Bloomington Kerala Forum - BKF

Bloomington Kerala Forum - BKF Welcome to
Bloomington Kerala Forum (BKF)
The Malayalee Association of
Bloomington & Normal, Illinois, USA 501(c)(3) Not For Profit (NFP) Organization

05/27/2026

UPDATE: The individuals have been identified. The investigation remains ongoing. Thank you for sharing and assisting!

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Caught On Camera - Attempted Theft of Vehicles, Vehicle Burglaries

The Bloomington Police Department is requesting assistance with the identification of two theft suspects.

Since May 14, 2026, officers have taken ten reports in and near downtown Bloomington involving vehicle burglary. In multiple instances, the suspect(s) also attempted to steal the burglarized vehicle by compromising the electronic systems in a target vehicle. The incidents take place during evening and early morning hours in parking lots and parking decks.

In multiple incidents, images of suspect(s) were captured by nearby Public Safety Cameras.
Suspect 1: Wearing black sweatpants, black Nike tennis shoes or black Crocs sandals, a gray hooded sweatshirt and a black pullover face mask. This suspect also has short bushy dark hair.
Suspect 2: Female wearing tan Croc sandals, dark blue shorts and an animal print tank top.

If you have information related to either subject or these crimes, please reach out to Det. Logan Fosdick at [email protected] or 309-434-2494.

** PLEASE SHARE ** THANKS **

You can also send anonymous tips via your smartphone by exiting the number 847411 with the word "BPDTIPS", then a space, followed by your tip information.
Reference Cases: Downtown Vehicle Burglaries

05/16/2026

🚔 CLICK IT OR TICKET 🚔

The Bloomington Police Department is joining agencies across Illinois for the Memorial Day “Click It or Ticket” campaign from May 15–26.

Officers will conduct high-visibility enforcement focused on seat belt violations day and night. If you’re not buckled up, expect a ticket.

Before you hit the road:
✅ Buckle up
✅ Make sure every passenger is buckled up
✅ Drive safely

The “Click It or Ticket” initiative is funded with federal highway safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. For more information on safe driving practices, visit ItsNotaGameIllinois.com.

📊 Did you know? Illinois seat belt use went from 16% in 1985 to 93% in 2025. Keep improving safety, buckle up every trip!

05/13/2026

🎡 Spring fun is coming to Eastland Mall! Join us for the Eastland Mall Spring Fling happening May 15–17, 2026 in Bloomington, IL! Bring the family out for exciting rides, great food, and nonstop midway fun all weekend long. 🌸🎢

📍 Eastland Mall
1615 E Empire St, Bloomington, IL 61701

🎟️ Pay One Price Wristbands: $35
Friday: 3PM–10:30PM
Saturday: 1PM–10:30PM
Sunday: 1PM–9:30PM

Unlimited rides all session long! 🎠

05/12/2026

CDC has announced that it is responding to an outbreak of Andes virus, a type of hantavirus, among passengers and crew of a cruise ship. There are no cases of Andes virus or hantavirus in McLean County. Hantavirus infections are considered rare. The risk of a pandemic caused by this outbreak, and the overall risk to the American public remains low. False information online can spread quickly. For more on hantavirus visit the CDC at: https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/situation-summary/index.html or visit the Illinois Department of Public Health social media accts: Facebook, Instagram, X or TikTok.

05/12/2026

🚁 Curious about police drone activity in the community?

The Bloomington Police Department is taking transparency and community safety to the next level! We're proud to introduce our newly enhanced Drone Transparency Dashboard. This dashboard is LIVE for public access.

This tool gives you a near real-time look at our drone operations, helping keep our community safer while building trust through openness. You can see where drones are being deployed, view flight data, and learn how this technology is helping us respond more efficiently to incidents.

📍 Check it out: https://cloud.skydio.com/dashboard/bloomingtonpdil

We believe that technology and transparency go hand-in-hand. This dashboard is just one more way we're working to ensure a safer and more connected Bloomington.

