Bobby James, a 35, is wanted by Bloomington police.

McLean County

Michigan auto firm could buy Mitsubishi plant

Rivian Automotive, a Detroit-based manufacturing company, is in negotiations to purchase Mitsubishi Motors’ former North American plant, town of Normal officials have confirmed. Rivian, founded in 2009, currently operates in Detroit and San Francisco and has announced future expansion plans, including the potential Normal site. According to the Illinois Department of Commerce, Rivian’s executives have indicated a desire to invest up to $175 million into the plant’s operations.  

County receives grant for behavioral health programs

McLean County has been awarded a $215,596 grant from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance, officials announced recently. The funds have been earmarked for the development of county-based programs benefiting persons with behavioral health issues.

County officials said several local agencies are stepping up efforts to reach out to persons suffering from behavioral health issues with the goal of decreasing criminal justice involvement. Under terms of the grant, county staffers will work in conjunction with local justice and health professionals to create a revised set of strategies.

Municipal officials from Bloomington, Normal and other cities and villages within the county will take part in program planning and implementation as well. The grant covers a three-year term.

Bloomington

Police looks for man considered ‘armed and dangerous’  

The U.S. Department of Justice and Bloomington Police are in the midst of searching for Bobby James, a 35-year-old man suspected of shooting bullets into the storefront of Main Street Convenience, 1919 S. Main St., and two vehicles parked outside the business on Thursday, Nov. 24.

In a news release, Detective Thomas Rena of the DOJ, who is leading the investigation, said James is “considered armed and dangerous” and noted “caution should be used.” Rena said James is believed to still be in the Bloomington area, based on recent reports. James is black, standing 6 feet tall and weighing 160 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on James’ whereabouts is asked to contact Rena at (309) 275-5345 or email thomas.rena@usdoj.gov.

Police to open new community substation  

Bloomington Police Department officials have announced plans of opening a substation as part of a partnership with two local organizations: Mid Central Community Action and the West Bloomington Housing Collaborative. The substation will open soon at 828 W. Jefferson St.

“The new community substation reflects the Bloomington Police Department’s commitment to strengthen community relations and enhance public safety,” Police Chief Brendan Heffner said in a statement. “The substation will reduce officers’ response time, increase police visibility and provide officers the opportunity to meet and collaborate with community members.”

The site of the new substation is on land purchased and rehabilitated by Mid Central Community Action through a grant offered through the Illinois Attorney General’s office.

McDonald’s franchisee purchasing 10 area restaurants  

Ten McDonald’s restaurants — eight in Bloomington and Normal and one each in McLean and Gibson City — will soon change hands as part of an ownership agreement that takes effect Jan. 3. Bob and Julie Dobski, who have owned the 10 McDonalds’ restaurants through a franchise agreement, sold the stores to Jack and Gail Millan, their daughter Nicole Petro and son-in-law Mikel Petro. Terms of the transaction, including the purchase price, were not disclosed. The Dobskis have indicated they are retiring from the restaurant ownership business. They have operated the 10 McDonald’s since 1989. Coincidentally, the Millan and Petro families also opened five McDonald’s elsewhere in Central Illinois that same year.

Leaf collection continues this month

Weather dependent, Bloomington’s public works crews will continue picking up leaves into the foreseeable future. The city is asking residents to rake leaves to the back of the curb on the grass, to the road shoulder or to the edge or near a driveway.

Bagged leaves will be collected through the spring. Public works crews remind residents not to rake leaves into the street and to keep piles at a height of 3 feet or less. All brush and other yard waste should be placed into a separate pile.

Normal

Portillo’s to replace Motel 6 property; tax rebate offered

Portillo’s, the Chicago-based eatery known for its hot dogs, has selected a location as it enters the McLean County market. A developer for the restaurant has secured the Motel 6 property on Veteran’s Parkway for the future site of the restaurant.

To help pave the way for the new development, the Normal Town Council on Monday, Dec. 5, agreed to issue a $1.8 million tax rebate for costs associated with razing the motel and developing the site for Portillo’s. The deal between the town and the developer comes in the way of a rebated sales tax and food and beverage tax.

Town Council members said they were willing to make the concession, pointing to Portillo’s popularity and the potential draw it could have from surrounding communities.

Heartland CC won’t receive emergency state funds

Community colleges across Illinois are grappling with budgetary shortfalls, and a certain degree of relief is anticipated in the coming months as an emergency $3 million lifeline is extended. Normal-based Heartland Community College, however, will not receive any of the funds. Leaders within Heartland said the funding is for state community colleges in budgetary situations more precarious than their own. The Illinois Board of Higher Education is in the midst of determining how to divide the funding to tide the colleges over until there is a stable state budget.

Nabisco workers speak out against job outsourcing

Workers employed by Nabisco partnered with local union members and student activists at a demonstration event Friday, Dec. 9, at the Bone Student Center within the Illinois State University campus.

The Nabisco workers distributed leaflets while taking aim at the food company’s parent, Mondelez International, for outsourcing 600 jobs from a Chicago site. The demonstrating workers decried Mondelez’s actions, asserting they were an “exploitation of workers globally.” The Nabisco workers are touring various venues in the hopes of building a coalition of workers, students, activists and unions.

–McLean County News Briefs–