A Bloomington man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for raping his former girlfriend and later trying to set fire to her home.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Local Dr. expects a national Omicron peak early next week
If you have delta, you probably have omicron.… MORE
U of I report says bankruptcy filings down during COVID-19 pandemic
Bankruptcy remains an option for some in financial turmoil, but a University of Illinois law professor who studies consumer credit says filings are actually down during the pandemic.… MORE
Betty White Challenge raises over $2,000 for Miller Park Zoo
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – The Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington is thanking the community after $2,162 was raised during the Betty White Challenge. The challenge was to honor White’s 100th birthday and asked people to donate to an animal shelter or rescue. The money donated to Miller Park Zoo will go towards enrichment for…… MORE
Illinois driver services facilities to reopen next week
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – All Illinois Secretary of State departments will reopen for in-person transactions – including driver services facilities – on Monday, Jan. 24. All departments and driver services facilities had been closed since Jan. 3 due to the surge of COVID-19 cases statewide. “The health and safety of employees and the public…… MORE
New leader for the Illinois State Board of Elections
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Now, more than ever, cybersecurity’s vital at the Illinois State Board of Elections. The new executive director, Bernadette Matthews, takes over after the retirement last year of Steve Sandvoss, who apparently got the attention of cybercriminals via phone or computer and, as a result, reported he was a victim of…… MORE
ISU reveals cost of supplying KN95 masks to all on campus
By HOI ABC NORMAL – All students, faculty, and staff at Illinois State University are receiving KN95 masks at no cost to them, but it’s costing the school $23,000, a university spokesperson said Thursday. ISU is paying that amount for industrial supply company Grainger to quickly deliver 25,000 KN95s, said university spokesperson Eric Jome. He…… MORE
Normal man facing 45 counts of child pornography
A 70-year old man from Normal has been arrested after a McLean County grand jury indicted him on 45 counts alleging he was in possession of child pornography.… MORE
Heartland Community College signs off on new in-house security department
The trustees at Heartland Community College are signing off on creating an in-house security department.… MORE
House Minority Leader Durkin: Repeal crime bill
A package of criminal justice legislation which passed a year ago is an anti-cop, anti-safety albatross which some Democrats already want to repeal – according to Illinois House Republicans, who held a news conference Thursday.… 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…