Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories

Home total loss after overnight fire

Home total loss after overnight fire

By WMBD-TV MCLEAN – A home is a total loss after a house fire near Spencer and Main Street in McLean on Friday. According to a Mt. Hope-Funks Grove Fire Department news release, firefighters were dispatched to the structure fire at approximately 3:13 a.m. When crews arrived on the scene, they observed fire on the east…MORE

Illinois Minority Health Conference to be held in Normal

Illinois Minority Health Conference to be held in Normal

By WMBD-TV NORMAL – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced Wednesday that the 2023 Illinois Minority Health Conference will be held in Normal at the Illinois State University Bone Student Center on Dec. 4 and 5. There will be several speakers including keynote speaker Rober Santos, Director of the…MORE

Heartland Community College announces new director of Pontiac campus

Heartland Community College announces new director of Pontiac campus

By Jake Fogal PONTIAC – Heartland Community College has a new head director of it’s Pontiac Campus. Current Interim Director of the Pontiac Center, April Fornero, will stay in the role on a permanent basis. Fornero was appointed to the position in an interim role following the departure of Stacey Shrewsburg in August. Fornero will…MORE

Clinton man identified in deadly house fire

Clinton man identified in deadly house fire

By Jake Fogal CLINTON – Officials with the Sangamon County Coroner’s Office have identified a man involved in a structure fire last week in Clinton. Clinton Firefighters arrived at the scene of Brush College Road to a house engulfed in flames on Nov. 20 . First responders discovered a victim inside the residence, identified as…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…