Jurors hearing former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s trial are finally scheduled to begin deliberations Wednesday afternoon more than three months after testimony in the case began.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
‘Blatantly unlawful’ federal spending freeze sends state scrambling
State agencies, nonprofit organizations and a host of other entities that rely on federal funding were thrown into chaos Tuesday following the release of a White House memo that froze – at least temporarily – the distribution of all federal grants, loans and other financial assistance programs.… MORE
House Republicans ask state Supreme Court to toss out legislative map
Democrats continue to hold a supermajority in the Illinois House thanks to illegally gerrymandered House districts, House Republicans allege in a new lawsuit filed with the Illinois Supreme Court Tuesday. … MORE
Illinois House lawmakers file almost 1,800 new bills only 2 weeks into legislative session
Illinois lawmakers kicked off their spring legislative session roughly three weeks ago, but lawmakers in the House have already filed more than 1,800 bills that could be acted on before the General Assembly adjourns in May. … MORE
Bloomington City Council approves ability to sign energy contracts
In a relatively short city council meeting Monday, Bloomington council members approved the ability for the city manager to sign a contract and provide energy to residents.… MORE
‘Suspicion doesn’t cut it’: Madigan attorney urges jury to ‘see the man, not the myth’
As former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s defense lawyers began their closing arguments last week, attorney Dan Collins pointed to something the former speaker said when he took the witness stand earlier this month.… MORE
Coroner ID’s Chillicothe man who died in a wreck Friday
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood identified the 33-year-old man who died in a crash in Chillicothe.… MORE
Dave Joens grew up reading about Illinois history. Now, he retires after 20 years preserving it as state archivist.
For two decades, Dave Joens has led the Illinois State Archives, the government agency tasked with preserving official government documents with historic value. The job of caring for historic records has been a natural fit for Joens, he said, who has been interested in history since reading Abraham Lincoln biographies as a child in Springfield.… MORE
Madigan attorney urges acquittal, accusing feds of ‘shoving misshapen puzzle pieces together’
After watching prosecutors spend more than 10 hours over three days dissecting every element of the racketeering and bribery case against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, the defense on Friday acknowledged the government’s presentation seemed “very polished.”… MORE
McLean County Sheriff addresses immigration
By WMBD TV BLOOMINGTON – The top law enforcement officer in McLean County said he will not seize children from schools regarding their immigration status. And that sentiment was backed up by his colleague in Peoria County as well. McLean County Sheriff Matt Lane said in a Facebook post, that it was brought to his attention…… 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…