With criminal justice and the disproportionate arrests of people of color in the news the last several years, you have to go back thirty years to see the legislation a Springfield interfaith group wants to repeal.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Boy injured after falling off ride at Morton Pumpkin Festival
By WMBD-TV MORTON – The Morton Pumpkin Festival reported that a boy was injured while getting off a ride on Thursday. According to a post from the festival, a 6-year-old was injured while taking part in the festival’s Annual Pumpkin & Pals event. A witness on the scene reported that the boy was riding the Sizzler…… MORE
USDA release September yield forecast for Illinois corn and soybeans
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has released its September yield forecast for Illinois corn and soybeans in 2024.… MORE
Illinois Wesleyan to offer direct admission to some local students
Eligible students in Bloomington-Normal will soon have fewer worries around college admissions.… MORE
New mobile app brings changes to state’s Bright Start college savings program
A new mobile app, lower fees, and management by TIAA are the changes to the state’s 529 college savings program, Bright Start, announced Thursday by the treasurer’s office.… MORE
Tazewell County Sheriff issues alert for missing and endangered Manito man
A 67-year-old Manito man is listed as missing and endangered, according to an alert issued Thursday morning by the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office. … MORE
Calculated bribe or ‘kiss up’ to Madigan? Corruption trial kicks off for former AT&T boss
As the federal corruption trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza formally kicked off on Wednesday, prosecutors and defense attorneys painted two very different pictures of a political hire the telecom giant made in 2017.… MORE
Secretary of State announces digital wallet payments at Illinois DMVs
By WJBC Staff CHICAGO – DMVs throughout Illinois are now accepting contactless payments as part of the Secretary of State’s push to modernize technology and offer more convenient service for customers. “Allowing for digital wallet payments like Apple, Google and Samsung Pay reinforces our steadfast commitment to improving the customer experience at the DMV by…… MORE
More than 1 million meals packed for food banks in Illinois
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – We now know the results from the Million Meal Pack that happened over the weekend. Illinois State University, State Farm, and U.S. Hunger partnered together to combat hunger for Good Neighbor Month. Volunteers packed meals, which were then distributed to local food banks in Illinois. More than a million total meals…… MORE
Tearful 9/11 Memorial Ceremony for the Twin Cities
Dozens gathered outside of the McLean County Museum of History for American Legion Post 635’s 9/11 Memorial Service.… 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…