St. Patrick’s Day brings parades, parties and an important reminder from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and more than 200 additional law enforcement agencies throughout the state: “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive High. Get a DUI.”   “Driving after consuming alcohol, using cannabis or becoming impaired by any substance is dangerous and potentially deadly,”  said Stephane B. Seck-Birhame, IDOT’s bureau chief of Safety Programs and En

Chenoa just got a whole lot tastier with a new DQ ®  restaurant coming to town. American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ), an iconic leader in treats and food, today announced a new DQ restaurant in Chenoa with its grand opening on March 12. Conveniently located near Interstate 55 at 508 Hoselton Dr, the new restaurant will be owned and operated by Seth Campbell.   “Dairy Queen has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” said Campbell. “Growing up around the busin

Neva Maxine McBride, 87, went home to be with our heavenly Father at 7:34 am Thursday, March 5, 2026, at Riverside Medical Center, Kankakee. Mrs. McBride was a daughter of Lester and Virginia Hamilton VanHoorebeke. She married Edward E. McBride on September 16, 1966, in Buckley, IL. He preceded her in death on December 12, 1996. Visitation will be noon to 2:00 pm Tuesday, March 10, 2026, followed by her funeral at 2:00pm at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury with Pastor Keith

Steve Lovell of the Livingston County Board speaks to the LCFB Legislative Breakfast Monday. Livingston County Board Vice-Chairman Steve Lovell gave a county update to local leaders gathered Monday during the Livingston County Farm Bureau's annual Legislative Breakfast. He explained ordinance amendments on wind and solar are ongoing in committee and he also touched on data centers, which are a new topic to the county. Lovell said ordinances need to be put into place as to wha

A synopsis was given to the Pontiac City Council Monday night of the city's new text messaging service. This service launches April 1 and everyone can get signed-up for it now. "There will be a lot coming in the E-newsletter and there are posts on our social media about how to sign-up for that," explained Pontiac Mayor Kelly Eckhoff on the Route 24 Radio Forum program Tuesday morning. It will be a service about events and road closures but not emergencies. Eckhoff encourages

Raymond Paul Woodrey, 71, of Morton, passed away at 8:42 pm, February 27, 2026, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria. Cremation has been accorded. A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Colfax United Methodist Church, Event Center. A reception will follow from 3-5:00 pm on Saturday also at the event center. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Raymond was born December 18,1954, in Bloomington, the son of Raymond and Ph

Chenoa’s Space Age Pioneers 4-H Club is holding a soup collection. The group is collecting cans until March 15 and the club appreciates all donations. A donation box is located within the Chenoa Pharmacy on Route 24.

Photo via McLean County Chamber of Commerce. The McLean County Chamber of Commerce brought energy, humor, and heartfelt recognition to the stage at its 2026 Annual Gala on February 7th at the Illinois State University Bone Student Center. With a creative “Saturday Night Live” theme, this year’s event blended live sketches, video segments, music, and awards into an unforgettable celebration of the businesses and leaders driving McLean County forward. Thanks to the support of P

The Livingston County Pheasants Forever banquet is set for Monday, March 9 at the Pontiac Elks Club. It will be a night filled with raffles, prizes and more. Attendance helps the organization make a difference for wildlife habitat conservation and public access. This also supports development of critical wildlife habitat projects. The event starts at 5 p.m. March 9 at the Pontiac Elks, 459 Elks Club Road in Pontiac. For further details or registration information, visit:...