If you ever have questions about our drone program or how this technology is being used, please contact Sgt. Jared Bierbaum at 309-434-2807 or [email protected].

05/05/2026
05/05/2026

NORMAL COMMUNITY FAMILIES
FINAL UPDATE - 1:20 pm

We want to thank our families for their support and for working with us during this challenging situation.

Reunification at Eastview has been completed, and Normal Community students are all home or on their way home.

As a district, we take every threat seriously. Please understand that it takes time to gather information, and we appreciate your patience.

We want to provide a brief overview of the situation. On May 5, 2026, at approximately 8:00 a.m., Normal Community High School received a call reporting a threat. The information was specific in nature and raised safety concerns for the school and those inside.

Most students had not arrived at school when we learned of this situation. Acting swiftly and given the available information, we implemented established safety protocols and decided to relocate students and staff already at school from the building, and divert those coming in on buses to our designated reunification site.

The Normal Police Department immediately assisted with the investigation and relocation process while securing the school property. The Secretary of State Bomb Squad searched the entire school and the grounds. They confirmed there is no threat to Normal Community High School.

There will be school tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6. After school activities can resume. Coaches and staff will reach out with specific plans for each team/organization.

Dance tryouts will be postponed today and will begin on Wednesday.

Students and staff can retrieve their cars from the Normal Community parking lot. Those students needing belongings from the school can retrieve them between 2:00-4:30 pm, Tuesday, May 5. They can also wait until Wednesday to get their items.

The Normal Police Department is working in coordination with local, state, and federal partners to continue investigating the source of the threat.

We ask families to use caution when viewing or sharing information on social media. Please rely only on updates provided by McLean County Unit 5 School District and the Normal Police Department, as unverified information can be inaccurate and cause unnecessary concern.
—------------------
ACTUALIZACIÓN FINAL - 1:20 p.m.

Queremos agradecer a nuestras familias por su apoyo y por trabajar con nosotros durante esta situación difícil.

La reunificación en Eastview ha finalizado, y todos los estudiantes de Normal Community ya están en casa o en camino a casa.
Como distrito, tomamos todas las amenazas con seriedad. Por favor, comprendan que toma tiempo reunir información, y agradecemos su paciencia.

Queremos compartir un breve resumen de lo ocurrido. El 5 de mayo de 2026, aproximadamente a las 8:00 a.m., la escuela Normal Community High School recibió una llamada reportando una amenaza. La información era específica y generó preocupaciones de seguridad para la escuela y quienes se encontraban dentro.

La mayoría de los estudiantes aún no había llegado a la escuela cuando supimos de esta situación. Actuando con rapidez y con la información disponible, implementamos los protocolos de seguridad establecidos y decidimos reubicar a los estudiantes y al personal que ya estaban en la escuela, y dirigir a quienes venían en autobús hacia nuestro sitio designado de reunificación.

El Departamento de Policía de Normal brindó apoyo inmediato con la investigación y el proceso de reubicación, mientras aseguraba la propiedad de la escuela. El Escuadrón Antibombas de la Secretaría de Estado registró toda la escuela y los alrededores. Confirmaron que no hay ninguna amenaza para Normal Community High School.

Habrá clases mañana, miércoles 6 de mayo. Las actividades después de clases se reanudarán. Los entrenadores y el personal se comunicarán con información específica para cada equipo u organización.

Las pruebas del equipo de danza se posponen hoy y comenzarán el miércoles.

Los estudiantes y el personal pueden recoger sus vehículos del estacionamiento de Normal Community. Los estudiantes que necesiten pertenencias de la escuela pueden recogerlas entre las 2:00 y las 4:30 p.m. hoy, martes 5 de mayo. También pueden esperar hasta el miércoles para recoger sus artículos.

