Scammers are reaching into their bag of tricks to convince the public to pay them hundreds of dollars for their past-due electricity bills.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Ribbon tying for new B-N YMCA, Easterseals Central Illinois facility
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington-Normal YMCA and Easterseals of Central Illinois want one message to go out to the community: all are welcome. Their new joint facility opened to the public a couple weeks ago. Tuesday they commemorated the partnership and celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon “tying” ceremony, to emphasize the two…… MORE
Courtroom battle looms as electoral board rejects districting referendum in Normal
By 25 News NORMAL – The Town of Normal’s electoral board decided Tuesday night that a proposal creating six council districts should not be placed on the November ballot, however supporters of the change plan to appeal the ruling in court. The board agreed with referendum objector Patrick Dullard, who claimed that state law permits…… MORE
Rain is helping Illinois crops
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 6.0 days suitable for field work during the week ending August 28, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 72.5 degrees, 1.1 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.20 inches, 0.56 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 8 percent very short, 24 percent short, 63 percent adequate, and 5…… MORE
ISU investigating three unrelated sexual assault/sexual abuse cases
Illinois State University says two cases of sexual assault and one case of sexual abuse this week occurred in different locations with different suspects, and are unrelated.… MORE
BBB: Scammers are posting fake video streams to local high school sports
Week two of high school football get’s underway across the state this week, and scammers are looking to take advantage.… MORE
Marching Illini set to perform during Threshermen’s Parade in Pontiac
The University of Illinois Marching Illini are set to wow fans as the featured entertainment for this year’s Threshermen’s Parade in Pontiac.… MORE
Children’s Discovery Museum to host free ag and science presentation on Sept. 20
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The Children’s Discovery Museum will host a free after-school program featuring Dr. Craig Wilson, Director of the USDA Future Scientists Program, on September 20 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Normal Theater. This interactive presentation about the exciting worlds of science and agriculture is intended to inspire students to…… MORE
Convicted cop killer with Central Illinois ties given 55 years in prison
By 25 News ROCKFORD – A federal judge on Monday sentenced a Central Illinois man to 55 years in prison for killing a deputy U.S. Marshal who was trying to arrest the fugitive on McLean County residential burglary charges in 2019. A jury in April found Floyd Brown, 43, of Springfield guilty of second-degree murder…… MORE
Normal electoral board hears arguments on district petitions
By 25 News NORMAL – The Town of Normal’s electoral board heard arguments Monday whether or not a referendum proposing council districts should be placed on the November ballot. While separating the town into six districts is at the core of the issue, what’s being debated at City Hall is whether there are enough signatures 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…