The process of creating a new congressional map for Illinois – following the Census – is necessary, and it’s also a little ugly.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
McLean County officials report 23 new COVID-19 cases; rolling positivity down to 1.9%
The McLean County Health Department reported 23 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.… MORE
Normal looking for community feedback on COVID-recovery funds
By A.J. Harris NORMAL – Normal Mayor Chris Koos wants the public to be a part of the discussion about how pandemic relief funds should be spent. The Town of Normal is running a survey for input from the public about how to spend funds granted by the American Rescue Plan. Koos spoke with WJBC’s…… MORE
State lawmakers repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion act
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Illinois is about to repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion act – seen as the last abortion restriction standing. The legislature finished it off late Wednesday night. The pro-life faction says parents and kids should have good relationships, and if they don’t, the kids can always go to court. Repeal…… MORE
Illinois House amends the Health Care Right of Conscience Act
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Disagreement over the covid vaccine bubbled up again … when the Illinois House Wednesday debated – and passed – a bill tightening a “Right of Conscience” act so you can’t use it to get out of your employer’s testing and vaccine requirements. Like other opponents, State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville)…… MORE
District 87 schools aim to keep tax rate flat on projected land value gains
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – District 87 administrators are banking on an increase in the district’s tax base next year to collect more tax dollars and not raise taxes on property owners. Administrators announced Wednesday evening they plan to collect almost $46.6 million in property taxes next year, up about 4 1/4% from this year.…… MORE
Coroner identifies body found in Lake Bloomington
By Neil Doyle HUDSON – McLean County Coroner Kathy Yoder has identified a body that was found in Lake Bloomington. David L. Roesch, 58, of Saybrook was pronounced dead around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday. Yoder says preliminary autopsy results indicate Roesch died from drowning with non-fatal injuries of the forehead and lips consistent with blunt trauma,…… MORE
Nathan Woodring guilty, but mentally ill, in 2019 murder of Fulton County Sheriff’s Deputy
It took only three hours for a 12-person jury to find Nathan Woodring guilty of murder in the death of a local sheriff’s deputy.… MORE
Brady continues to weigh options for statewide office
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – A local lawmaker has been weighing his options the last few months about a run for statewide office. State Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) has been exploring the idea of running for Illinois Secretary of State. Current Secretary of State Jesse White, a Democrat, has held the office since 1998, but…… MORE
This week’s crop report is more like a wet weather report
(USDA) – There were 4.7 days suitable for field work during the week ending October 24, 2021. Statewide, the average temperature was 54.1 degrees, 1.8 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.70 inches, 0.02 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 2 percent very short, 8 percent short, 65 percent adequate, and 25 percent surplus.…… 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…