A former Normal Police officer, who used to be a school resource officer, has pleaded guilty to drunken driving.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
PATH Crisis reporting increase in mental health calls
By Blake Haas BLOOMINGTON – The need for mental health help is on the rise in the twin cities, as PATH Crisis reports a significant increase in calls for assistance related to the issue. According to Kevin Richardson, the call center program manager at PATCH Crisis, calls began flooding the nonprofit at the start of…… MORE
Rolling positivity rate declining in McLean county; officials report 20 new cases of COVID-19
McLean County’s rolling positivity is on the decline as health officials report 20 new cases of COVID-19.… MORE
Heartland unveils new electric vehicle training facility
By WJBC Staff BLOOMINGTON – Heartland Community College is showing off its new facility that will train students to work in the electric vehicle industry. The program offers certificates and degrees in electric vehicle energy storage (EVES). Gov. JB Pritzker, state officials, and other local leaders got to tour the facility Thursday. “This first of…… MORE
Ten-digit dialing goes into effect Oct. 24
By WJBC Staff BLOOMINGTON – Starting on Sunday, those making a local phone call in the Illinois area codes of 309, 618, and 708 will have to dial the ten digits to make the call. The change aims to help clear the way for a 3-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you have one of these…… MORE
Senate Republican lawmakers call for series of public safety bills
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Senators Wednesday used the police memorial on the Capitol grounds as the backdrop – and a Champaign police widow as the testimony – for a plea for controlling Democrats to consider anti-crime legislation. “Trust me,” said Amber Oberheim, “my husband’s killer did not stop to ask him if he was…… MORE
Bloomington Salvation Army looking for volunteer bell ringers
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Bell ringing season for the Salvation Army of Bloomington is quickly approaching and volunteers are needed. Salvation Army of Bloomington development director Angie Bubon spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller. “Registertoring.com is the site to register. We are still working to get all of our locations confirmed, but we have tons…… MORE
Bloomington fatal fire considered ‘suspicious’; Coroner identifies victim
Bloomington Police are launching an investigation into the cause of the fire that killed a 62-year old man, as investigators call the fire “suspicious.”… MORE
The battle over legislative maps continues; local Senator calls map-making process a “power grab”
The battle over legislative district maps continues in Springfield as a federal court threw out a legislative map passed in May that favored Democrats on Tuesday.… MORE
Republicans calling on Gov. Pritzker to end executive orders to run COVID-19 mitigations
Republicans are again calling on Gov. JB Pritzker to quit using executive orders to run the state’s covid mitigations.… 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…