There are still a lot of details to work through with a prospective contractor on the Uptown Normal underpass project for another revised bid, and with state, federal, and railroad partners. City Manager Pam Reece has more to say in a WGLT interview.

The union representing firefighters in the Town of Normal is giving up its request to add a fourth fire station. And the town is considering new traffic signal preemption technology that could cut 15-20 seconds off the average drive time to emergencies.

Turnout in McLean County (including Bloomington voters) reached only 21.2% in this midterm, nonpresidential year primary election. That’s the third straight decline in turnout in elections of this type.

Gov. Juliana Stratton won the hotly contested Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, defeating U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly.

The referendum passed by a 64%-36% margin [572-315] on Tuesday with all five precincts reporting, according to the McLean County Clerk’s office.

Republican voters in Illinois have once again chosen former state Sen. Darren Bailey as their candidate for governor, giving him a second chance to unseat incumbent Democrat JB Pritzker in November.

A long list of upgrades, improvements and initiatives planned for the next fiscal year add up to nearly $112 million worth of capital projects included in the City of Bloomington’s proposed budget for the 2027 fiscal year.

The Normal Town Council approved a new operating and capital investment budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The $233.5 million budget represents a 10% increase over last year.

The McLean County Board could decide to claw back more than $400,000 in budget overruns from County Clerk Kathy Michael's office. Board chair Elizabeth Johnston said depending on what invoices and other documentation Michael submits in the next month, the county general fund may need to be reimbursed.

Several local governments in Central Illinois are looking to create their own data center regulations as lawmakers have yet to take action regulating this emerging industry. Data centers are seen as key to fueling an AI revolution. Critics worry they could drain water and electricity supplies that are needed to power them.