Category Archives: Headlines

Twin Cities residents flock to Raising Cane's for first taste
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) - Fryers were fired up Tuesday Morning as the well-anticipated Raising Cane's Chicken opened its doors to the public. "We are here to finally open this restaurant in Bloomington/No...
WJBC Staff Jul 16, 2025 Photo courtesy: McLean County Chamber of Commerce

Bloomington police make swift arrest after shots-fired incident
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) - A Bloomington man is in custody after police responded to shots fired early Wednesday morning. Joshua Glass, 36, was arrested on charges including reckless discharge of a fi...
WJBC Staff Jul 16, 2025 Joshua Glass. (Photo courtesy: Bloomington Police/Facebook)

Intoxicating hemp remains unregulated in Illinois following legislative inaction
RUSHVILLE, Ill. - Justin and Anna Ward of Stoney Branch Farms were anxiously awaiting action on legislation to regulate intoxicating hemp products this spring in Illinois, which would have determined ...
WJBC Staff Jul 16, 2025 Stoney Branch Farms co-founder Anna Ward looks at a hemp plants in its late growing stages before it gets harvested, after which it will get processed, packaged and sold directly from the farm. (Isabella Schoonover, Medill Illinois News Bureau)

Aaron Rossi sentenced to prison for fraud
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) - Aaron Rossi, the former biotech wunderkind and the man who was seen as a hero during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, was sentenced Tuesday to just over three years for d...
WJBC Staff Jul 15, 2025 A COVID-19 testing facility, formally located at the Interstate Center was ran by Reditus Labs. (Photo courtesy: WJBC)

ISU police chief and detective cycle almost 400 miles to honor fallen officers
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) - Two members of the Illinois State University Police Department rode 390 miles across Illinois to honor fallen police officers. Police Chief Aaron Woodruff and Detective Matthew H...
WJBC Staff Jul 15, 2025 Aaron Woodruff, Chief of Police at Illinois State University. (Photo courtesy: WJBC)

Illinois bet on solar to meet its climate goals. Trump has the industry in his crosshairs.
SPRINGFIELD - President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans earlier this month curtailed federal tax incentives for the solar energy industry and for individuals and companies that purchase sol...
WJBC Staff Jul 15, 2025 A solar farm in Carbondale, Illinois, in late 2024. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Campbell)

John Hooker, first of 'ComEd Four' to be sentenced, gets 1½ years in prison
CHICAGO - A former executive for electric utility Commonwealth Edison has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in bribing ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan for jobs and contracts...
WJBC Staff Jul 15, 2025 Former Commonwealth Edison executive John Hooker walks out of Chicago’s Dirksen Federal Courthouse on Monday, July 14, after being sentenced to 1 ½ years in prison and a $500,000 fine for his role in bribing ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Adams)

Bloomington police, ISU team up for community engagement events
BLOOMINGTON, Ill (WMBD) - Some Bloomington residents enjoyed a tasty treat early Monday afternoon, courtesy of the police. From 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Gene's Dairy Delight on 1019 South Main Street. The ...
WJBC Staff Jul 15, 2025 Bloomington Police. (Photo courtesy: Bloomington Police/Facebook)

Bloomington certified as 'Partner in Peace' for anti-trafficking work
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) - The city of Bloomington was certified as a 'Partner in Peace' with the Center for Prevention of Abuse for its human trafficking awareness and prevention efforts. Carol Merna...
WJBC Staff Jul 15, 2025 City of Bloomington. (Photo courtesy: City of Bloomington/Facebook)

Normal police seek public assistance in Motel 6 robbery case
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) - The Normal Police Department is asking for help in finding three people in connection with the robbery of a person at a Motel 6 last week. As part of their "Manhunt Monday," a po...
WJBC Staff Jul 14, 2025