The jury that will determine the fate of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is nearly complete after three slow days of jury selection this week. … MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Bloomington Purple Raiders bounce back in Week 7 with win over Peoria Notre Dame
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Fresh off its first loss of the season, the Purple Raiders of Bloomington came out hungry in Week 7 to get back into the win column over Peoria Notre Dame. Bloomington throughout the season has been a team that sets the tone early in ballgames, but Peoria Notre Dame senior…… MORE
Central Illinois farmers see record crops during fall harvest
Planted area is estimated at 10.8 million acres, down 4 percent from last year. Harvested area, forecast at 10.65 million acres, is down 4 percent from 2023.… MORE
Top Illinois Republican wants to make it more difficult for non-citizens to vote
A top Illinois Republican wants to make it more difficult for non-citizens – intentionally or not – to register to vote.… MORE
Police peacefully de-escalate domestic disturbance incident in Normal
Officers peacefully de-escalated a domestic disturbance situation Thursday afternoon in Normal.… MORE
Rivian expansion approved by Normal’s Planning Commission, now goes before town council
A facility that would be built on the west side of Rivian Motorway was unanimously supported by Normal’s Planning Commission Thursday night.… MORE
First frost of the season could arrive early next week
By WMBD-TV CENTRAL ILLINOIS – October has been off to a warm start but that may not stop our first frost from reaching Central Illinois early next week. A cold front will work it’s way through the region from Friday night through Saturday night. As the front pushes through, a few showers and storms will…… MORE
Voters consider ballot questions on reproductive health, tax reform, election interference
Lawmakers in Illinois are asking voters to weigh in on three hot-button issues on their ballots this year: election interference, income taxes and reproductive health care. … MORE
State and national leaders gather in Springfield to open Springfield 1908 race riot national monument
A celebration of the Biden’s administration’s designation of the Springfield race riot site as a national monument had a local lawmaker paraphrasing Charles Dickens.… MORE
Two arrests made in connection with Saturday shooting incident in Normal
Normal police have arrested two men for their alleged connection to a shooting incident near Lincoln and Beech streets on Saturday.… 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…