This weekend the Sweet Corn Circus returns to Uptown Normal to celebrate Bloomington-Normal’s circus and agricultural roots.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
La Salle man dead after colliding with a semi-trailer in Grundy County
A 47-year-old La Salle man died in a crash early Tuesday afternoon.… MORE
School bus crash injures, hospitalizes 15 students in Downtown Peoria
More than a dozen students were injured and taken to an area hospital injuries after a two-vehicle collision Wednesday in Downtown Peoria.… MORE
Obama legacy continues with Harris nomination, DNC speech in Chicago
Former President Barack Obama returned to his hometown Tuesday night to help launch the presidential campaign of Kamala Harris, and to mark the continuation of his own political legacy.… MORE
Local firefighters receive grain bin rescue training
Towanda, Gridley, Hudson, and Lexington firefighters gathered at the Towanda Fire Department to receive training from the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS).… MORE
McLean County’s Toys for Tots getting an early start on Christmas
By WMBD-TV and Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Toys for Tots of McLean County is introducing a “Santas of Summer Parking Lot Party.” “We’re in the Midwest. What do we do best in the Midwest? Let’s throw a parking lot party,” Coordinator Troy Zeigler said. The organization is hosting a free party this Saturday at Lil…… MORE
Escapetown opens second location in Bloomington
By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – With a location already open in Peoria, another central Illinois city now also gets to have an escape room business. Escapetown opened its Bloomington location this past Thursday, providing residents with a fun and tricky way to spend their time. Groups have a 60-minute time limit to solve the puzzle and unlock…… MORE
In primetime DNC speech, Pritzker leans into role of benevolent billionaire
Governor chides Trump as ‘rich in only one thing: stupidity’ By HANNAH MEISELCapitol News [email protected] CHICAGO – Cheered on by an Illinois delegation watching from the floor of the United Center, Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday night embraced an identity that’s generally proven alienating in both Democratic and Republican politics: being extremely wealthy. “Donald Trump…… MORE
Normal Town Council votes to pass new fire station location, expand Rivian property
More jobs and expanded emergency response have been given the go-ahead by Normal Town Council.… MORE
Senior leader at Rivian leaving company for new job at Stellantis
A senior leader at Rivian Automotive is leaving the company to join another car manufacturer.… 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…