El Departamento de Policía de Normal continúa trabajando en coordinación con socios locales, estatales y federales para investigar el origen de la amenaza.

Pedimos a las familias que tengan precaución al ver o compartir información en redes sociales. Por favor, confíen únicamente en las actualizaciones proporcionadas por el Distrito Escolar McLean County Unit 5 y el Departamento de Policía de Normal, ya que la información no verificada puede ser inexacta y causar preocupación innecesaria.
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UPDATE 2 MADE 11:42 AM: Reunification is going smoothly at Eastview. We appreciate your patience.

Normal Community families may continue to come to Eastview and pick up their students. Families will need to enter on the North side of the building and present proper identification. If someone other than a parent or guardian will pick up a student, they must be listed in Infinite Campus.

Any students who have not been picked up by 12:30 will be transported home beginning at that time by bus.

Students who parked at Eastview were told they could leave.

We will share information on when vehicles parked at Normal Community can be retrieved. At this time, the investigation is ongoing, and we are still asking everyone to remain off school property.

A decision about after-school activities will be made later today.
The decision to send students home is based on several factors, including that several hundred students have left and the timing of the investigators' arrival at the school. There have been no additional threats or concerns.

ACTUALIZACIÓN 2 - 11:42 a.m.
La reunificación se está llevando a cabo sin contratiempos en Eastview. Agradecemos su paciencia.

Las familias de Normal Community pueden seguir acudiendo a Eastview para recoger a sus estudiantes. Deben ingresar por el lado norte del edificio y presentar una identificación válida. Si otra persona distinta al padre, madre o tutor recogerá al estudiante, debe estar autorizada en Infinite Campus.

Cualquier estudiante que no haya sido recogido antes de las 12:30 será transportado a casa en autobús a partir de esa hora.

A los estudiantes que estacionaron en Eastview se les indicó que podían retirarse.

Compartiremos información sobre cuándo se podrán recoger los vehículos que permanecen en Normal Community. Por el momento, la investigación continúa y seguimos pidiendo que nadie acuda a la propiedad de la escuela.

La decisión sobre las actividades después de clases se tomará más tarde hoy.

La decisión de enviar a los estudiantes a casa se basa en varios factores, incluyendo que varios cientos de estudiantes ya se han retirado y el momento en que los investigadores llegaron a la escuela. No ha habido amenazas adicionales ni nuevas preocupaciones.

----------------------OLD UPDATE BELOW THIS LINE----------------

UPDATE MADE 10:05 AM: Law enforcement is on site at Normal Community and continuing to investigate the threat. Students are safe at Eastview. While these steps are being taken out of an abundance of caution, we are moving into reunification.

Family members should plan to go to Eastview Church to pick up their student, entering on the north side of the building. Please bring identification. If someone other than a parent or guardian will pick up a child, they must be listed in Infinite Campus.

Students who parked at Eastview were allowed to leave. Students who have vehicles at Normal Community will need to be picked up at Eastview and will not be able to retrieve their car at this time. We will share an update when that becomes possible.

Students who are not able to be picked up will remain at Eastview, and will receive lunch, and will be transported home later in the day.

Please note, the decision to send students home is based on several factors, including that the several hundred students have left or are not on site and the timing of investigators arriving at the school. There have been no additional threats or concerns.
__________________________________
Las autoridades se encuentran en el lugar y continúan investigando. Los estudiantes están seguros en Eastview. Mientras tomamos estas medidas por precaución, estamos iniciando el proceso de reunificación.

Se pide a los familiares que acudan a la Iglesia Eastview para recoger a su hijo(a), entrando por el lado norte del edificio. Por favor traigan una identificación. Si alguien que no sea el padre, madre o tutor recogerá al estudiante, debe estar autorizado en Infinite Campus.

Los estudiantes que se estacionaron en Eastview pudieron retirarse. Los estudiantes que tienen sus vehículos en Normal Community deberán ser recogidos en Eastview y no podrán recoger su automóvil en este momento. Les informaremos cuando eso sea posible.

