Good morning, Bloomington.

Fiesta Ranchera on JC Parkway has reopened after a fire temporarily shut it down in early May.

The local restaurant is ready to welcome diners today.

Volunteers and local historians used a ground penetrating radar device at Evergreen Cemetery in El Paso to confirm the burial site for David Strother (the first Black man to vote in Illinois) on a comfortable August morning.

The radar readings revealed four distinct anomalies matching likely graves from his family.

The Bloomington Public Library presents Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad until Nov.

30, sharing local history through videos and pictures that explore freedom stops like Springfield, Quincy — and Chicago. This exhibit partners with the McLean County Museum of History to bring past stories to life.

Unit 5 Superintendent Kristen Weikle said that students are following the new phone rules better this school year, with phones kept silent during class and allowed for educational use.

She added that families facing SNAP benefit cuts can get help completing applications at their child's school.

McLean County launched the CodeRED system today to send residents alerts via text+email+phone for emergencies and community updates.

The Health and Highway Departments will use it for severe weather, road closures and health alerts, and residents are encouraged to sign up for free notifications.

The Central Illinois Regional Airport received a $12,090,546 FAA grant to start the second phase of Runway 11/29 rehabilitation in May 2027 (covering 95% of project costs) and will finish in November with new lighting, signs and cabling to boost safety and support local jobs.

Gov. JB Pritzker attended a ribbon cutting at Illinois State University yesterday for its new College of Engineering facility, a transformed former Country Financial office valued at $58M.

University officials said the facility will open this fall to boost engineering programs on campus.