Good morning, Normal.

Uptown Normal Partners will host its annual Fall In Love with Uptown shopping and dining event on Sept.

13 at 10 a.m., with a parade by the Great Lakes Shrine Association beginning at the intersection of Fell and North Streets in Uptown. Road closures for another parade on Oct. 13 will affect School Street, North Street and Constitution Boulevard, with no parking allowed after 6 a.m. until closures finish by 11 a.m.

A recent community satisfaction survey showed that Normal residents rated quality of life, road maintenance, and public services highly, though many expressed concerns over affordable housing.

City Manager Pamela Reece said the town will focus on repairing roads and forming public-private partnerships—steps that will help address housing needs in the future.

Rader Family Farms unveiled its corn maze this year—featuring Country Financial as it marks 100 years in a celebration that underscores local tradition.

A Normal woman, Shelly T.

Perry, was detained in McLean County on burglary and theft charges after police said she broke into a home and stole a car and a truck & made statements raising concerns about her mental fitness, with a mental health evaluation set before her arraignment on Sept. 26.

During the busy Central Illinois harvest season, more farm vehicles are on the road and drivers are told to slow down, give space, and make visual contact before passing—Rodney Knittel from the Illinois Farm Bureau warned—to help keep roads safe.

Nearly 600 new students began classes at Illinois Wesleyan University this fall at the Bloomington campus—its largest incoming class since 2010.

The class included 47% student athletes and pushed total enrollment above 1,600 while the college unveiled campus improvements such as a remodeled dining hall and renovated residence areas.

Starting Tuesday, Sept 16, the intersection at Beaufort Street — Broadway Avenue in Uptown Normal will permanently become a four-way stop because community members raised safety concerns.

This change is part of Phase 2 of the Pedestrian and Roadway Campus Safety Initiative and will be paired with temporary projects that test new street designs.