Los estudiantes que no puedan ser recogidos en este momento permanecerán en Eastview y serán transportados a casa más tarde en el día.

Por favor tomen en cuenta que la decisión de enviar a los estudiantes a casa se basa en varios factores, incluyendo que la mayoría de los estudiantes no se encuentra en el plantel y el momento en que los investigadores llegaron a la escuela. No hay amenazas ni preocupaciones adicionales en este momento.

------------------------------ OLD MESSAGE BELOW THIS LINE------------------------
Dear Normal Community Families,

We want to let you know that Normal Community is currently responding to and investigating a potential threat in coordination with state police and local law enforcement. Out of an abundance of caution, we are redirecting students to Eastview Church.

Students and staff are safe, and the relocation allows us to continue operations in a secure and orderly way while the situation is assessed. Law enforcement is on site and actively working through the information.

We understand this may raise questions, and we appreciate your patience as we focus on student safety. We are doing this out of a tremendous abundance of caution.

We will share updates as more information becomes available.

At this time, please do not come to the school or Eastview Church, as this allows emergency personnel to do their work without disruption. Our hope is to return to a regular school day shortly.

Thank you for your understanding and support.
—------------------
Estimadas familias de la comunidad de Normal:

Queremos informarles que la escuela actualmente está respondiendo e investigando una posible amenaza en coordinación con la policía estatal y las autoridades locales. Por precaución, estamos trasladando a los estudiantes a la Iglesia Eastview.

Los estudiantes y el personal se encuentran a salvo, y la reubicación nos permite continuar con las operaciones de manera segura y ordenada mientras se evalúa la situación. Las autoridades están en el lugar y trabajando activamente con la información disponible.

Entendemos que esto puede generar preguntas y agradecemos su paciencia mientras nos enfocamos en la seguridad de los estudiantes. Estamos tomando estas medidas por extrema precaución.

Compartiremos actualizaciones a medida que haya más información disponible.

Por el momento, les pedimos que no acudan a la escuela ni a la Iglesia Eastview, ya que esto permite que el personal de emergencia realice su trabajo sin interrupciones. Esperamos poder regresar a un día escolar normal en breve.

Gracias por su comprensión y apoyo.

🤣
04/27/2026

🤣

New squad boats are NOT in service 🚤🚔

With today’s heavy rain, we’ve already had to assist several stranded motorists after vehicles became flooded on local roadways. While we’re always ready to help, our squad cars are not designed for water rescues... or surprise boating adventures.

🤞The rest of today’s rain looks to be staying mostly south of us for now, but please remember:
• If the road looks like a lake, it’s not your shortcut
• Turn around, don’t drown
• A few inches of water can leave you stranded faster than you think
• Drive with your headlights on so you can be seen.

Stay dry and save the boating for the nicer weather.

01/14/2026

Recent Vehicle Burglaries 🚗🔒

There have been 12 vehicle burglaries in the past three weeks on the city's west side, primarily occurring during the overnight hours.

👀 Be on the lookout:
Residents are asked to remain alert and report suspicious activity, including individuals seen checking vehicle doors. The suspect(s) have been seen using a motorized bike for transportation.

🔐 Vehicle Burglary Prevention Tips:
• Always lock your vehicle, even when parked at home
• Remove valuables or keep them out of sight
• Do not leave fi****ms in vehicles
• Do not leave keys in vehicles
• Park in well-lit areas whenever possible
• Consider motion lights or cameras near parking areas

📞 Report suspicious activity immediately. Don’t assume someone else will!
Call us at 309-820-8888. Timely reporting helps us respond quickly and potentially catch the suspect(s) fleeing the area.

⚠️ Stay informed:
Check out https://communitycrimemap.com/map to see reported crime in your area. The heat map in the image is publicly accessible on that site!

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