Monday's Pontiac City Council meeting shown at the Council Chambers. TIF Roof Rehab Grants were approved by the Pontiac City Council Monday night. “It’s a reimbursement grant program,” explained City Administrator Jim Woolford. Those approved were at 909 E. Chestnut Street, 900 Indiana Avenue and 310 W. Livingston Street. The city makes sure there are no zoning violations on the property, according to Woolford. Mayor Kelly Eckhoff said it is a program she hopes others take ad

The Gibson City Harvest Fest planning committee is thrilled to unveil the main stage lineup for the 2026 Gibson City Harvest Fest! As each year brings new milestones, 2026 marks an exciting chapter for our festival—with two nights of national entertainment that promise to elevate the Harvest Fest experience like never before. Friday night, September 11, all eyes will be on headliner Drew Baldridge. An Illinois native, Baldridge has carved out a place in music history with h

Numerous accidents were reported on area roadways Monday during a winter weather event which impacted Central Illinois. Illinois State Police Troop 5 received calls for multiple single unit jack-knifed truck-tractor semi trailer crashes and slide off motorist assists along both Illinois Route 47 and Interstate 55. State Police report there was a two-unit crash involving a semi and pickup truck on I-55 near Milepost 184, though no injuries or lane blockages were reported. Wint

Route 24 Radio has expanded to the radio airwaves of Central Illinois. You can now hear the station on 93.7 FM around the clock as Route 24 Radio’s parent company Casson Media has acquired the frequency, licensed to Pontiac. “We are taking local radio to a whole new level,” explains owner Kent Casson. “I grew up listening to and working for local stations so this is a dream come true.” Being on 93.7 FM is nothing new for Casson, as that is where he got his start in radio almo

A Mahomet man has been arrested on multiple sexual abuse charges. Bloomington Police announced the arrest of Eswin Ixcotoyac, 23, on seven felony counts in connection with an investigation which started in November when a report was made to a patrol officer. According to the report, Eswin contacted a female juvenile through a social media platform in July, allegedly portraying himself as a 16-year-old. “After meeting in person, he allegedly committed acts that constituted sex

The Illinois State Police (ISP) today announced that in 2025 the agency conducted just over a thousand firearm enforcement details statewide to help ensure individuals who are prohibited from having a firearm and pose a threat do not have firearms in their possession. ​ Additionally, local law enforcement agencies supported through state agency enforcement grants reported almost 11,000 compliance checks during fiscal year 2025, the highest number since the state began issuing

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