Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories

Lane reduction in Normal for water improvements

Lane reduction in Normal for water improvements

By WJBC Staff NORMAL – Beginning Wednesday, at the intersection of College Avenue and Towanda Avenue there will be lane reductions in the north lane of westbound College and the west lane of southbound Towanda. The lane reductions are for water distribution system improvements. Drivers are urged to use caution when traveling through the area.…MORE

U.S. Transportation Secretary to visit Bloomington-Normal

U.S. Transportation Secretary to visit Bloomington-Normal

By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is coming to Bloomington-Normal this weekend to highlight work the Department of Transportation is doing to make electric vehicles more accessible to more Americans. According to a news release, that includes launching a new Rural EV Toolkit and announcing historic infrastructure funding under the bipartisan infrastructure law.…MORE

Pritzker visits ISU to discuss investments in higher education

Pritzker visits ISU to discuss investments in higher education

By Neil Doyle NORMAL – The governor made a stop Tuesday in the Twin-Cities to tout his budget proposal and investments in higher education. Gov. Pritzker’s 2023 budget proposal includes $2.2 billion for higher education. He spoke during a news conference at the Bone Student Center. “Supporting higher education is key to empowering Illinois’ next…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…