McLean County - Chronicle Media

ISU welcomes largest freshman class in 36 years, continued strong enrollment

— September 20, 2023

If it seems a little more crowded on the Illinois State University campus this fall there’s a good reason. ISU has welcomed 4,147 freshmen to its student body for the 2023-24 academic…

Humanitarian Schmidgall gets nod as Normal’s 2023 Citizen of the Year
— September 8, 2023

A self-described, “normal citizen living in Normal,” Roger Schmidgall was planning to attend a Rotary Club picnic early last month when he learned the event had been abruptly canceled….
Online Master Gardener training program offers pair of options
— August 15, 2023

Once again, University of Illinois Extension is offering central Illinois residents an opportunity to take their love of gardening to the next level through an online Master Gardener…
First responders out for blood
— August 1, 2023

Normal fire inspector Matt Swaney likes that his department will have the final area blood drive in the Battle of the Badges event, pitting local first responders against one another….
Illinois Shakespeare Festival underway this summer at Illinois State
— June 30, 2023

Highlighted by a trio of productions, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival is back for its 46th consecutive season at Illinois State University’s Ewing Cultural Center, in Bloomington….

Lehr names new snake species for Harrison Ford
— August 28, 2023

Harrison Ford’s iconic character Indiana Jones may have a fear of snakes, but a newly discovered species of snake has been dedicated to the actor by an Illinois Wesleyan University…
U of I Extension’s Unity Community Center expands food offerings
— August 8, 2023

Supplying community members of north Normal with produce for nearly 10 years, the Unity Community Center production garden — a program of University of Illinois Extension — will…
Bloomington Public Library expansion on schedule
— July 26, 2023

The Bloomington Public Library’s $25.2 million expansion project remains on schedule, according to Jeanne Hamilton, library director. It should be completed by the end of the year….