Daily
Normal
Wednesday, May 13th, 2026
Good morning, Normal. Here's your local news at a glance for Wednesday, the 13th of May.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Normal firefighters Matt Hill and Nathan Riordan were awarded the state's Medal of Valor on Tuesday in Springfield for trying to rescue a 13-year-old from a mobile home fire last November (the victim later died from his injuries) among only three statewide recipients. WGLT
- ➤ The McLean County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the graduation of the Leadership McLean County Class of 2026 at a local ceremony. The event recognized new leaders and their commitment to community service. The Pantagraph
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Central Catholic High School has named its graduates in preparation for a ceremony that will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 17 at Most Holy Eucharist Parish – St. Patrick Church in Merna. The Pantagraph
- ➤ Central Catholic High School named Mark Geraghty Jr. as prom king and Alyssa Gibbs as prom queen during a school ceremony. The Pantagraph
- ➤ The Illinois Symphony Orchestra Guild of Bloomington-Normal held its annual Musician Scholarship Auditions that featured 13 student musicians (grades 8 through 11) competing for music scholarships, celebrating local talent. The Pantagraph
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ El Niño is rising and is set to bring cooler, wetter summers and warmer, drier winters to central Illinois. Forecast models show it will be in full force by mid to late July — a shift that may lower winter heating bills. WJBC
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ On Monday, U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood delivered a $1.5 million federal grant to build a cargo road that will separate heavy truck traffic from planes near FedEx at the local airport. Construction will begin once an additional $3 million is secured (state and federal agencies are working to secure more funds). WJBC
- ➤ A state grant is funding $239,000 for sidewalk improvements and traffic control device upgrades near Tri-Valley Elementary, Middle and High School in Downs. The Safe Routes to School program will create safer walkways for students to get to school. WGLT
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Summer Horticulture Field Day 2026
8:30 AM – 3:00 PM — Rader Family Farms — Tickets Required — Explore horticulture through tours and presentations on specialty crops at this engaging field day.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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