No one was injured after a fire at a recycling yard in Bloomington on Tuesday.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Normal man in jail on attempted murder charges accused of hitting a correctional officer
A Normal man in the McLean County Jail on attempted murder charges is facing new charges after striking a correctional officer in the face.… MORE
Butter cow sculpting underway at Illinois State Fair
The Illinois State Fair is just around the corner, and that means the sculpting of the state fair butter cow is underway.… MORE
Normal Police asking for the public’s help in identifying retail theft suspects
Normal Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying suspects in two separate retail theft incidents.… MORE
Rivian makes an appearance during Blue Origin space launch
By Neil Doyle TEXAS – Billionaire Jeff Bezos and three other passengers launched into space Tuesday on Blue Origin’s New Shepard’s first flight with people on board. Rivian’s electric SUV made a cameo, as the flight passengers rode in the vehicle to the spacecraft. It’s no surprise, with Amazon being one of the largest investors…… MORE
Federal COVID funds suggested to speed up Bloomington’s flood control efforts
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Some Bloomington aldermen are recommending using some of the millions of dollars the city is receiving in federal COVID-19 aid to upgrade aging sewer systems that made flooding even worse following historically heavy rainfall last month. The city council discussed the flooding at a committee-of-the-whole meeting Monday night, part of what…… MORE
State is encouraging colleges to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – The State Board of Higher Education is releasing updated COVID-19 guidance for colleges this fall. The goal is to make it a safe transition back to class by maintaining several protocols says board executive director Ginger Ostro. “The guidance here follows the recommendations from the CDC and IDPH to urge…… MORE
Illinois crops are responding to the rain
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 2.6 days suitable for field work during the week ending July 18, 2021. Statewide, the average temperature was 73.5 degrees, 3.0 degrees below normal. Precipitation averaged 2.38 inches, 1.68 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 23…… MORE
Town Council approves $24 million underpass for Uptown Normal
By HOI ABC NORMAL – After years of debate, the Town of Normal has approved a nearly $24 million underpass providing pedestrians and bike riders a below-ground place to cross Union Pacific train tracks. After some heated discussion, town council members Monday night voted 6-1 in favor of accepting federal grant money to build the connector…… MORE
All aboard: Amtrak returns to full service across Illinois
Amtrak is back to full service in Illinois.… 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…