Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories

14-year-old arrested after investigation into 2022 armed robberies in Normal

14-year-old arrested after investigation into 2022 armed robberies in Normal

By 25 News NORMAL – Normal Police arrested a 14-year-old boy Tuesday after a lengthy investigation into two separate armed robbery incidents. Police say that on December 7, 2022, two victims were approached bys suspects in Fairview Park who displayed a firearm and threatened the victims. The suspects took the victims’ cell phones and ran…MORE

Libertarians denounce Normal Town Council’s opposition to cannabis dispensary

Libertarians denounce Normal Town Council’s opposition to cannabis dispensary

By 25 News NORMAL – The McLean County Libertarian Party has adopted a resolution claiming the Normal’s Town Council’s refusal to allow a recreational use cannabis dispensary runs counter to free market economic principles. The council Monday night voted 6-1 against allowing business owners to turn a Chinese restaurant into the High Haven dispensary near College…MORE

District 87 board member resigns following drunk driving conviction

District 87 board member resigns following drunk driving conviction

By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – A District 87 board member has officially resigned after his conviction and sentencing for repeat drunk driving. Superintendant Dr. David Mouser says that during the current 2022-2023 school year, Fitzgerald Samedy attended two meetings – in August and November. He pleaded guilty December 2022 to aggravated DUI and driving with a revoked…MORE

Illinois Freedom Caucus blames governor for rising cost of energy

Illinois Freedom Caucus blames governor for rising cost of energy

By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Your utility bills are too high, and the Illinois Freedom Caucus says it’s Gov. JB Pritzker’s fault. “It’s just another attack on the middle class and seniors on fixed incomes, you know electric bills have been exploding under Gov. Pritzker’s radical agenda to destroy Illinois,” said State Rep. Chris Miller…MORE

DOJ: Food manufacturing company with Gridley factory pleads guilty in connection with 2018 salmonella outbreak

DOJ: Food manufacturing company with Gridley factory pleads guilty in connection with 2018 salmonella outbreak

By 25 News GRIDLEY – A food and ingredient manufacturing company with a facility in Gridley pleaded guilty February 3 to a charge that it manufactured breakfast cereal under insanitary conditions that was linked to a salmonella outbreak in 2018. A release from the Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs says Kerry Inc. pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor…MORE

Livington County’s chief prosecutor elevated to associate judge

Livington County’s chief prosecutor elevated to associate judge

By 25 News LIVINGSTON COUNTY – Only months after successfully prosecuting a high-profile triple murder case, Livingston County State’s Attorney Randy Yedinak will soon become a judge. The elected judges of the 11th Judicial Circuit picked Yedinak to become an associate judge for Livingston, McLean, Woodford, Logan and Ford Counties. Yedinak will replace Associate Judge…MORE

Police recruits now required to take a course on wrongful convictions

Police recruits now required to take a course on wrongful convictions

By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – You can’t write the story of wrongful convictions without at least one chapter about Illinois. And the police officers of tomorrow will perhaps erase the state’s shameful legacy. The director of the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Mike Schlosser, says many wrongful convictions result from…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…