Daily
Bloomington
Friday, October 31st, 2025
Good morning, Bloomington. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 31st of October.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Mt. Pisgah on Bloomington's west side marked its 160th anniversary with an event that welcomed all visitors—showcasing the church's long service to the community. The Pantagraph
- ➤ City officials have declared an emergency over the rising number of unhoused residents and are expanding housing and shelter options. WGLT's McHistory report shows that this challenge has deep roots in Bloomington as past struggles are recounted by former Mayor Walt Bittner and historian Bill Kemp. WGLT
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Actor Greg Sestero will host a double feature screening of The Room and Big Shark at Normal Theater at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8, and he will lead a Q&A session (with signed books and merchandise available) while showing clips from upcoming projects (to excite fans). WGLT
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ New Illinois School Report Cards show that among McLean County’s 50 public schools only eight are exemplary while six are flagged as Targeted for underperforming student groups; Twin City districts reported academic progress in key subjects despite overall enrollment declines since the pandemic. Normal Community High School will host a listening tour on Nov 7 from 10 a.m. to noon as the State Board of Education considers redesigning its accountability measures—details on graduation rates and improvements also emerged in the report. WGLT
- ➤ Peoria and McLean County superintendents said special education services have not been cut yet despite the federal shutdown and layoffs, though they warned that if the shutdown continues, future federal budget cuts may reduce these services. They stressed that prolonged funding issues could soon burden students and families — adding many unknowns for Central Illinois schools. Central Illinois Proud
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Today Halloween weather in Illinois is forecast to be dry and cool with temperatures in the middle 50s and partly cloudy skies. Far northern areas may see a few sprinkles in the evening as a light breeze makes it feel a bit cooler—details that help plan an easy trick-or-treating night. Central Illinois Proud
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The town of Normal will flush fire hydrants from November 9 to November 16 to remove sediment and test hydrant operation — residents should avoid washing clothes from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. during this period. The move aims to improve water quality in the system. Central Illinois Proud
- ➤ Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the state will direct $20M to seven food banks when the USDA stops processing SNAP payments on Saturday due to the federal shutdown — $10M will come from the Budget Reserve for Immediate Disbursements and $10M from the Department of Human Services budget. Cities 92.9
REAL ESTATE NEWS
- ➤ Bloomington-Normal’s housing market showed softer buyer demand in the first nine months of 2025, but low inventory drove home prices up from $213,859 in 2021 to $287,107. Realtors said buyers are acting strategically amid high interest rates—hoping for more inventory after a recent Federal Reserve rate cut. WGLT
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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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2025 Jingle Bell Run in Central Illinois
1-4 p.m. — Heartland Community College — $50 ($45 before Nov 8) — Celebrate the holidays with a festive run for arthritis awareness while sporting your favorite holiday attire.
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Keb' Mo' Concert
7-9 p.m. — Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts — $45+ — Experience the Grammy-winning artist Keb' Mo' blend blues with modern sounds in a captivating live performance.
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Hayes Carll Concert
8:00 – 9:30 p.m. — The Castle Theatre — 18+ Event — Experience the soulful tunes of Hayes Carll live in Bloomington.
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Big Daddy Weave: Let It Begin Tour
7-9 p.m. — Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts — $26.00+ — Experience an uplifting night of music with Big Daddy Weave and friends as they perform inspiring hits and favorites.
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Theresa Caputo Live Experience
7-8:30 p.m. — Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts — $55.00+ — Don't miss the 'Long Island Medium' star LIVE in an engaging performance.
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