Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories

Illinois State Police: One arrested in Bloomington area for human trafficking

Illinois State Police: One arrested in Bloomington area for human trafficking

By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois State Police arrested one man during an anti-human trafficking operation in the Bloomington area, the agency announced late Thursday. On March 20, the Trafficking Enforcement Bureau of the state police “conducted an operation focused on identifying individuals who compel others into the commercial sex industry through force fraud and coercion,…MORE

Bloomington Police release St. Patrick’s Day enforcement results

Bloomington Police release St. Patrick’s Day enforcement results

By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Police Department arrested several impaired drivers during it’s St. Patrick’s Day holiday enforcement campaign. BPD partnered with the Illinois Department of Transportation and other law enforcement agencies across the state for the holiday. The Department announced it made three DUI arrests and issued ten seat belt citations during…MORE

Unofficial voter turnout down in Central Illinois

Unofficial voter turnout down in Central Illinois

By WMBD-TV CENTRAL ILLINOIS – Based on lists of registered voters, turnout was significantly down in primary voting across central Illinois for Monday’s primary elections. Only Woodford County showed an increase in number of voters from 2020: 6,847 to 6,109. These numbers are subject to change because of same-day registration, but here are the turnout…MORE

Voters in three counties sign off on tax referendum for Olympia School District

Voters in three counties sign off on tax referendum for Olympia School District

By WMBD-TV BLOOMINGTON – Voters said yes to a proposal by the Olympia Community Unit School District 16 that sounded like a tax increase but was something that district officials said was not. Voters in McLean, Tazewell and Woodford counties all said yes to the measure that increased the rates for the educational fund and for the…MORE

Tazewell County primary election results

Tazewell County primary election results

By WMBD-TV TAZEWELL COUNTY – Results are in for the primary elections in Tazewell County. Tazewell County picks Bill Atkins, Tammy Stimson, Eric Schmidgall as Republican Candidates for District 3 Board Member race Tazewell County has voted for Bill Atkins, Tammy Stimson, and Eric Schmidgall to be the Republican Candidates for the District 3 Board…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…