Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories

Danvers man pleads not guilty when arraigned on murder counts

Danvers man pleads not guilty when arraigned on murder counts

By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The person accused of killing a Bloomington woman who was reported missing has pleaded not guilty to all charges during a brief hearing Friday morning. Man indicted for 1st-degree murder in strangulation case Joshua Livingston, 41, of Danvers, entered his pleas in McLean County Circuit Court to charges of first-degree murder, possession of…MORE

California man charged with defrauding more than 50 central Illinois investors

California man charged with defrauding more than 50 central Illinois investors

By WMBD-TV URBANA, Ill. — A federal grand jury on Tuesday indicted a California man and his companies for defrauding central Illinois investors out of more than $20 million. According to a U.S. Attorney’s Office news release, 37-year-old Brett Michael Bartlett and his companies Dynasty Toys, Inc. and 7M E-group Corporation have been charged with…MORE

Bloomington-Normal swears in new council members

Bloomington-Normal swears in new council members

By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – On Monday night, the City of Bloomington and Town of Normal swore in new members for their councils. Andy Byars was sworn into the Normal Town Council. Karyn Smith and Kathleen Lorenz are the incumbents from April’s consolidated election. In Bloomington, Jenna Kearns and John Wyatt Danenberger were sworn in to…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…