BLOOMINGTON – Despite the mask mandate ending on Monday, McLean County’s top health officials warn the public of a possible uptick in hospitalizations as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Multiple agencies respond to Farmer City fire; no injuries reported
Multiple apartments are no longer livable until repairs are made after a fire erupted at Cedar Circle Apartments Sunday morning.… MORE
NPD asking for help in identifying a suspect in a battery investigation
Normal Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect in a battery of an older person.… MORE
Illinois gas prices up 14 cents over the week
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Gas prices are up across the country amid the Russia and Ukraine conflict. Here in Illinois, gas is up 14.8 cents over the week, averaging $3.85 a gallon. According to GasBuddy, prices in the state are up 34 cents compared to last month, and a dollar more expensive compared to…… MORE
Omicron sublineage identified in central Illinois
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – An omicron subvariant has been identified in central Illinois. It’s called BA.2 and two cases were identified by Reditus Labs in Pekin, according to a news release. “It’s amazing to see how quickly this virus keeps mutating,” said Reditus CEO Dr. Aaron Rossi. “Hopefully, it will continue down this pathway…… MORE
Governor speaks at Chicago peace rally for Ukraine
By IIS Radio CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker and other elected officials joined a Chicago rally in support of Ukraine on Sunday. The governor presented a message of solidarity for the country currently under attack. Pritzker’s great-grandfather left Kyiv, Ukraine for Chicago in 1881. WJBC News can be reached at [email protected]… MORE
Hundreds flood Miller Park Lake in Bloomington for polar plunge
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Hundreds took a dip into an icy cold Miller Park lake in Bloomington for a polar plunge to benefit the Special Olympics Saturday. More than 600 plungers took part in the event, which is hosted by Illinois Law Enforcement. Organizers had to cut through around 12 inches of ice on…… MORE
Karr: Shopping malls are making a transition to other uses
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The shopping mall – retail destination of the seventies and eighties – is entering a new chapter. Rob Karr, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, likes to say retail’s nimble. But what’s less nimble than a gigantic, largely empty mall? “If you think of it as only purposed for…… MORE
Birds Give Back results in record breaking totals
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-On Thursday, February 24, the Illinois State Athletics Department along with the entire Illinois State University community took part in the fourth annual Birds Give Back: Mission Possible. Following a full day of support, 230 donors in 22 states paved the way to a new ‘Birds Give Back’ fundraising record. Illinois State…… MORE
Mother of missing, presumed dead, infant Zaraz Walker appears in bonding court on new charge
By HOI ABC MCLEAN COUNTY-The mother of Zaraz Walker, who has been missing since at least Sunday, February 13 and is now presumed dead, appeared in bonding court Friday on two counts of concealment of a death. According to a probable cause statement presented today, Kimberlee Burton visited with a female family member on February 15…… 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…