Good morning, Normal.

WMBD won three Silver Dome awards Monday at the DoubleTree Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield—honoring the station as Station of the Year for a medium TV market, awarding Patrick Cunningham as best TV sportscaster and its multicultural research story as best in its category.

The McLean County Chamber of Commerce will host the 2025 Nonprofit Showcase on Oct.

30 in Bloomington, where over 50 local organizations will meet from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Park Regency Hotel + Conference Center on Leslie Drive to offer volunteer and partnership opportunities.

Rivian announced layoffs that will affect about 4.5% of its workforce.

CEO RJ Scaringe said the company is making structural changes to support the launch of R2—details on which teams and locations will see cuts remain unclear.

Illinois customers may face higher natural gas bills next year as the Illinois Commerce Commission reviews rate requests from Nicor Gas and Ameren, with proposed decisions suggesting a 5—6% rise for Nicor and about $70 more per year for Ameren.

The final decisions will be made on November 24 and December 1 as part of ongoing regulatory reviews.

Heartland Community College Dean Adam Campbell was named the 2025 TEAI Administrator of the Year on October 24th at the Illinois Technology Education Conference at Illinois State University—recognizing his 18 years of work in technology education and service in the field.

Books to Benefit—a nonprofit that supports literacy and education—will host its annual fall sale from Thursday, Nov.

6 to Sunday, Nov. 9 in Normal to support its programs.

Unit 5 and Cropper GIS hosted a meeting Monday night to explain how they will study enrollment and changes to school boundaries.

They outlined eight key factors—such as student travel time and community balance—and invited people to share feedback on the study website, with more meetings planned for December 10 and February 19.

Brenda Lessen Knoll, an associate professor of nursing and Illinois Wesleyan alumna, was recognized as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (an honor that highlights her contributions to the field).

The Town of Normal began leaf vacuuming Monday, Oct 27 — crews started with Zone 3 and will work through all five zones as residents are asked to place leaves on grass or driveways and keep them away from streets and obstructions.

The ongoing program will stop after the first snow and also offers a drop-off option at the Landscape Waste site.

Bloomington and Normal police advise drivers to stay alert and trick-or-treaters to use crosswalks—wear reflective clothing and use face paint instead of masks for better visibility.

Parents are urged to supervise children, check candy for safety, and plan designated rides home while officials monitor DUI risks on Halloween.

ISU women's basketball coach Kristen Gillespie said the team is driven and will aim for a sixth straight postseason as they will host the Dayton Flyers on Nov.

3. She added that the team works on its process every day—focusing on core values—while adapting to new challenges in college sports.

2025 Pumpkin Smash

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

City of Bloomington Turkey Trot

9-11 a.m. — Miller Park — Free entry — A family-friendly event featuring runs and walks to kick off Thanksgiving Day.