Daily
Bloomington
Thursday, September 18th, 2025
Good morning, Bloomington. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 18th of September.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Heartland Community College will host the Heartland Harvest 5K race on October 26 at 12:00 p.m.—the course starts at the Fitness and Recreation Center at 1500 W. Raab Rd—and children under 10 will join a 1-Mile Fun Run at 12:05 p.m. Registration is now open online or on-site, with chip timing, race t-shirts if registered by September 29 and prizes for top finishers available. Cities 92.9
- ➤ Threshold to Hope has launched SPARK, a kids-led community service club that meets twice a month for children and parents to plan random acts of kindness – the program began in July with a project to make a tie blanket for a director and will soon collect hygiene items for PATH and support local emergency services. Mary Darling leads the club, which welcomes every child regardless of background. WGLT
- ➤ Drivers in Bloomington will face traffic delays next week as crews begin milling work on Oakland Avenue between Eldorado Road and Hershey Road, Washington Street from Veteran’s Parkway to Hershey Road, and Prospect Road from Oakland Avenue to Empire Street. The work is set to finish Friday, Sept. 26—weather may shift the schedule. Cities 92.9
- ➤ Home Sweet Home Ministries, Midwest Food Bank and Thrivent Financial are partnering with local churches to provide 2,000 Thanksgiving meal boxes in Bloomington Normal. The Big Give will supply holiday meals to families in need. The Pantagraph
- ➤ The Humane Society of Central Illinois will host its annual garage sale today at the Moose Lodge from 2 to 7 and on Friday from 9 to 3—raising funds for pet supplies, bedding, toys, and medicine. Volunteers and staff have prepared donated items by the community since 1996 to support the shelter. Central Illinois Proud
- ➤ Home Sweet Home Ministries is on track to complete the Bridge project by mid-December and will provide 48 sleeping cabins, a bathhouse and a clubhouse for homeless neighbors—a project supported by local donations. The shelter will offer four to six months of care and key services to help residents transition to stable living. Central Illinois Proud
- ➤ The Haunted Trail is celebrating its 30th year — with two events for different age groups — offering a family-friendly Not So Scary Trail on Oct 16 to 18 and a thrilling Scary Trail on Oct 24 and 25, each with a $5 fee, while VIP tickets at $12 will go on sale Oct 1 at 8:30 a.m.; local organizers need about 100 volunteers to help run the event. Cities 92.9
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ This week, construction crews began closing roads on a McLean County bridge and shifting traffic on College Avenue as they worked on nearby railroads — more changes in traffic are expected in the coming weeks. The Pantagraph
- ➤ State Representative Sharon Chung said during a town hall on Tuesday that she proposed raising the estate tax exemption from $4 million to $6 million to help farmers who are land rich but cash poor. She said the bill will let the exemption adjust automatically with the Consumer Price Index—she hopes it will pass in the Spring session. Central Illinois Proud
- ➤ The governor’s office announced that nearly $2 million in federal funds will build two electric vehicle charging stations in Pontiac and Bloomington—Francis Energy Charging LLC will install the Bloomington station at Eric’s Too Family Restaurant and Lounge on Maple Hill Road to help meet NEVI program goals. Central Illinois Proud
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Dr. Brian Curtis, Chief Medical Officer at OSF HealthCare, stressed the need to talk with people contemplating suicide during Suicide Awareness Month on WMBD This Morning. He explained that opening up the conversation can help reduce isolation (with resources like dialing 9-8-8) and noted suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10–34. Central Illinois Proud
- ➤ On Sept 16, 2025, a panel of four health experts at the ISU Alumni Center discussed the barriers—such as transportation, language challenges, and limited Medicaid acceptance—that affect prenatal care for women and teens in Central Illinois. They explained that these issues increase health risks and can lead to poorer outcomes for mothers and their babies. WGLT
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Top of the World - A Tribute to the Carpenters
7:00-8:30 p.m. — Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts — Ticket prices vary — Experience the heartfelt sounds of the Carpenters tribute live in Bloomington.
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Ballet 5:8 - La Llorona
3:00 – 4:30 PM — Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts — $17.00+ — Experience a poignant ballet that explores maternal pain and healing through stunning artistry.
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Illinois District Barbershop Harmony Society Fall Convention
2:30 PM - 11:00 PM — Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts — Passes available for purchase — Enjoy a weekend filled with barbershop harmony and musical performances.
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Oracle Sisters Concert
8-9:30 p.m. — The Castle Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Experience the enchanting sound of Oracle Sisters with their dreamy melodies and new album release.
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A.J. Croce Presents CROCE PLAYS CROCE
7:30-9 p.m. — Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts — $38.00+ — Experience a musical odyssey with A.J. Croce as he performs timeless songs and stories from his father's legacy.
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