http://www.wjbc.com/wire2/News.rss en ©2009 Regent Communications, Inc. http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14142 Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson says her voting record in her first year in Washington proves to constituents that she's serving everyone - not just those in her party. The Democrat Halvorson ranked as the 8th most moderate member of Congress, according to a voting analysis done by the National Journal. Halvorson took some heat from conservatives for backing cap and trade legislation last year, but she tells WJBC's Scott Laughlin, she's had to anger some Democrats for fighting regulations that she thought would be costly to farmers. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:45:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14140 Illinois State seniors Ashleen Bracey, Maggie Krick and Nicolle Lewis were among the players honored on the All-Missouri Valley Conference Teams, announced by the league Wednesday. Bracey and Krick were first-team selections, while Lewis was named to the second team. Bracey and Lewis were also named to the Valley All-Defensive Team. Bracey earned her first-career All-Valley honor. She led the Redbirds in scoring (15.3 ppg), rebounding (7.8 rpg), free throw percentage (.918) and steals (35) in the regular season. Krick led the Redbirds in assists (110), and was second in scoring (14.8 ppg) and third in rebounding (5.0 rpg) and three-point field goals (34). Lewis led Illinois State in field goal percentage (.560) and blocks (57), and ranked second in rebounding (7.1 rpg) and third in scoring (11.6 ppg). Bracey and Lewis were both named to the Valley All-Defensive Team for the first time in their careers. Both players ranked in the top-five in the Valley in defensive rebounds and the top-10 in blocks. They are the first Redbird teammates to be named to the Valley All-Defensive Team in the same year. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:45:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14138 By volume, he does the most of anything with President Obama's signature on it. Bloomington native Mike Kelleher is the Director of Presidential Correspondence. At his office, just blocks from the White House, Kelleher's staff of 50 sorts through about 5,000 pieces of paper mail each day, as well as 5,000 faxes daily, 10,000 e-mails, and 2,000 calls. He says one of the most rewarding things is helping people who reach out. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:46:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=3284 NEW YORK (AP) -- Ex-Governor Blagojevich paid a return visit to David Letterman to field jokes -- mostly about his hair. Blagojevich, who is scheduled for a federal corruption trial this summer, will be appearing Sunday as one of the contestants in the season debut of Donald Trump's reality show, ``Celebrity Apprentice.'' In his appearance Wednesday night on "The Late Show with David Letterman," the former governor delivered the answers to "The top ten things Rod Blagojevich asked himself before appearing on `Celebrity Apprentice.''' No. 10 was "Can I get paid in shampoo?" No. 5 was "Can I get paid in conditioner?" And the No. 1 question was "Will my hair get along with Trump's Hair?" Only one question referred to Blagojevich's legal problems. It was No. 8, "Should I bring my attorney?" Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:37:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14131 Unit 5 parents say they want the school board to stand up and protect their children's health. Dena Cherry and dozens of other parents packed the unit office to tell the school board they don't want to see a gravel pit built near Fox Creek Elementary School. Cherry and her family live in the Fox Creek Subdivision. She says she wanted to tell school board members how she and other parents felt, in hopes that the board will take a stand against the proposed pit. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:49:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14134 Local school officials weighing in on the governor's budget address say they're not hearing anything new. Unit 5 Superintendent Gary Niehaus said he expected the cuts that Governor Quinn proposed during his budget address Wednesday. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:48:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14133 Unit 5 high school classes will have a later start time 16 times a year. Teachers will be coming to school an hour earlier twice a month to take part of a Professional Learning Communities pilot project. Unit 5 Superintendent Gary Niehaus says teachers will use that time to meet in teams to discuss curriculum and assessment ideas. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:46:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14127 The PrairieThunder were shutout at Fort Wayne 5-0 Wednesday night. WJBC's Greg Halbleib was there and has more. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:28:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14126 District 87 is moving forward with it plan to fill a $5.3 million budget deficit over the next two years. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:54:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14125 McLean County officials on the One Voice trip Wednesday heard that whether or not people believe in climate change, there will be an effect on the national economy. Bloomington Mayor Steve Stockton asked how to reach people in the community who don?t think there may be a climate problem. Liz Thortonson with the International Economic Development Council say to don't talk about it. Thortonson says regardless of whether people believe in climate change, there are elements of sustainability which affect people's lives. