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Today’s edition · Tues., Nov. 3

McLean County's proposed budget expects a 20-year-low tax rate

Plus, high school football's second round is set, and the state finals are coming to Normal.

The Daily Normal team2 stories15 sources5 min read

McLean CountyTop story

McLean County eyes a 20-year-low tax rate as voters head to the polls

$150.4 millionproposed McLean County budget for fiscal 2027

It could bring a historic property tax rate reduction, with the rate expected to hit a 20-year low.

Source: The Pantagraph

If you pay McLean County property taxes, this one's for you. The county's proposed $150.4 million budget for fiscal 2027 expects the tax rate to hit a 20-year low. The catch: staff health insurance contributions face a significant increase.

Voting today? Illinois doesn't require photo ID at the polls, so your signature is the check. The one on file might be from your late teens or early twenties. Worried it's changed? We suggest fixing it before you vote.

  • Fix it: online, by phone or at your polling place
  • Deadline: grace period registration runs through Election Day
  • Bloomington: Nesbitt encourages visiting the to do it right

Two more local things. The Pumpkin Smash is over, but free drop-off continues through Thu., Nov. 5 at 1312 Ropp Road in Normal. And 100 years ago today, airmail pilot Charles Lindbergh bailed out over McLean County with empty fuel tanks, then walked into 's general store and asked if anyone had heard a plane crash.

Three local figures run from a 12-year signature gap to a 13,000-foot jump

12 years
between DMV signature updates
8 to 9 tons
of pumpkins collected at last year's smash, approximately
13,000 feet
roughly where Lindbergh bailed out

Sources: WGLT, Central Illinois Proud

High School Football

High school football playoffs head into round two, with the state finals coming to Normal

If you follow high school football, round two is Fri., Nov. 6 and Sat., Nov. 7. The opening round left 128 teams standing, 16 in each of the 's eight classes. Quincy beat Chicago Goode 88-84 in Class 6A, and Normal Community, the No. 1 seed in Class 7A, beat Edwardsville 28-14.

88-84Quincy's win over Chicago Goode in Class 6A

It is the highest-scoring game in playoff football history.

Source: WGN-TV

The IHSA announced kickoff times Monday at its Bloomington-Normal office, and games are at the home of the better seed. The state finals are at ISU's in Normal, so the road ends in our backyard.

The football playoffs run to the Nov. 27-⁠28 finals in Normal

  1. Nov. 6-7Second-round games are played Friday and Saturday.
  2. Nov. 13-14Quarterfinals are scheduled.
  3. Nov. 20-21Semifinals will be played.
  4. Nov. 27-28Championship games will be played at in Normal.

Sources: Peoria Journal Star, riverbender.com

  • Class 8A: Hinsdale Central at Lincoln-Way East, noon Saturday
  • Class 8A: Barrington at Chicago Mt. Carmel, 7 p.m. Friday
  • Class 1A: Tuscola at Hardin Calhoun, time to be announced

Asked

Tap an answer to see how Normal answered.

Asked

Which football playoff round will you most likely watch in person?

Be the first to answer.

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News Notes

Tax levy

Normal's town council voted with no objection Monday to move forward on a proposed levy of almost $15.9 million. Town leaders said owners of a home worth $280,000 to $290,000 would pay around $54 less next year, because an anticipated 13.5% rise in property values would lower the rate. WEEK 25 News Now

Museum

Normal's council approved a museum expansion contract Monday night. The proposal on its agenda was $863,729 to turn space beneath the Children's Discovery Museum's outdoor balcony into an enclosed exhibit area with a larger water table. The PantagraphThe Pantagraph

Housing

The Normal Town Council heard a proposal Monday to loosen rules on non-conforming housing and accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, amid the housing shortage. Under current rules, non-conforming housing can't be rebuilt after major damage and can't be enlarged. WGLT

Hoops

Ryan Pedon's fifth season as ISU men's basketball coach was set to open Monday night at Saint Mary's. His teams won 11 games in 2023 and 23 last season, with a trip to the NIT Final Four, and the goal is to end a 28-season NCAA Tournament drought. WGLT

ISU men's basketball wins more than doubled under Pedon

Source: WGLT

View as table
Value
202311 wins
Last season23 wins

Veterans

The CreatiVets program gives Twin Cities veterans an eight-week course in ceramics, painting and more, and it's this week's CI Hero. Army veteran Tiffany Benson, who has a traumatic brain injury, said it has been a big help to her. Central Illinois Proud

