Rising from the ashes is what one local church is doing after a fire destroyed their sanctuary in early 2022… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Cases of COVID-19 slowly on the rise; Miller Park Zoo beginning animal vaccinations
Local health officials want the public to be vigilant during the holiday season as cases of COVID-19 increase. … MORE
Governor visits Bloomington Public Library to announce statewide partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
The real star of the show could not make it but sent along a video message.… MORE
Two Senate seats will be contested by Republicans in March 2024 primary
By WMBD-TV SPRINGFIELD – Only a handful of state legislative seats in central Illinois will be contested in the March 19, 2024, primary election. Based on the responses by two experienced politicians who opted not to run this cycle, it appears that the elongated geography resulting from the 2021 redistricting is keeping candidates on the sidelines. State…… MORE
Bloomington police warn of porch pirates
It’s December, and holiday packages are arriving at doorsteps.… MORE
Candidate filing for next year’s election is now closed
The jockeying for ballot position – top, bottom, in between – is over, now that the 2024 candidates for office in Illinois have filed their petition signatures.… MORE
Central Illinois Congressman taking a ‘wait and see’ approach before voting on new Middle East funding
A Central Illinois lawmaker wants to include funding for the nation’s border with Mexico in a new military aid package for the Middle East. … MORE
Normal man faces multiple felony charges after an alleged DUI hit-and-run
A 28-year-old Normal man faces a slew of felony charges after a hit-and-run accident on Thursday.… MORE
Car thefts on the rise in Normal; authorities call it ‘crimes of opportunities’
As the colder months arrive, car thefts are rising in one of Central Illinois’ largest towns.… MORE
Constitution Trail to temporarily close for tree removal
By WMBD-TV NORMAL – Part of Constitution Trail in Normal is expected to temporarily close for tree removal next week. According to a Town of Normal news release, part of the trail between Vernon Avenue and Phoenix Avenue will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The closings will begin on Dec. 4 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…