Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories

Local food trucks raises prices due to high gas, food prices

Local food trucks raises prices due to high gas, food prices

By Heart of Illinois ABC BLOOMINGTON – Higher gas prices are taking a bite out of the profits of Central Illinois food truck owners. Tony Williams owns ‘Uncle Tony’s Food For The Soul’ and has served barbecue and soul food on weekends in the Twin Cities for six years. Williams said he’s never had to change his…MORE

Some Illinois lawmakers want to sweeten the pot to become a volunteer firefighter

Some Illinois lawmakers want to sweeten the pot to become a volunteer firefighter

By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – It seems like serving on a volunteer fire department is something more people did in Ye Olde Tymes. Now, people are busy, work in town, or whatever. Maybe a $500 tax credit would be an incentive for more people to join up. Illinois Firefighters Association lobbyist Margaret Vaughn is pushing…MORE

Illinois House passes bill to put money back into the unemployment insurance trust fund

Illinois House passes bill to put money back into the unemployment insurance trust fund

By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – A bill to replenish the money that pays unemployment benefits to Illinoisans passed the House Wednesday night on a partisan vote. “The $4.5 billion deficit in our unemployment insurance trust fund is historic, it’s monumental and very difficult to address,” said State Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) at a post-session news…MORE

Strike authorization vote Friday for hundreds of union workers at ISU

Strike authorization vote Friday for hundreds of union workers at ISU

By HOI ABC NORMAL – The union representing about 350 Illinois State University workers are scheduled to vote Friday whether to authorize its bargaining team to call a strike. The university and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1110 have met for a 20th negotiating session on Tuesday, but they did…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…