Good morning, Normal.

Officials at the Normal Public Library celebrated its new space on Tuesday after waiting 16 months for a full remodel and asbestos removal that cost about $6.5 million while keeping the original floor plan.

Guests took a guided tour on College Avenue in Uptown Normal and saw updates such as a teen area and a tinker studio — a new amenity featuring 3D printers and other modern tools.

Veterans are joining a free art class at Heartland Community College in a partnership with CreatiVets to share their experiences through creative activities such as pottery, painting, and sketching.

A mother—daughter pair is among those attending, and many veterans find comfort in connecting with others who share similar challenges.

Dabrona and her son Joshua opened South of Chicago Groceries in Bloomington to bring fresh food to a local food desert across from Miller Park, and the store now offers snacks, canned goods plus a small selection of fruit from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day while they plan to raise money for a display cooler and eventually open a restaurant in the building.

Nomad Theatre Company will begin its second season with Order in the Court, a series of seven 10-minute courtroom dramas held at the McLean County Museum of History in Bloomington.

The plays will run from September 19 to 27 and include a real-life play by local playwright John D. Poling based on ax-wielding women from Towanda—directed by retired professor Lori Adams.

Britt Lower— a 2004 Heyworth High School graduate— won an Emmy Award for Best Actress in a Drama series for the Apple TV+ show Severance on Sunday, and local leaders celebrated her win as proof that small-town talent can reach big stages.

Orland Park-based Ballet 5:8 will debut La Llorona at Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, Sept.

21. The ballet tells the story of a young mom struggling with mental health using dance and Mexican music—marking Hispanic Heritage Month.

Yesterday, McLean County Unit 5 School District thanked its IT workers with donuts and lunch on National IT Professional Day on Sept.

16 to show their key role in keeping school technology running smoothly. The district installed 800 new display panels over the summer to improve teaching and maintenance + support student learning.

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel 'Chris' Welch said lawmakers are on high alert after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed and after Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed on June 14.

Welch said his caucus has been briefed regularly by the Illinois State Police—urging legislators to use kind words to calm tensions.

The town council voted 6—1 on Monday night to let households have three pets instead of two.

Staff said the change brings Normal in line with rules in nearby cities and aims to stop some pet owners from breaking the law.

The Town of Normal passed an audit for the 2024-25 fiscal year with strong reserves and a shift in its tax base—expenses remained below budget as residential values grew and economic changes moved more tax to industrial and commercial properties.

The council also approved park repairs at Rosa Parks Commons and set pool and bathhouse fixes at Anderson Aquatic Center to be ready for summer 2026.