By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – When Illinois superintendents gathered to celebrate five years of the new school funding formula, some lawmakers wonder if it’s really something to celebrate. State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) told the superintendent from Vienna the results haven’t followed the funding. “Fourteen percent are doing math at grade level,” Wilhour said,…… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council reversed course Monday night, choosing to hire a Washington lobbying firm to help secure more federal funding for the city. The council voted 6-3 for a three-year contract with Thorn Run Partners that will cost taxpayers $270,000 over the life of the contract. At the Jan. 23 council meeting,…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The Chicago Bears Fan of the Year is wrapping up his week out in Glendale,Arizona following the Chiefs win over the Eagles in Super Bowl 57. Normal native and State Farm executive Corey Schieler received the news he’d be in attendance for the big game months ago, as he was…… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Candidates for this April’s election for the school board had the opportunity to give their viewpoints to parents Saturday morning. One of the hot-button issues is the referendum for a tax hike. If passed it will increase the tax rate cap. The referendum on the April ballot calls for an…… MORE
By 25 News NORMAL – Gov. JB Pritzker is appointing two people to serve on Illinois State University’s Board of Trustees, replacing a pair of veteran board members’ whose terms expired last month. Neither Scott Jenkins or Lia Merminga attended ISU, and a university spokesperson said that pending Senate confirmation, they will replace Bob Dobski…… MORE
By WJBC Staff BLOOMINGTON – The annual Radio Bloomington-St. Jude Radiothon wrapped up Friday and raised $101,705 for children with cancer. Money raised during the radiothon helps pay for cancer treatment and research. It also provides travel, housing, and food for families with patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, based in Memphis. At St.…… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington had five-gun related homicides last year. So far, in 2023 there have been no shots fired incidents or homicides. Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington says the goal is to keep it that way by working with the youth and with a potential gun buyback event. “Our…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Will it be Kansas City or Philadelphia this weekend in the Big Game? One of the animals at the Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington has made his prediction. King Julian, the lemur who has been living at the Miller Park Zoo, is riding with the Eagles this weekend. WJBC’s Scott…… MORE
By 25 News NORMAL – The Bed Bath & Beyond stores in Normal and Peoria will soon close, according to an updated store closing list posted by the company. A closing date for the stores is currently not known. The struggling company announced Tuesday 150 more stores set to close. The announcement came after the company based in Union,…… MORE
By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Four residents were displaced after an overnight house fire in Normal. Firefighters were called Thursday at 12:42 a.m. and responded to 208 Parktrail Road for a blaze in an upstairs bedroom. According to a news release, firefighters fought the fire upstairs while other crews searched the residence for any other…… MORE
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.” …
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…
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…
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…