Home

Two cute home finds: This elegant, patterned entry rug that’s under $19 and comes in three charming patterns to match your decor, and this double picture frame for $9.99 that’s perfect for displaying family memories on your mantle.*

The Buy

Product find alert: You’ve never used a steamer like this vacuum clothes steamer, which heats up in 30 seconds and offers powerful, even steaming and vacuum suction to remove dust and wrinkles. Use it on clothes like this women’s batwing sweater for a crisp, polished fall look.*

Biz

Running ads with us is easy. In fact, you can submit, schedule, and be ready to run in under two minutes. See how our self-service portal works.

Content marked with an * is advertising.

Asked

Tap an answer to see how Normal answered.

Asked

What do you usually do with your pumpkins after Halloween?

Be the first to answer.

Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you.

— David Foster Wallace

Things to Do

Things to Do

Normal, IL

Tuesday, Nov. 3

See every Normal eventFeature your event

Jobs

Jobs

Submit your Job listing

Do you know just the role for our readers? Post it on our Jobs board.

Around the Block

Around the Block

Powered by Nextdoor

Recommendations

I just wanted to take a minute and thank my wonderful neighborhood.

“Not only did you guys do an amazing job at all the decorations but you allowed our teens to trick-or-treat without judgment. When we bought our house, almost 13 years ago, we knew that the neighborhood was a gem, and it just seems to get better. As a mom of a 14-year-old who loves to dress up and I appreciate the…”

— A neighbor, Greenbriar

84 likes · 0 comments

View post

The Wrap

Dinner in the van, anyone? Gabby Lerche, like a lot of parents in Bloomington-Normal, pre-cooks meals in her crockpot, plugs it in inside her car, and feeds her kids between evening activities. She records the whole thing for more than 10,000 followers on social media. Fast-food drive-thru, meet your match.

The Daily Normal teamNormal’s daily newsletter

How did we do today, Normal?

Tap a face. It takes under a minute.

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Every source in this edition15 links · 9 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. The Pantagraphpantagraph.com
  3. WGLTwglt.org
  4. Central Illinois Proudcentralillinoisproud.com
  5. WGLTwglt.org
  6. WGN-TVwgntv.com
  7. Peoria Journal Starpjstar.com
  8. riverbender.comriverbender.com
  9. WEEK 25 News Now25newsnow.com
  10. The Pantagraphpantagraph.com
  11. The Pantagraphpantagraph.com
  12. WGLTwglt.org
  13. WGLTwglt.org
  14. Central Illinois Proudcentralillinoisproud.com
  15. Normal events calendardailynormalnews.com

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Daily Normalto me · Tues., Nov. 36:00 a.m.

McLean County's proposed budget expects a 20-year-low tax rate

Plus, high school football's second round is set, and the state finals are coming to Normal.

The TLDR

  1. McLean County's proposed budget expects a 20-year-low tax rate
  2. Voting today? An old signature on file can slow you down
  3. Football playoffs hit round two, with finals Nov. 27-28 in Normal
Read this edition

Around Normal

From The Pantagraph, WEEK 25 News Now and WGLT, gathered by TMI, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news

  1. The Pantagraph5 hours ago

    Normal advances $15.87 million tax levy, approves museum expansion contract

  2. WEEK 25 News Now6 hours ago

    Normal’s share of property taxes to fall slightly, say town officials

    The town council voted with no objection on Monday to move forward on the proposed levy in which the government would collect almost $15.9 million next year.

  3. WEEK 25 News Now7 hours ago

    Town property taxes to decrease in Normal

  4. WGLT8 hours ago

    Normal looks at loosening housing and business regulations, lowering town tax rate

    The Normal Town Council on Monday heard a proposal for new rules to relax housing construction rules amid an ongoing housing shortage.

  5. WGLT9 hours ago

    Live Blog: Election Day in Bloomington-Normal and across Central Illinois

    The latest Election Day reporting from WGLT and our partners in Illinois Public Radio and the NPR Network, including results, watch parties and analysis.

  6. WGLT9 hours ago

    Election results: Congressional, statewide, and state legislative races

    The latest election results from The Associated Press for congressional, statewide and state legislative races impacting McLean County.