By Eric Stock BLOOMINGTON – A new Country Financial security survey shows a majority of Illinoisans will be using credit cards to do their holiday shopping this year. Joe Buhrmann, Country’s manager of financial security said that’s actually a good sign. “At least the general economic outlook is still looking pretty favorable, so I think…… MORE
Sports On Air
WJBC AM 1230: Noon – Game Day with Adam Studzinski Listen live here 1:00 p.m.– Football – ISU at Central Arkansas Listen live here 6:00 p.m. – Basketball – ISU women at Northern Illinois Listen live here WJBC.com: 7:00 p.m. – Hockey – Bloomington Thunder vs. Green Bay Listen live here… MORE
Redbirds fall in MVC Tournament
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Illinois State volleyball team took the Missouri Valley Conference’s regular-season champ and No. 1 seed to the brink Friday, but top-seeded Missouri State prevailed in five sets over the Redbirds at the McLeod Center. Missouri State won by scores of 25-20, 17-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-9. Illinois State’s Courtney Pence set…… MORE
Deer Creek-Mackinaw captures 2A football title
The Chiefs of Deer Creek-Mackinaw have waited 29 years, but a new piece of football hardware is coming back to their trophy case. … MORE
Obituaries: Kilgus, Trainor
Obituaries for A. John Kilgus and Barbara Trainor… MORE
Twin Cities jobless rate drops
Jobless numbers headed into the holiday hiring season are the lowest in Central Illinois. … MORE
New U-High hoops coach expects little change
Former assistant coach Andrew McDowell takes over the coaching reigns for the University High School’s boys’ basketball team this season for Bob Fitzgerald, who is on a teaching sabbatical, but don’t expect a lot of change.… MORE
Energy-rate restructuring bill to save nuclear plants elicits concerns from both sides
Legislation that would give two Illinois nuclear power plants a secure future has elicited support from those who want to save the thousands of jobs created by the facilities, but also warnings of proposed changes in how residents’ electric bills would be structured.… MORE
WJBC Forum: Buy nothing day
On Thanksgiving Day, many Americans will gather around the dinner table, and while eating that delicious homemade meal, will catch up on each other’s lives, relive family memories, and share the many reasons they are thankful for their blessings this year.… MORE
B-N Police Blotter: Thu. Nov. 24, 2016
A look at reported offenses in Bloomington, Normal and on the Illinois State University campus.… 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…