1+ day, 19+ hour ago (387+ words) Here's the latest on a major snowstorm expected to hit Bloomington-Normal on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. More resources: Do you have a cancellation or other news to report? Send it to [email protected]. The Bloomington-Normal area is expecting 7-10 inches of snow in a storm that begins Friday night. Much of Central Illinois, including McLean County, will be under a winter storm warning from midnight Friday through 6 a.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. "Roads and especially bridges and overpasses will likely become slick and hazardous. The strong winds and weight of snow on tree limbs may down power lines and could cause sporadic power outages. Travel could be very difficult to impossible," the weather service warned. The City of Bloomington has implemented parking restrictions ahead of the expected winter storm. No parking will be allowed on designated snow routes starting…...

6+ day, 15+ hour ago (222+ words) The Illinois State football team earned a bid Sunday to the FCS [Football Championship Subdivision] playoffs for the second season year in a row and the seventh time under Brock Spack's tenure as head coach. The Redbirds received an at-large bid to the 24-team field and will play at No. 16 seed Southeastern Louisiana at noon, Saturday, Nov. 29, in Hammond, Louisiana. The winner will play top-seeded and defending national champion North Dakota State in the second round. ISU [8-4] ended the regular season Saturday with a 37-7 loss to Southern Illinois, snapping a four-game winning streak. While the loss may have impacted seeding, it did not cost the Redbirds a home playoff game. ISU booked the Illinois High School Association football finals at Hancock Stadium next weekend, a move Spack said he supports for recruiting purposes, even if it means losing a potential…...

11+ hour, 27+ min ago (170+ words) The Illinois State football team felt right at home playing away from Hancock Stadium on Saturday, just as they have all season. The unseeded Redbirds [9-4] rolled to a 21-3 victory at No. 16 seed Southeastern Louisiana in the first round of the FCS [Football Championship Subdivision] playoffs at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond, Louisiana. ISU quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse ran for a score and also caught a touchdown pass form Danial Sobkowicz to give the Redbirds a commanding 14-3 lead in the third quarter. The Illinois State defense intercepted four Southeastern Louisiana passes, including three from Normal West graduate Carson Camp. After a season-opening defeat to Football Bowl Subdivision [FBS] opponent Oklahoma, ISU has won six consecutive road games. The win against the Lions marks the second-straight playoff-opening win for the Redbirds, who advanced last season by defeating Southeast Missouri State on Thanksgiving weekend. The…...