It’s been said, “all politics is local.” To hear U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg talk, you could say, “all transportation is local.”… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Investigation underway in Tazewell County fatal crash
A man from Tremont is dead after a crash involving a motorcycle and another vehicle.… MORE
Gov. Pritzker announces more measures aimed at keeping abortions safe
Continuing to make Illinois the Midwest’s leader for abortions, Gov. JB Pritzker Monday announced more measures aimed at keeping abortions safe.… MORE
Bloomington police searching for liquor thief
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington police are in need of the public’s assistance as they are seeking the identification of a liquor thief. According to a post on Facebook, the Bloomington police said the suspect stole 30 bottles of alcohol, which was valued at about $1,100, from a local grocery store on July 25. The…… MORE
Illinois State University steadily increasing enrollment
Illinois State is set to begin the fall semester on August 21. The university is expecting an enrollment of 20,800 students.… MORE
Two-vehicle crash leaves one dead in LaSalle County
A two-vehicle crash has left one person dead in LaSalle County.… MORE
COVID unemployment surge led to $5.2 billion in overpaid benefits in Illinois – including fraud
By WMBD-TV SPRINGFIELD – Illinois overpaid unemployment benefits to the tune of $5.2 billion during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with much of it paid to fraudulent claimants, according to a comprehensive new audit. Included in that sum was $6 million paid to 481 dead people and $40.5 million in unemployment checks written…… MORE
Illinois State University raises $34M in the past year
The Illinois State University raised more than $34M dollars in private support in the past fiscal year.… MORE
McLean County Health Department asking parents with children to take survey
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON — The McLean County Health Department (MCHD) sent out a press release notifying that they are asking parents with children from infant to five-years-old to participate in a survey in order to improve children’s health. The All Our Kids Early Childhood Networks (AOK) is currently looking into the needs of parents and…… MORE
State Senator Tom Bennett retiring in 2025
After serving the Illinois state legislator for many years, Illinois State Senator Tom Bennett is retiring from the General Assembly.… 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…