Happy weekend, Bloomington! In today’s happening-today edition: Property fraud alerts, a dog day farmers market, and a Juneteenth celebration + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.
Today’s sponsor, GoldCo, is helping folks around Bloomington protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Extra protection for homeowners: McLean County launched PropertyCheck, a free alert service guarding homeowners from property and mortgage fraud, sending notices when recorded documents match a name or parcel, with Cott Systems -- learn how it works.
Holiday road safety push: Normal Police have launched a Fourth of July traffic safety campaign running through July 6, with extra patrols statewide targeting impaired driving, speeding, and seat belt violations across Bloomington-Normal -- see the safety campaign details.
Season finale spotlight: The 52nd Illinois Shrine Game kicks off today at Tucci Stadium in Bloomington, showcasing players and coaches from 23 central Illinois schools and benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children -- check out the Shrine Game.
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The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest -- this one's $150 off right now.* Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Gold just posted its strongest run in decades...And the momentum is carrying into 2026. Silver has become one of the most talked-about assets as investors look for ways to stay ahead of market volatility. While many are still sitting on the sidelines, others are quietly repositioning. If you’re wondering whether you’re missing something, GoldCo has a free guide explaining what’s driving the renewed interest… and how investors are approaching precious metals right now. It’s free and worth reading before the next move.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Locally grown dinner plans: Epiphany Farms Restaurant builds its menus around weekly harvests from their 75-acre farm in Downs, so plates taste like Central Illinois in season. If you’ve been meaning to eat better without thinking too hard, let their chef-farmers do the sourcing and you do the savoring.
Quick nine, anyone?: Shake off the rust and sneak in a stress-free loop at The Links At Ireland Grove, the friendliest spot in town for league nights, play 9 rounds, and short game tune-ups. They even run kids leagues and occasional night golf, so you can introduce the fam or just work on the wedges.
Bring extra napkins: Craving a proper boil-in-a-bag kind of night, The Tasty Crab lets you pick your seafood by the pound, choose Cajun, garlic butter, lemon pepper, or the Tasty Special, and dial the heat from mild to extra hot. Gloves and bibs at the ready, messy smiles basically guaranteed.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Around town today & tomorrowOur favorite events going on the rest of this weekend. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🐶 Dog Day at the Downtown Bloomington Farmers' Market @ Downtown Bloomington | Saturday (6/20) at 7:30 AM – Market morning calls for coffee for you, pup cups for them, and a stroll through the Bloomington Farmers Market with HSCI’s adoptables stealing hearts. Friendly dogs, free bandanas while they last, local vendors, and sniffs. If your pup hates crowds, take a lap outside.
🌷 A Saturday Stroll in Sarah's Garden @ David Davis Mansion | Saturday (6/20) at 9:00 AM – Skip mowing and wander Sarah Davis’ 1872 heirloom garden, lemonade in hand, blooms everywhere, many originals. Master Gardeners, some in period dress, will field plant questions while plein air artists paint. You stroll, they work, you leave smelling like peonies, not sweat.
🏠 Build with Dad Birdhouse Workshop: 6/20 @ Bloomington Hy-Vee | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – Father's Day calls for actual tools, not another novelty mug, so Bloomington Hy-Vee is hosting a build-your-own birdhouse session where kids and Dad hammer, paint, and pose for the inevitable photos. You keep the birdhouse, the memories, and maybe a splinter; supplies disappear fast.
✍ Book Signing with Fantasy Author Jaleigh Johnson @ Bobzbay Books | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – Swing by Bobzbay for a signing with Illinois's own Jaleigh Johnson, celebrating her cozy new fantasy about a witch, a ward, and a very opinionated walking house. Meet the author, trade small-town lore, and leave with a freshly signed copy, not homework.
✊ B-N Juneteenth Celebration @ Miller Park Zoo | Saturday (6/20) at 11:00 AM – Celebrate freedom, community, and good vibes at Bloomington-Normal’s Juneteenth celebration, where the whole town shows up. Expect local makers and community groups, stories and history, and the kind of neighborly side conversations you only get here. Bring a chair, patience, and your two-step.
🍹 Sippin into Summer @ Serendipity Mercantile | Saturday (6/20) at 11:00 AM – First-days-of-summer vibes call for sipping something cold and finding little luxuries. Expect local honey tastings, a custom tee bar, crisp mocktails, One Smart Cookie treats, and permanent jewelry, plus in-store specials. Bring your best porch-sitting energy, leave sticky and happy.
🔥 Hot Seats @ Slug Factory | Saturday (6/20) at 5:00 PM – Nomad Theatre unveils its season and raises some cash the spicy way at Slug Factory, with the co-founders fielding bold questions while sweating through hot wings. Expect live reveals, apps, wings to play along, dessert, wine, and a silent auction. Transparency, but make it Scoville. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — The Bloomington report Weather forecastToday — High: 80°F — Low: 61°F — Precip: 19%
A slight chance of rain showers before 10am. Sunny, with a high near 80. West northwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A slight chance of rain showers after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. North northeast wind 3 to 7 mph. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 75°F — Low: 60°F — Precip: 95%
Rain showers before 10am, then showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. East southeast wind 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 2 and 3 inches possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Northeast wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 2 and 3 inches possible. This house is wildThis walk-out ranch spreads across 16 acres, including an 8-acre fish-filled pond and a scenic trail circling the water. Inside, there are 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, and main-level laundry, plus a partially finished lower level with room to expand. Country living shines here, just minutes from town, golf, and fresh eggs courtesy of the included chickens.
Take a peek inside → |
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