Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories

Local college rolling out free tuition and fees for qualifying students

Local college rolling out free tuition and fees for qualifying students

Posted on October 4, 2023

By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield campus of the University of Illinois is rolling out the “Prairie Promise.” It’s a waiver of tuition and fees for qualifying students. In addition to qualifying for the MAP grant program, UIS vice chancellor for enrollment and retention management Vickie Cook says there are other requirements: “Students need…… MORE

McLean County Zoning tables CO2 sequestration drilling impacting Mahomet Aquifer

McLean County Zoning tables CO2 sequestration drilling impacting Mahomet Aquifer

Posted on October 4, 2023

By WMBD-TV MCLEAN COUNTY – The McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals tabled an item impacting the Mahomet Aquifer and CO2 pipelines. The board intended to vote on amended use standards for CO2 Sequestration Drilling. These recommendations came from the Land Use and Development Committee. The board’s main meeting room was unavailable. The temporary room…… 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…