Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 23rd of April.
Good morning, Bloomington.
Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly will host a Workers’ Memorial Day ceremony Tuesday, April 28 at 6 a.m. at White Oak Park.
The event will honor over 300 local workers including a special tribute to Kevin Lancaster — killed on March 5 at Rivian Motors.
The first Land of Lincoln Honor Flight of 2026 will take veterans on a day trip to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, May 5.
Community leaders will host a free Housing & Resource Fair on April 29 at Eastland Mall to offer housing assistance, fair housing education and support from the Carle Mobile Health Clinic.
The fair, organized by the Mid Illinois REALTORS® Association & local governments, will include lunch, children’s activities & transportation.
Rivian produced the first R2s for customers on Wednesday in Normal after two years of development — the SUV starts at $57,990 and will see its deliveries begin this spring.
State Farm has opened a customer care site on the corner of Veterans & Oakland Avenue to help customers file auto and home claims after last weekend's storms.
It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Normal’s Ecology Action Center is seeking state, federal & private funding to develop a hazardous waste disposal site in McLean County; a $6 million feasibility study found it could ease disposal of household chemicals.
The nonprofit is crowdfunding donations to start the process.
Volunteers planted trees on Earth Day along interstate interchanges to improve air quality and local ecosystems.
The Ecology Action Center & Illinois Department of Transportation said volunteer sign-ups continue through mid-May.
Illinois State University workers continue their third week of striking with no new bargaining sessions scheduled, as union representatives contest wage increases and retro pay issues while the university aims to minimize classroom disruptions — delaying a resolution of the dispute.
Normal collected over 6,600 cubic yards of storm debris in less than a week following Friday's tornadoes.
City Manager Pam Reece said Mayor Chris Koos extended the disaster declaration for seven more days to allow extra time for damage documentation and continued cleanup.
The Community Health Care Clinic in Normal has seen a 75% rise in patient need over the first three quarters this fiscal year due to higher minimum wages and insurance costs, prompting director Holly Wayland-Hall to seek staff expansion and donations at Friday’s annual fundraising lunch at Bloomington Country Club.
OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington will open its new $2.4 million chapel today after delays caused by the pandemic, featuring repurposed decorations + a new statue from the OSF nuns’ house funded largely by private donations.
James McMurtry Live Performance
8:00-9:30 p.m. — The Castle Theatre — 18+ event — Experience storytelling through music with the acclaimed artist James McMurtry.
The Second City – Best of the Second City
7-10 p.m. — Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts — Ticket prices vary — Experience a night of hilarious sketches and improv from legendary comedy icons.
The Steepwater Band Live
8-11 p.m. — Jazz UpFront — Ticket info not specified — Experience the talented sounds of The Steepwater Band as they bring their rock tunes to Bloomington.
FILTER Live in Bloomington
7-10 p.m. — The Castle Theatre — Tickets required — Experience a night of electrifying performances with FILTER and special guests.
Tropidelic Live Performance
7:30-9:00 p.m. — The Castle Theatre — Ticket info varies — Enjoy a lively performance by Tropidelic with special guests The Quasi Kings & The Palmer Squares.
Nonpoint Concert
7-9 p.m. — The Castle Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Experience the Outta Control Tour with Nonpoint and special guests Soil and Sumo Cyco.
ANBERLIN: 20th Anniversary of NTFP
7-8:30 p.m. — The Castle Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Celebrate 20 years of ANBERLIN with special guests Emery and Watashi Wa.
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