Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories

Prominent local firms reach deal including sale of key Bloomington property

Prominent local firms reach deal including sale of key Bloomington property

By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington-based insurance company COUNTRY Financial is selling its Financial Services Building on the Twin-Cities’ east side to agricultural cooperative GROWMARK. The Financial Services facility at 1705 Towanda Avenue will become GROWMARK’s new headquarters, according to a news release. The sale is expected to be completed later this year. COUNTRY Financial…MORE

Raoul following the argument over the Equal Rights Amendment

Raoul following the argument over the Equal Rights Amendment

By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The state’s lawyer-in-chief is following the argument over the Equal Rights Amendment all the way to Washington, D.C. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul watched oral arguments in a federal appeals court Wednesday and afterward said the ERA belongs in the Constitution: “There is no time limit on equality.” Raoul said…MORE

Trailblazing justice passes the torch to another

Trailblazing justice passes the torch to another

By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – The torch was passed in Bloomington Wednesday from one trailblazing jurist to another. The McLean County Law and Justice Center was the scene where outgoing Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman met with the public, accompanied by her chosen successor, Justice Lisa Holder White. McLean County is part of District 4, they region…MORE

UPDATE: Pedestrian dead following traffic crash in Bloomington on Saturday

UPDATE: Pedestrian dead following traffic crash in Bloomington on Saturday

By Jake Fogal UPDATE – McLean County Coroner Kathy Yoder has identified the pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle Saturday night in Downtown Bloomington. Yesenia Navarrete, 29, of Bloomington was pronounced dead on Monday at Carle BroMenn Medical Center. An autopsy is pending. The family shared that Yesenia was able to share the gift…MORE

Fairbury Police release more information about Saturday night incident

Fairbury Police release more information about Saturday night incident

By 25 News FAIRBURY – The Fairbury Police Department says a suspect has been identified and arrangements are being made to arrest that person after a false 911 call was made Saturday night about Prairie Central High School’s homecoming event. Fairbury Police say they were called to the High School on Saturday, September 24 around…MORE

CIRA named Airport of the Year by IDOT

CIRA named Airport of the Year by IDOT

By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Central Illinois Regional Airport has been named Primary Airport of the Year by the Illinois Department of Transportation. They were among six airports that received Airport of the Year awards from IDOT, which were handed out Tuesday during the Illinois Public Airports Association Fall Conference in Galena. “Aviation is vital…MORE

Hispanic Heritage Month includes honors for Illinoisans who are leaders

Hispanic Heritage Month includes honors for Illinoisans who are leaders

By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The state’s first elected statewide officer of Hispanic origin saluted her fellow Hispanics Monday. As part of Hispanic Heritage Month activities, comptroller Susana Mendoza talked about humble beginnings and – as a little girl – seeing her father stand up to another man’s admonition to speak English – as this…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…