This newscast aired at 8:32am on 6-24-2025 on WGLT.
From the WGLT newsroom, I'm John Norton. Some licensed massage therapists in Bloomington continue to raise concerns about the city's new regulations over their industry. Christina Felker is one of several therapists who spoke about code changes aimed at targeting sex-oriented business.
operating as massage providers, lumping us in the same category as unregulated exploitative operations is not only inaccurate, it's harmful and it's hurtful. The city council approved an amended policy that establishes a one-time $100 application fee for massage businesses.
An Airbnb owner in Normal says the town's coming ban is an overly broad solution to a narrow issue. Marie Poundstone says the town could pursue more targeted options. Hey, maybe we just limit the number of Airbnbs or the ones that are problematic, or limit it to people that are just in town. Maybe they're just 10 to 15 minutes out in case if an issue arises. Poundstone says she understands the instinct to do something as the number of short-term rental listings has grown in the community.
She says her 4 properties in the area offer a unique experience. Protesters gathered to push back against the Trump administration's hardline immigration tactics during a rally in downtown Bloomington. Charlotte Alvarez is executive director of the Immigration Project, which co-sponsored the protest.
We're
asking for transparency and making sure that we
Being as protective as possible for our communities in this moment when ICE officials are conducting enforcement operations that are violating
people's rights.
Some demonstrators entered the McLean County Sheriff's Office but were unable to see Sheriff Matt Lane after immigration authorities detained a man at the courthouse two weeks ago.
And the Central Illinois chapter of a national organization that offers workshops and mentorship for emerging small businesses could see the bulk of its funding reduced. Joanne Corbett is the Score Peoria chapter chair. She says SOR gets a vast majority of its funding through the Federal Small Business Administration. The proposed reconciliation bill in Congress would wipe out the entire $17 million annual amount. A heat advisory today with a chance of showers. I'm John Norton.