Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories

Bloomington Police arrest man following shots fired incident

Bloomington Police arrest man following shots fired incident

By Jake Fogal BLOOMIINGTON – Bloomington Police made an arrest Sunday morning related to a shots fired call near the City’s downtown. Police officers were dispatched to the 800 block of East Washington Street for a shot’s fired incident, that led to the arrest of Ryan Murray. Murray was arrested without incident following an investigation…MORE

Mobile home fire Sunday night in Bloomington

Mobile home fire Sunday night in Bloomington

By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington fire crews responded to a mobile home fire Sunday night on the city’s west side. Firefighters were called to #3 Snow Lane around 7:55 p.m. and reported smoke and fire from multiple windows of a single-wide mobile home. According to a news release, the main body of the fire…MORE

Springfield hosts Pridefest over the weekend

Springfield hosts Pridefest over the weekend

By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – At downtown Springfield’s Pridefest Saturday, there were as many stories as there were people. Scott March, a teacher at Southeast High School in Springfield, said starting and sponsoring a Gay Straight Alliance was the correct thing to do. “My big brother, who is gay, was also a Southeast Spartan, and…MORE

Seventh graders at Kinglsey Junior High have Genius Hour Open House

Seventh graders at Kinglsey Junior High have Genius Hour Open House

By WMBD-TV On Thursday, students at Kingsley Junior High School had a chance to showcase their talents at the Genius Hour Open House. Genius Hour, or 20% Time, is a way to explore your creativity during part of your work day. This practice is how Post-It Notes and Gmail were invented. Administrators have incorporated the…MORE

Gun found in student vehicle at El Paso Gridley High School

Gun found in student vehicle at El Paso Gridley High School

By WMBD-TV WOODFORD COUNTY – A gun was found in a student’s vehicle on El Paso Gridley High School property on Wednesday. According to Crimewatch.net, the student was immediately removed from class, and the vehicle was searched after a report of a firearm on school grounds. An unloaded gun was found in a carrying case in…MORE

Kitchen fire in Normal injures one and displaces two

Kitchen fire in Normal injures one and displaces two

By WMBD-TV NORMAL – A Wednesday evening kitchen fire in an Normal apartment injured one person and displaced two, the fire department reported Thursday. According to a news release from the Normal Fire Department, firefighters responded to 103 W. Willow St., shortly before 10 p.m. on a report of a stove fire. When they arrived, they…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…