Good morning, Bloomington.

For several years, Mount Pisgah Baptist Church and the Pantagraph Goodfellow Fund have provided hams—along with turkey—to hundreds of local families for Thanksgiving.

They plan to continue this tradition to ease holiday meal burdens for those in need.

The Western Avenue Community Center will host a Thanksgiving meal giveaway from 3 to 5:30 p.m. on Nov.

26 — local groups are working together to serve families in need — and the event will help many in our community.

CORE of McLean is fixing up the old 1935 water tower—bought for $1—to boost the town as a tourist spot for the Route 66 centennial next June.

A local firm is nearly done removing rust and repainting the tower, and the $40,800 renovation is funded with grants and community donations.

Yordy Turkey Farm in Morton offers fresh hand raised turkeys at the same prices while other farms face higher costs, a method maintained for 93 years.

Co-owner Travis Yordy said orders will soon be closed as nearly all 8,000 birds are already reserved.

Bloomington musician Stefen Robinson—known as Yea Big—launched his indie label Black Flag Bonsai Club to release his new EP To Lower the Fever of Feeling, a five-track project recorded with Jon Byler Dann and Tatsuya Nakatani that is available for pre-order on Bandcamp with CDs shipping around Dec. 5. He said the label will fund each release and support future projects by other artists.

Illinois families will see their Thanksgiving meal cost drop to $49.20 this year as lower wheat prices have helped reduce costs for turkey and other staples—although sweet potatoes and veggie trays saw price increases.

Volunteer shoppers gathered the survey data in early November, marking a three-year decline that mirrors national trends.

The Unit 5 school board held its first reading of a new policy that limits law enforcement requests for student citizenship information only when the district directly confirms the status, ensuring parents are notified during any interviews.

The board also reviewed a $165.8 million tax levy proposal showing a 7.4% property value increase and a reduced $4.81 tax rate + approved a 20-year solar project agreement expected to save the district millions over time.

Bloomington is now accepting applications for free lead paint testing kits for homes built before 1978—if lead paint is found, the city will remove it and may repair the building while giving priority to households with pregnant mothers or children with high lead levels.

The program aims to reduce health risks associated with lead exposure.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.

Kennedy Jr. announced that the FDA will lift its 2003 black-box warning on hormone therapy, and Illinois lawmaker Bill Hauter called the reversal overdue—saying the old guideline kept millions of women from beneficial treatments. He noted that new evidence shows properly prescribed hormone therapy may lower risks of heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and bone loss.

Starting this January, Carle Health and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation will partner to expand inpatient rehabilitation at Carle Foundation Hospital, Carle BroMenn Medical Center, and Carle Health Proctor Hospital—offering trusted, innovative care to more patients in central Illinois.

Sevendust Concert

7-9:30 p.m. — The Castle Theatre — $43 — Experience Sevendust's heavy grooves and soulful vocals on their Southside Double-Wide Tour.

City of Bloomington Turkey Trot

9-11 AM — Miller Park — Free registration — Celebrate Thanksgiving with a community fun run and support a local food drive.

Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland

2-3:30 p.m. — Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts — $44.00+ — Experience breathtaking circus acts combined with seasonal music in this enchanting holiday show.

2025 NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship

Dec 3-6 — Shirk Center — Visit NCAA DIII Championship site for details — Witness the crowning of the national champion in women's volleyball.

The Pantagraph's Holiday Spectacular

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts — $19.00+ — Celebrate the holiday season with an evening of festive entertainment at The Pantagraph's Holiday Spectacular.

NPC Mid-American Winter Classic

10 AM – 10 PM — Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center — Ticketed event — Experience thrilling amateur bodybuilding competitions featuring various divisions.

The Pantagraph's Holiday Spectacular

3:00 – 5:00 p.m. — Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts — $19.00+ — Celebrate the festive season with an entertaining holiday spectacular showcasing local talents.

Jane Lynch - A Swingin' Little Christmas

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts — $42.00+ — Classic holiday tunes and hilarious banter come together for a delightful night of music and comedy.

Home for the Holidays Bake Sale

9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. — Ace Hardware of Normal — Support a great cause — Enjoy delicious baked goods and help benefit HSCI this holiday season.

Taylor Swift Night

4 PM — Grossinger Motors Arena — Free meal for kids 12 and under — An enchanting evening dedicated to Swifties with fun for the whole family.