Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories

Tesla Takedown protest happening here in Central Illinois

Tesla Takedown protest happening here in Central Illinois

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — Another week of Tesla takedown protests around the world have now reached here in central Illinois. Demonstrators gathered at the Tesla dealership in Bloomington Saturday morning. Some protestors held signs opposing Elon Musk and DOGE. They are calling for people to boycott the electric vehicle manufacturer and dump their stocks.It’s a…MORE

Intellectual and developmental disability services brace for potential Medicaid cuts

Intellectual and developmental disability services brace for potential Medicaid cuts

By ERIN DRUMMMedill Illinois News [email protected]  SPRINGFIELD — Intellectual and developmental disability service organizations are bracing for potential cuts to Medicaid and Medicare from the federal government under congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump.  About 3.9 million Illinoisans are enrolled in Medicaid. Of that total, 44% of Medicaid recipients are children, 9% are seniors and…MORE

Algae treatment for Lake Bloomington and Lake Evergreen after microcystin spike

Algae treatment for Lake Bloomington and Lake Evergreen after microcystin spike

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — Lake Bloomington and Lake Evergreen are being cleaned of algae. This comes after an increase in microcystin, which is a naturally occurring toxin that can form on growing algae. The city’s water department and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency have been monitoring the water quality closely since a spike in algae occurred in January. Testing confirmed…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…