Sara Blair is finding hope after losing her salon in a fire.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Cell phone ban legislation clears Senate committee
Legislation that would prohibit public school students from using cell phones and other wireless communication devices during class time cleared a Senate committee Tuesday and could soon be considered by the full Senate.… MORE
Illinois lawmakers pursue restrictions on search warrants after botched raid in Chicago
Chicago police executed a search warrant at the wrong address more than six years ago that left social worker Anjanette Young handcuffed and naked in her home as she was getting ready for bed. … MORE
Prisoner Review Board sued for negligence a year after released prisoner killed Chicago boy
The family of an 11-year-old Chicago boy murdered last year by his mother’s ex-boyfriend the day after he was released from prison is suing the state — including the embattled Prisoner Review Board and Illinois Department of Corrections— for negligence.… MORE
Peoria County Sheriff investigates woman’s body found in Illinois River
The Peoria County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a woman who was found in the Illinois River, the sheriff said Tuesday.… MORE
Illinois’ community colleges see nearly 9% spike in spring enrollment
Enrollment at Illinois community colleges grew to more than 285,000 in the spring semester this year, an 8.9% increase over a year ago and the largest spring-to-spring enrollment increase since the Illinois Community College Board began collecting systemwide data in the late 1990s.… MORE
Lawmakers mull betting on internet gambling while existing industry warns it’ll fold
In the years since the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily shut down Illinois casinos, video gambling terminals, horse racing and professional sports — just days after legal sports betting went live — the state’s gambling industry has seen an explosion in growth.… MORE
Power outages starting to affect many across central Illinois
By WMBD TV BLOOMINGTON – Power outages caused by Friday’s severe weather are beginning to affect many across central Illinois. According to PowerOutage.us, Fulton County has the most outages as of 6:30 p.m., with about 630 without power. Tazewell County is reporting about 166 without power and Woodford County is reporting about 97.Severe Weather Alert Day:…… MORE
Student arrested for allegedly bring gun to Manual High School
A student at Manual High School was arrested Friday for allegedly bringing a gun to school.… MORE
Democratic lawmaker grows concerned with use of AI in health care
Illinois lawmakers are growing concerned with the use of artificial intelligence in health care. … 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…