Rick Bleichner News Today

An agreement has been reached in a federal lawsuit filed by a Normal woman against a former Normal Police officer who admitted stealing $12,000 from her home during a police response to a medical emergency involving her husband.

As expected, the Normal Town Council on Tuesday annexed about 36 acres for the planned Carden Springs development, making way for nearly 500 new apartments and townhouses, near Interstate 55.

U.S. District Court Judge James Shadid has ruled that Lindsey Holzhauer failed to meet the legal standard for claims that former Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner, former Lt. James Ferguson and current Lt. Tim Edmiaston conspired to thwart an investigation into missing money.

In Rica Rountree's case, mandated reporters alerted the state’s child welfare agency of potential serious abuse. They sounded the alarm bell repeatedly, only to have those alarms ignored or not thoroughly investigated by the agency tasked with doing so. Instead, the investigator who mishandled Rica’s case was promoted.

The new police chief for the Town of Normal is the current assistant chief, Steve Petrilli.

Authorities say a 63-year-old man from Normal died late Saturday in a two-vehicle crash.

On today's episode, you'll hear from Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe. Also, an exit interview with retiring Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner. And a Growmark agronomist shares what central Illinois farmers are up to with planting season just weeks away.

WGLT's the Leadoff is everything you need to know for Tuesday, March 22. Normal Police chief Rick Bleichner is set to retire after 30 years with the department. Plus, Eric Stock talks to the director of the Central Illinois Regional Airport about how leisure travel has bounced back to pre-pandemic levels -- and how business travel has not.

Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner, who's led the department for the last 11 years, said Monday he plans to retire next month.

Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner announced Monday he will retire at the end of April after about 11 years at...