Good morning, Normal.

The Town of Normal and students from Glenn Elementary planted two new trees — a white oak and a red oak — at Broadview Mansion to celebrate Arbor Day.

The Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal is losing $600,000 in federal funding and cutting more than half its jobs, which reduces its operating budget by over $900,000.

The nonprofit has moved services from its locations at Bloomington Junior High School, Bloomington High School and First Christian Church into its main clubhouse.

Normal Police and Illinois State Police announced on Friday that they recovered a person believed to be a human trafficking victim at a massage spa.

Project Oz unveiled its Youth Education and Support Center on Friday in Bloomington—an effort that took five years to develop—designed to offer a technology center, nutritional nook, sensory space and free laundry access for students.

Staff held a life skills class for unhoused youth, and the center will host an opioid awareness night next week.

Dozens of protesters marched to Representative LaHood’s office in Normal — urging him to keep Medicaid funds intact as his staff had already left the building.

LaHood said he will continue to address federal spending and meet with constituents — focusing on eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.

Last Thursday, US Representative Eric Sorensen presented the town with a $750,000 check from the DOJ’s Community Oriented Policing Services grant to help the Normal Police Department hire six new officers—these officers are expected to begin in six months as call volumes and community programs grow.

Illinois State University and the Department of Child and Family Services hosted an open house and ribbon cutting Friday in Normal for the new Child Protection Training Academy — a training simulation lab created to help staff learn updated child protection techniques.

Children's Day/Book Day Celebration

2-4 p.m. — Illinois Art Station — Free entry — Celebrate reading with engaging activities for children and families.

Unit 5K Fun Run

2 PM — Maxwell Park — Registration fee required — Participate in the 4th Annual Unit 5K to support local education initiatives.

Monarch Butterfly Paint Nite

6:30-8:30 p.m. — BloNo Pizza Co. — Cost of supplies included — Unleash your inner artist while enjoying pizza and drinks in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere.

Family Paint Party

6:30-8:30 p.m. — BloNo Pizza Co. — Cost of participation — Enjoy a fun-filled evening of creativity with guided painting and delicious food.