On the heels of a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Illinois Wesleyan’s President calls for more gun control.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Bloomington man raises $3K for Uvalde, Texas school shooting families
A Bloomington man is giving back to Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and two adults were gunned down in one of the nation’s deadliest school shootings.… MORE
New innovation building coming to Illinois Wesleyan University
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Three new programs and a new innovation building are making their way to Illinois Wesleyan University. A multi-million dollar donation from Dave and Ellen Petrick allows construction to begin on the new Innovation building, dubbed the Petrick Idea Center. IWU President Georgia Nugent says lots of excitement is taking place…… MORE
Springfield boy in custody after alleged threat on Sandy Hook Elementary School
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – A phone call from Springfield to Newtown, Ct., late Wednesday was an alleged threat on Sandy Hook Elementary School. A fourteen-year-old Springfield boy is in custody and charged with disorderly conduct. City, Sangamon County, and school officials here say after an investigation the boy, a Springfield High School freshman, was…… MORE
Illinois Republican candidates for governor debate Thursday night
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The six men seeking the Republican nomination for governor debated Thursday for ABC-7 in Chicago. Unsurprisingly, guns and school safety were major issues. “Our schools can be soft-armored. Each classroom can become a safe zone,” said State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia). “In our area, law enforcement takes a very active…… MORE
City officials break ground on a $25M Bloomington Library expansion
At the tune of $25 million, public officials and the members of the Bloomington Public Library broke ground on a new expansion.… MORE
UPDATE: Juvenile confesses to puncturing school bus tires in Chenoa in prank
A juvenile has confessed to puncturing the front tires of seven school buses in Chenoa – hoping school would be canceled for the day.… MORE
State Board of Elections launching new voting measure for those with disabilities
The State Board of Elections is launching a new effort to make it easier for those with disabilities to cast a mail-in ballot.… MORE
Finalists revealed for 2022 State Farm Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the State Farm Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet is returning to McLean County. The banquet, which has been hosted since 2008, recognizes high school athletes, coaches, and teams for their accomplishments on and off the field. The State Farm Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet committee has revealed…… MORE
Upcoming Make Music Normal to be without familiar face, Leah Marlene
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Make Music Normal is making a return to Uptown in June, and nearly 50 performers are scheduled to take the stage. Make Music Normal is an all-ages, free-to-attend festival taking place annually in Uptown Normal. Missing from this year’s event will be Normal native Leah Marlene. Fresh off her thrill…… 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…