During a federal sentencing hearing in Peoria, authorities tracked a handgun from the time it was stolen in McLean County, a shooting in Peoria, to the coat pocket of a man sentenced to prison Friday for carrying that gun.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
The recent flash index shows Illinois’ economy improving over the past month
Illinois’ economic performance over the last month was surprisingly good, at least as the University of Illinois Flash index sizes it up.… MORE
U of I political scientist says congressional map-making will favor Democrats
The congressional map-making expected this month will almost assuredly favor Democrats, according to a political scientist at the University of Illinois. One way to make life difficult for Republicans, says professor Brian Gaines, would be to put two in the same district. That’s not all.… MORE
Rivian has almost 50K preorders, reports 2020 net loss of $1 billion
Rivian, now producing electric pickup trucks in Normal, is releasing key details of its operations ahead of an initial public offering of company stock.… MORE
Flags at UIS mark International Wrongful Conviction Day
By Dave Dahl SPRNGIELD – The flags on the University of Illinois Springfield quad tell the story: almost three thousand of them, each representing a wrongful conviction. They’re black, except for the 359 blue ones, representing those in Illinois. Christine Ferree, program director of case evaluation of the Illinois Innocence Project, says she is not…… MORE
Bloomington Police launching an investigation into Thursday night shooting
Bloomington Police are probing a shooting incident late Thursday night.… MORE
Tailgate N’ Tallboys coming to Bloomington
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Tailgate N’ Tallboys is moving to the Interstate Center in Bloomington next summer. USA Concerts on Friday announced the country music festival will be June 16-18, 2022. “USA Concerts is excited for the move which opens up the festival grounds for onsite camping, a first-time new look for the festival,…… MORE
DeBrazza monkey exhibit opens at Miller Park Zoo
By Blake Haas BLOOMINGTON – Thanks to a state grant, Miller Park Zoo is opening a new monkey exhibit at a tune of a little over $600,000. The new exhibit, built between the Flamingos and the Carousel, houses a male and female DeBrazza monkey and a Red-flanked Duiker (small antelope). “It has a glass front,…… MORE
Former Arlington International Racecourse president thinks facility could house the Bears and horse racing
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Horse racing fans upset over losing the Arlington International Racecourse – potentially to a new stadium for the Bears – may have hope. To hear former Arlington president Roy Arnold tell it, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. “There is absolutely no reason why you can’t have…… MORE
Midwest states partner to build electric vehicle ‘charging’ sites as Rivian ramps up production in Normal
By HOI ABC SPRINGFIELD – As production of electric vehicles begins at the Rivian plant in Normal, governors from Illinois and four other states announced Thursday they’re working together to speed up building the infrastructure needed to charge those vehicles throughout the region. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and chief executives from Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and…… 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…