A new “grown your own” teacher initiative in District 87 aims to empower young students of color to picture themselves as future educators.

Child care programs have fewer restrictions than they did last summer when COVID-19 was fresh and uncertain. But parents could still have a hard time finding somewhere to send their kids.

Your pet might have a hard time adjusting to being home alone again with daily routines changing as COVID-19 public health restrictions gradually ease and people begin to return to the pre-pandemic “normal.”

The White House has two new four-legged occupants: Champ and Major Biden. The German shepherds are good for more than just a feel good story or photo op.…