Category Archives: Uncategorized

Uptown Normal road closures for Sugar Creek Arts Festival

Uptown Normal road closures for Sugar Creek Arts Festival

By WJBC Staff NORMAL – The Sugar Creek Arts Festival is this Saturday and Sunday in Uptown Normal and the event requires several street closures. “No Parking” signs will be posted at 2 a.m. on Fri, Oct. 8 on Constitution Boulevard and at noon on the following streets and parking lots. They will all close…MORE

MCHD reports another COVID-related death, 303 new cases over the past week

MCHD reports another COVID-related death, 303 new cases over the past week

By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Another McLean County resident has died from COVID-19 complications, bringing the number of lives lost to 263 since the start of the pandemic. The McLean County Health Department says it was a man in his 80s not associated with a long-term care facility. Local health officials Wednesday reported 56 new…MORE

BPD probing shots fired on east side

BPD probing shots fired on east side

By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Police are investigating a shots fired incident from the over the weekend on the city’s east side. Authorities were called Saturday around 11:15 p.m. to the area of Willedrob Road. When officers arrived, they located evidence that a shooting had occurred. Officers also learned that gunfire had struck an…MORE

Governor Pritzker signs new legislative district maps

Governor Pritzker signs new legislative district maps

By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker Friday again signed a redistricting bill, and Republicans again said he’s a promise-breaker. That’s because lawmakers, rather than, for example, an independent commission, are the mapmakers. State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield), minority spokesman on the House Redistricting Committee, says one result is that many Republicans in the…MORE

WJBC Sky Concert 2021

WJBC Sky Concert 2021

Join WJBC along with State Farm Insurance to celebrate the Fourth of July at Miller Park in Bloomington and Fairview Park in Normal.MORE

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…