A downstate Republican lawmaker is praising a bill signed by Gov. Pritzker on Monday that looks to bolster electric vehicles on Illinois roadways.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
The Baby Fold’s Festival of Trees starts Thursday at the Interstate Center
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – The Baby Fold’s Festival of Trees gets underway Thursday morning at the Interstate Center in Bloomington. The event is a long-standing community tradition that provides critical funding to local children’s programs and helps support The Baby Fold. It’s the organization’s largest fundraiser. Baby Fold Vice President of Development and Public…… MORE
CIRA passenger traffic remains mostly leisure travel
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – A local airport is still seeing steady passenger numbers, especially when it comes to leisure travel. Central Illinois Regional Airport deputy director Fran Strebing says passenger numbers last month were at 86% of the 2019 totals. “Business travel is still not quite back,” Strebing told WJBC’s Scott Miller. “It’s increasing…… MORE
State Rep. Dan Brady announces run for secretary of state
By Dave Dahl BLOOMINGTON – A local Republican is joining a handful of Democrats in the campaign to succeed Jesse White as Illinois secretary of state. It’s State Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington). If six-term incumbent White, who is retiring, ever did a good job, Brady says he is not now. Brady says lines at driver…… MORE
Normal Police calling on people who are interested in applying for open positions
Like many forces around the country, the Normal Police Department is calling on those interested to apply for various positions.… MORE
Central Illinois Congressmen award McLean County with $100K grant to help improve Veterans Parkway
Two central Illinois congressmen announced a $100,000 grant for the McLean County Regional Planning Commission.… MORE
Gov. Pritzker signs EV incentive plan to help Illinois companies like Rivian
To State Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington), the Rivian plant in Normal is only the beginning. He wants the success of the electric vehicle plant repeated across the state.… MORE
Illinois’ election board has tossed out a complaint about former State Rep. Mautino
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – When Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino was a state representative, he did not keep his campaign spending records in line with state law. Now the Illinois State Board of Elections has found Mautino’s committee did not knowingly break the law. Campaign committee members had gas and repairs from Happy’s Super…… MORE
Illinois corn and soybean harvest wrapping up
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 4.6 days suitable for field work during the week ending November 14, 2021. Statewide, the average temperature was 46.3 degrees, 3.9 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.45 inches, 0.32 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 5 percent short, 84 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture…… MORE
Bloomington city leaders consider how to spend millions in federal COVID aid
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council Monday night held the first of what’s likely to be many public discussions about what to do with almost $13.4 million from the American Rescue Plan to ease the community’s economic rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. Speeding up long-awaited infrastructure improvements, including sewer upgrades following last…… 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…