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:49:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14124 Illinois State University President Al Bowman says he's not completely surprised about the governor's calls for education cuts. President Bowman traveled to Springfield to hear Quinn's budget address in person. Bowman tell's WJBC's RC McBride, the state has continued to decrease funds for higher education for the past few years. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:19:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14120 Republican candidate for governor Bill Brady has harsh words for Governor Quinn's proposal to raise the state income tax. Brady calls the plan a ``disaster.'' He said Wednesday that raising taxes would cost Illinois jobs. The state senator from Bloomington also blasted Quinn's plan to borrow nearly $5 billion to help keep the state afloat. He says the state doesn't have a plan to pay it back. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:18:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14115 Governor Quinn says state government is in a battle against a massive budget deficit and it's a battle the state can't afford to lose. In a speech to the General Assembly on Wednesday, the Democratic governor said the deficit in the upcoming year will reach $13 billion. Quinn says the state has to get rid of that deficit and strengthen state finances or pay the prices for years to come. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:17:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14118 BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) -- A LeRoy woman is seeking $10 million in a lawsuit that accuses police of waiting too long to start looking for her two sons after they were taken by their father last year. Nine-year-old Duncan Leichtenberg and his 7-year-old brother, Jack, were found dead in late March. They were killed by their father, Michael Connolly, before he killed himself. Amy Leichtenberg claims in the wrongful death lawsuit filed Tuesday that police in LeRoy waited too long to issue an Amber Alert after she reported that her sons were overdue from a custodial visit. The lawsuit names the city and its police as defendants. LeRoy Police Chief Gordon Beck says he hasn't seen the lawsuit and couldn't comment. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:29:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14114 More food waste is needed at Illinois State University's Lexington Farm. That's why organizers are asking for $500,000 in this year's one voice trip. The money would pay for added materials for the food waste composting. Sustainability Coordinator Enid Cardinal says the goal is to take more food waste from larger institutions in the county and bring them to the farm for composting. She says the project doesn't stop there. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:40:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14109 CHICAGO (AP) -- Indian Americans are pushing for a leader of their community to be the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor. Raja Krishnamoorthi is a former deputy Illinois treasurer. In February, he narrowly lost the primary race for comptroller. He's sent in his application to Democratic party officials who will pick a replacement for their former lieutenant governor's candidate, Scott Lee Cohen. More than 10,000 supporters have so far signed a petition to put Krishnamoorthi on the ballot. The petition's organized by the Indo-American Democratic Organization. A former president of that organization, Pramod Shah, says his group's worked hard for Democrats for years and it's time to put an Asian-American on a statewide ticket. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:38:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14107 State Representative Bill Mitchell says the governor's budget proposal is simply a setup to force lawmakers to raise taxes. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:35:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14108 The Baby Fold's annual Festival of Trees holiday fundraiser will move to U.S. Cellular Coliseum in November. Festival Co-Chair Melissa Manness officially announced the location change at this morning's sponsor breakfast while holding up a small coliseum sign over her head. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:18:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14105 A woman named 2009 Healthcare Administrator of the Year by a national organization can add another award to her resume. Community Cancer Center Director Barb Nathan has won this year's Gale Keeran Spirit of Success Award. Nathan received the honor at last night's Women's Health Night event at the Interstate Center. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:26:00 GMT http://wjbc.com/TabId/7865/default.aspx?AID=14104 STREATOR, Ill. (AP) -- Streator Mayor Ray Schmitt has died. He was 68. The LaSalle County coroner's office says Schmitt was taken from his home to Saint Mary's Hospital by ambulance Tuesday and later died. Authorities say a medical examination will take place to determine the cause of death. Schmitt was first elected mayor of Streator in 1999 and was in his third term. Funeral arrangements are pending at the Solon-Telford Funeral Home. Schmitt is survived by his wife, Donna Schmitt, and their three children. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:54:00 GMT