Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories

IDOT encouraging driving safety after the Big Game

IDOT encouraging driving safety after the Big Game

By WMBD-TV SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation is joining forces with Illinois State Police and law enforcement across the state to encourage driving safety after the Super Bowl this Sunday. According to an IDOT news release, they are reminding everyone who plans to party and watch the Super Bowl to have a game…MORE

Teenager suffers non-life threatening injuries from shooting Thursday

Teenager suffers non-life threatening injuries from shooting Thursday

By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Police are conducting an investigation after a teenager was shot Thursday. According to a BPD Press Release, officers were dispatched to the area of West Market Street and Howard Street on the west side of the city at 3:45 p.m. on reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, BPD officers discovered…MORE

Capitol Briefs: IDOT workers authorize strike; attorney general warns of AI election scams 

Capitol Briefs: IDOT workers authorize strike; attorney general warns of AI election scams 

By ANDREW ADAMS & JENNIFER FULLER  Capitol News Illinois [email protected]  Several Teamsters unions representing thousands of state highway workers have authorized strikes as contract negotiations between them and the state’s Department of Transportation continue.   The eight local unions that authorized strikes are spread throughout Illinois and represent around 3,800 employees, including drivers, highway maintainers and bridge tenders.  …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…