Subscribe | Get featured

Hi Bloomington, hope you’re having a great weekend!

In today’s in-case-you-missed-it edition: Bob Odenkirk’s wild new trailer, State Farm’s $5B dividend for drivers, and Pucks & Paws Night + the top stories from this week & a sneak peek at next week.

From today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz: Many Illinois drivers end up paying higher auto insurance premiums because they don’t shop around enough. The same driver with the same car can get wildly different quotes from different insurers, so it truly pays to compare. Their free tool makes it easy.*

📰 Most-clicked stories this week

An offbeat, adrenalized mystery: A new trailer shows Bob Odenkirk as a troubled substitute sheriff in Normal, uncovering hidden crime with dark humor and full-throttle action. Ben Wheatley directs. The film opens April 17 — read the full story.

Drivers poised for record windfall: State Farm plans to pay a $5 billion dividend starting this summer, with one-time payments averaging about $100 per vehicle, varying by state and premiums paid — get all the details.

Sweeping public works plan: Bloomington’s proposed city budget features a historic $82 million investment in water infrastructure, a 281% increase, and sets aside $16.6 million for road work for streets residents use daily — read the full story.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*

Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.*

All the crowd favorites:

• Catch Tommy & Jim’s St. Patty’s show
• Celebrate 17th annual Easter art show
• Sing and play 90s music bingo

💎 This week’s top finds

Pie night upgrade: Pollen and Pastry quietly turns out made-to-order pies, from apple lattice and cherry to pecan and bourbon-maple pumpkin. Delivery around town or easy pickup lets you glide into the week with a sweet victory and zero dishwashing.

Stitch your happy place: Peace & Applique Quilt Shop stocks beautiful quilting fabric, tempting kits, reliable Bernina machines, and skill-building classes. There’s even a local retreat center for uninterrupted sew time. Consider this your nudge to finally finish that project pile… we won’t tell how tall.

Old-school cravings, sorted: Bloomington’s own Times Past Inn nails the diner cravings: fluffy pancakes, hearty skillets, smashed burgers, and the pork tenderloin locals brag about. Think of it as a midweek reset, with bottomless coffee and, yes, mimosa flights if brunch needs sparkle.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements — they’re the local spots your fellow readers clicked on most this week.

🫶 We got your back

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Paying full price is officially optional: Blu Dot just marked down dozens of their best sofas, beds, dining tables, outdoor pieces, and lighting by as much as 60%. Not because something’s wrong with them, but because every great design eventually has to make room for the next one. The deals change daily, so it’s always a new adventure. *See what’s on sale today →

Most people have no idea what’s happening inside their body: Not because the data doesn’t exist, but because no one’s collecting it. Routine annual checkups miss things like body composition, biological age, and the biomarkers that can help predict long-term patterns. The good news? HumeHealth offers tools to help you track all of that at home for less than the cost of a specialist visit. *Use code NEW20 to save 20% →

Something in your house is about to break: It might be your AC, your water heater, your fridge… doesn’t matter. Every major appliance has an expiration date, and when it goes, you’ll be staring down a repair bill that can climb into the thousands fast. An AHS home warranty covers these types of surprises + *select plans are $150 off right now →

📆 Sneak peek at next week

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🐰 Folk Art Rabbit Workshop @ Artful Designs | Thursday (3/19) at 6:00 PM – Swap doomscrolling for a brush, and paint a charming folk art rabbit with Wendy guiding the way. A fresh spin on a classic that is relaxing, satisfying, and pleasantly low stakes. No MFA required, just your patience, reading glasses, and a steady-ish hand.

📚 Book Sidewalk Sale @ Bobzbay Books | Saturday (3/21) at 9:00 AM – Bobzbay’s putting free books out on the sidewalk, so clear a little shelf space and your conscience. First come, first served, BYO bags or boxes, and rescue a stack before they get recycled. Little Free Library keepers, crafters, and book hoarders, this one’s your Super Bowl.

🐰 Easter Egg Hunt and Pictures with the Easter Bunny @ The Carriages of Bloomington | Saturday (3/21) at 9:30 AM – Free and open to the public, the kids’ egg hunt kicks off promptly on the front lawn, so arrive a little early. Park along Leslie Drive, then head inside for a photo with the Easter Bunny, snacks, and enough sugar to power your day.

🎨 Making a More Perfect Union: Art Workshop @ McLean County Arts Center | Saturday (3/21) at 11:00 AM – America turns 250, and Illinois is celebrating the fun way with a free, drop-in art workshop. Bring the kids, grandkids, or your inner art nerd. Finally, a civic duty that comes with glitter, glue sticks, and surprising thoughtfulness.

🎗 BloNo St. Baldricks 2026 @ Casper Brewing Company | Saturday (3/21) at 3:00 PM – Casper Brewing is hosting BloNo’s public St. Baldrick’s, finally giving Central Illinois a spot to cheer, donate, or, if you’re brave, get the buzz. Expect superhero shoutouts, head shaving, a 50/50 raffle, and pints. Family-friendly, funding pediatric cancer research. Your barber will understand.

👜 4th Annual Purse Gala @ Bloomington Moose Lodge 745 / WOTM Chapter 173 | Saturday (3/21) at 6:00 PM – Break out the bidding hand for the 4th Annual Purse Gala, benefiting Relay for Life of McLean County. Purses stuffed with gift cards, a wine pull, and wallet raffles await, and a $25 ticket covers Cinco de Mayo buffet, because charity should come with carbs.

🐾 Pucks & Paws Night @ Grossinger Motors Arena | Saturday (3/21) at 7:00 PM – Finally, a Bison hockey night your dog is invited to, and it supports the Humane Society of Central Illinois. Head to Grossinger Motors Arena, meet adoptable pups, grab limited Pucks & Paws gear, and feel good knowing every ticket benefits local homeless animals.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Bloomington report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 63°F – Low: 18°F – Precip: 87%

A chance of rain showers between 8am and 10am, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. South wind 18 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Rain showers before 11pm, then snow showers between 11pm and midnight, then snow showers and patchy blowing snow between midnight and 1am, then snow likely and areas of blowing snow. Cloudy, with a low around 18. Wind chill values as low as 4. West wind 23 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

—

Tomorrow – High: 24°F – Low: 9°F – Precip: 62%

Snow likely and areas of blowing snow before 1pm, then patchy blowing snow and a slight chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 24. West northwest wind 23 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. Later: Patchy blowing snow and a slight chance of snow before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9. West northwest wind 13 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

Most popular house this week

Contemporary, this 4-bedroom, 3-bath home sits on over an acre in Lara Trace. A refaced, fully applianced kitchen anchors the main level with vaulted ceilings and sliders to a deck, plus two bedrooms, one with private deck. Upstairs has a primary suite with closet and soaking tub and rain shower. Walkout basement adds rec space, built-ins, and potential fifth bedroom.

Take a peek inside →