Jeffery Jay Lucus, 67, of Blackstone passed away at 5:00 pm, on Friday, February 6, 2026 at his residence in Blackstone. Cremation rites have been accorded with a visitation from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm, Saturday, March 28th, 2026 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Chenoa. A private family graveside service will follow the visitation in Chenoa Township Cemetery, Chenoa. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be directed to the family of Jeffery J. Lucus. Mr. Lucus was born Septem

Jeanne Hofmann, 87, of Towanda, passed away at 7:15 am, Sunday, February 8th, 2026 at Serenity Villa, Fairbury. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 13, 2026 at Bloomington-Normal Apostolic Christian Church with ministers of the church officiating. Graveside services will be at 12:30 pm, in Chenoa Township Cemetery, Chenoa. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Chenoa, is in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be 4 to 6:00pm, Thursday, February 12, 2026 at Duffy-Pi

Heartland Community College is seeking public input to shape a roadmap for the institution's future.   Heartland is hosting a final round of Strategic Planning Town Hall Meetings in Bloomington, Normal, Lincoln, Pontiac, and online in February.   Heartland is planning for the next iteration of the college’s long-term Strategic Plan, which helps chart the institution’s path for the next 10 years. Community members were surveyed and invited to Town Hall events last year as the

A death investigation is underway in McLean County after a teenage girl was pronounced dead by the county coroner’s office last weekend. Bloomington Police officers were dispatched to an address on Canada Lane for a reported cardiac arrest inside of a residence. Paramedics from the local fire department were also dispatched to the scene. A juvenile female was located upon arrival and officers and paramedics initiated unsuccessful life-saving efforts. Police say Mariah Kletz,

The Livingston County Childcare Coalition, overseen by the Livingston County Health Department in partnership with leadership from across diverse sectors of Livingston County and Illinois, is seeking individuals interested in becoming a childcare provider or learning more about the childcare field. It’s a great opportunity to be your own boss, work from home, and help support the needs of our Livingston community. If you are interested in becoming a childcare provider, please

Members of Congress are able to submit Community Project Funding requests during the annual appropriations process to support infrastructure and community projects in their district. This cycle, Representative LaHood was able to secure nearly $19 million for 11 projects that strengthen economies, update critical infrastructure, increase public safety, and improve the quality of life for families throughout the District.   More information on these projects can be found below.

This Super Bowl weekend, be a real MVP: Keep friends from driving impaired. The Bloomington Police Department, along with other local agencies, is reminding football fans and Super Bowl partygoers that designated drivers are the best defense against the dangers of impaired driving. If your Super Bowl celebration involves alcohol or cannabis, plan for a safe ride home with a sober driver. If you’re hosting the party, take care of the designated drivers. Fans don’t let fans dri

Artwork from a Heartland Community College course offered to veterans is on display at the Joe McCauley Gallery on campus this semester.   Heartland’s Joe McCauley Gallery presents the CreatiVets Art Show Display from January 8 to March 6, 2026.   Last year, Heartland launched the course Art 120, CreatiVets Intro to Veteran Art. This course is envisioned as a place where veterans of the US military can explore their experiences through art making. Students learn the fundament

A group of business owners in the Dwight area have formally begun the process of re-establishing a Dwight Area Chamber of Commerce.   The business-led organization will be focused on supporting local businesses, strengthening the area economy and fostering collaboration across the community. Following a series of initial planning meetings, the group has filed for state incorporation and appointed an interim board of directors.   As development continues, business owners and o

It was a busy weekend for firefighters in the area after fires broke out in McLean County. The Longbranch Again restaurant in Cooksville suffered heavy damage from a fire which broke out early Saturday and is close to a total loss, according to officials. No injuries were reported and there is no information on a possible cause. Cooksville firefighters responded with mutual aid called from the Octavia Fire Protection District, Ellsworth Fire, Towanda Fire, Lexington Fire and

Reva Johnson, 93, Pontiac, passed peacefully into Heaven, surrounded by her family on January 22, 2026. Reva was born September 16, 1932, in Waterman IL, the first child of Harvey and Inez Beard and spent her early years on the farm in the Hinkley/Big Rock area.  After graduating from DeKalb High School, Reva worked for local newspapers in DeKalb and Champaign/Urbana, helping & following Paul as he attended the University of Illinois, pursuing his Doctor of Veterinary Medicin