An Illinois law intended to help people with mental illness avoid confrontations with police had been on the books for three years when Sonya Massey was shot by a Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy. … MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Vehicle fire closes lane on Interstate 74
Part of Interstate 74 near Carlock was closed due to a vehicle fire on Thursday.… MORE
An error by the Illinois Department of Corrections caused a soft lockdown at Clinton schools
An Illinois Department of Corrections mistake forced the Clinton school district to be placed on a soft lockdown Thursday.… MORE
WJBC’s 2024 Laborer of the Year: Jean-Marie Taylor
WJBC and the Midwest Laborers are excited to announced Jean-Marie Taylor as our 2024 Laborer of the Year!… MORE
Bent Elementary celebrating 100 years of education
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The Bent Elementary Superstars are inviting you to their 100th Birthday Bash. “It is an honor to be here, this year, celebrating 100 years of teaching and learning,” said Principal Guillermina Delgado. The PTO started planning an anniversary celebration last year. This allowed the team to learn the school’s history as…… MORE
Police procedures addressed in wake of Sonya Massey death
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – At a Public Safety and Community Relations Board meeting Wednesday evening, heads of local police departments were asked questions about certain procedures, with a focus on transparency. This comes in the wake of Sonya Massey’s death, the reason why the special meeting occurred. Bloomington and Normal’s police chiefs, along with the…… MORE
State leaders encouraging Illinoisans to help out with a new state flag design
Change could be in the air – or, at least, on Illinois flagpoles.… MORE
As Illinois receives praise for its cannabis equity efforts, stakeholders still working on system’s flaws
Medical marijuana patients can now purchase cannabis grown by small businesses as part of their allotment, Illinois’ top cannabis regulator said, but smaller, newly licensed cannabis growers are still seeking greater access to the state’s medical marijuana customers.… MORE
Illinois reports first West Nile Virus death of 2024
By WMBD-TV CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Public Health announced the first person who has died as a result of the West West Nile in the state this year. According to an IDPH news release, the 80-year-old man from Lake County had an onset from symptoms of West Nile virus in mid-August and died…… MORE
Hot and humid week affecting crops in latest USDA report
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork in the week ending August 25, 2024. Statewide, the average temperature was 68.7 degrees, 4.6 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 0.01 inches, 0.66 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 7 percent very short, 31 percent short, 61 percent adequate, and 1 percent…… 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…