Good morning, Normal.

Eastern Illinois Foodbank will distribute free groceries to families in Peoria and McLean Counties using its Foodmobile program in October and November.

The Foodmobile will visit today in Peoria, Oct. 27 in McLean, and return on Nov. 26 and Nov. 24—serving rural, underserved areas.

Next month, tree-lighting ceremonies will honor fallen military heroes in central Illinois at the Peoria Riverfront Museum on Nov.

15 at 10 a.m., at the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington on Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m., and a tree will be open for public view at the Decatur Civic Center from Nov. 1 — each display features hero ornaments with names, ranks, and dates to honor those who died on active duty.

McLean County Chamber of Commerce President Charlie Moore said the chamber has partnered with United Healthcare after Health Alliance ended coverage—providing an affordable option for businesses statewide.

The plan, available only to chamber members with fewer than 100 employees, will start in early January—potentially saving companies up to 10% compared to marketplace rates.

Tech leaders and business attorneys say Illinois’ biometrics law may scare away companies from building data centers that support AI and job growth.

They urge lawmakers to update the law by exempting data centers from consent rules—an adjustment expected to keep the state competitive.

Route 66 once carried travelers through Bloomington-Normal and shaped local business and culture; the McLean County Museum of History now shares this legacy at its Cruising with Lincoln on 66 Visitor Center + Gift Shop.

The museum explains how the old road paved the way for modern transport and preserved the community’s historic ties.

The Normal Town Council approved a $69,750 purchase of four permanent art pieces for a planned sculpture park at 1110 Douglas St.—the artwork, selected by the Public Art Working Group from local submissions, will be installed in Spring to complement the existing memorial sculpture near the Community Activity Center at One Normal Plaza. This project is part of ongoing public art efforts to enhance the town's cultural appeal ahead of the Route 66 Centennial celebration.

The McLean County Chamber of Commerce hosted its fall job fair at the Bloomington YMCA where 350 job seekers met 50 local employers from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.—the event also offered resume reviews and sign-ups for workforce training with Heartland Community College.

Unit 5 will host a public meeting on Zoom Monday, Oct.

27 at 6 p.m. to share details of an enrollment planning study that may lead to school boundary changes—Cropper GIS, an Ohio-based consultant, will explain building use and answer questions. The study is expected to finish by the end of March.

In 2024, more than half of McLean County's waste was recycled, marking the first time the county passed a 50% recycling rate (a milestone for local waste efforts).

2025 Pumpkin Smash

10 AM – 2 PM — Rader Family Farms — Check website for costs — Smash pumpkins and learn about environmental impact through fun activities.