Three separate Illinois State Police troopers were not hurt while responding to calls in central Illinois on Wednesday. … MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Pritzker announces $1.7 billion surplus for Illinois
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD -“Illinois will end this fiscal year with a $1.7 billion surplus, the first of its kind in more than 25 years.” That was one of the applause lines in a speech seemingly filled with them Wednesday, as some lawmakers and staff joined Gov. JB Pritzker in the Old State Capitol. It…… MORE
Winter clean up continues across McLean County
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Public works crews are working around the clock to clear snow off roadways throughout McLean County. Bloomington Public Works director Kevin Kothe says the focus right now is on main roads and plowing in residential areas might not start until sometime Thursday. “In a regular type of snow event it…… MORE
Omicron variant is now the predominant COVID-19 variant in central Illinois
According to a central Illinois laboratory, the Omicron variant is now the predominant COVID-19 variant. … MORE
Illinois under a disaster declaration because of this week’s snow
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – In anticipation of the winter storm set to hit Governor Pritzker has declared the entire state a disaster area. This will activate the Emergency Management Agency and help facilitate response and recovery operations. It will also facilitate the application for disaster relief funds from the Federal government. “At IDOT, we…… MORE
Over 1,800 snow plows stand at the ready across Illinois
Over 1,800 snowplows at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) are on standby for the next several days as a winter storm is estimated to bring over a foot of snow.… MORE
Central Illinois gearing up for winter storm
By Dave Dahl LINCOLN – The historic winter storm is almost here. National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Erwin said Wednesday the heaviest snow band should be between the Illinois River valley and Interstate 72. That means up to eighteen inches of snow for the Bloomington area. Erwin says the precipitation will be all snow before…… MORE
Corn Belt Energy warning of new phone scam
One of the top electricity companies in central Illinois is warning of a new phone scam targeting users of their services.… MORE
Secretive charges exposes Big Energy companies
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD-What better way for consumer groups to make their case against Big Energy than to bring out a woman who is struggling to keep up with her payments to keep warm? AARP, Citizens Utility Board, and other groups hosted an online news conference Monday featuring Donna Carpenter, who lives in Chicago’s Englewood…… MORE
Winter Storm Warning issued for Central Illinois
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-The National Weather Service in Lincoln has put a Winter Storm Warning in effect from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 6 p.m. Thursday. Significant snow is likely with a brief period of mixed precipitation. Total snow accumulations in excess of 12 inches, with locally high amounts possible. Ice accumulations up to one tenth…… 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…