Daily
Bloomington
Friday, October 17th, 2025
Good morning, Bloomington. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 17th of October.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Bloomington Ice Center will host a Halloween Skate Fest on Oct. 26 from 2:30 to 4 p.m., offering Halloween-themed music, treats and a skating performance+ all ages may join without registering. Those in costumes will receive a $1 discount on the $7 admission rate+ skate rentals are available for $3. Central Illinois Proud
- ➤ A Domestic Violence Awareness Month lunch discussion is planned for next week in Bloomington + interested parties must register by Monday, Oct. 20. The Pantagraph
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Golden Ticket Cinemas will open today in southeast Bloomington—its new theater offers an extensive food menu, ultra-comfy seats, and upgraded sound and projection systems to enhance the movie experience. The Pantagraph
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Bloomington photographer Jason Reblando will release his book This is Captured Paper later this fall or winter—he uses collage to challenge old photos from U.S. rule in the Philippines and retell his family's immigration story. WGLT
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Parents and students supported Normal Community High School teacher Matt Chapman for wearing an abolish ICE shirt during a Unit 5 board meeting on October 15th, arguing he made his classroom a safe space for all students — some community members countered that his choice crossed professional boundaries. 25 News Now
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Mt. Hope-Funks Grove has banned open burning for several days because weather conditions create an unreasonable risk of fire—Fire Chief Eric Fulk said the ban is needed to help protect residents. The Pantagraph
- ➤ McLean County restarted the Route 66 Bike Trail extension along a 9-mile path near Towanda after receiving a nearly $2 million state grant that replaced a withdrawn $675,000 federal grant. The funding covered Phase 1 engineering and environmental review and will support Phase 2 design to complete the trail near Chenoa — officials said. WGLT
- ➤ The Bloomington Fire Department will adopt a new shift schedule — 24-hour on, 72-hour off — to give firefighters more time for rest and recovery. The change will take effect on November 1 and follows research linking long shifts to increased health risks. WJBC
- ➤ McLean County Unit 5 received nearly $1.2 million from the 1% facility sales tax that local voters approved in April—this revenue marks the first income from the tax. The Pantagraph
- ➤ Greenbriar Drive in Normal closes today at 6 a.m. for street resurfacing—drivers should use Susan Drive or Veterans Parkway as detours and work is expected to finish by 7 p.m. on Oct. 24. Central Illinois Proud
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Men have a 1% chance of developing breast cancer and should watch for signs like inverted nipples, lumps, redness, or achiness, a breast health navigator from OSF HealthCare said must be checked promptly—genes, drinking, and smoking may increase the risk if there is a family history. Central Illinois Proud
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Iowa Heartlanders Opening Night
7-8:30 p.m. — Grossinger Motors Arena — Free with ticket — Celebrate the season opener with a White Out party featuring pre-game festivities and giveaways.
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Oktoberfest Rotary Run
2-5 p.m. — Union Park — Fundraiser event — Participate in a festive 5K run and 1-mile walk to support local youth services.
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Toledo Walleye at Bloomington Bison
7-8:30 p.m. — Grossinger Motors Arena — $3 Busch Light cans and $0 popcorn — Experience an exciting night of hockey and local fraternity competition at our first 309 Night!
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Masters of Illusion
7:30-9 p.m. — Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts — $33+ — Experience world-class magicians performing astounding illusions and comedic magic live on stage.
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Kalamazoo Wings at Bloomington Bison
7:00-8:30 p.m. — Grossinger Motors Arena — $3 Busch Light and $0 popcorn — Celebrate 309 Night with costume contests and great food deals at a thrilling hockey game.
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Cincinnati Cyclones at Bloomington Bison
7-10 p.m. — Grossinger Motors Arena — Tickets available from $28 — Catch the thrilling match as the Bison take on the Cyclones in this exciting hockey showdown.
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WAR: Why Can't We Be Friends? Tour
7:00 – 8:30 PM — Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts — $42.00+ — Celebrate 50 years of timeless hits with the iconic soul/funk group WAR.
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Battle of the Bands
6:30-8 p.m. — The Castle Theatre — Starts at $64 — Experience a thrilling competition of local music talent.
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Dumpling 101 Cooking Class
5-7 p.m. — Green Top Grocery — $55.20 — Dive into hands-on dumpling making, perfect for food lovers of all skill levels.
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Indy Fuel vs Bloomington Bison
7-8:30 p.m. — Grossinger Motors Arena — Stream available — Catch the action as the Indy Fuel take on the Bloomington Bison in this exciting hockey match.
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No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
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