By IIS Radio CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker celebrated the end of the state’s mask mandate with a stop by Navy Pier in Chicago on Monday. Masks are no longer required in stores, bars, restaurants, daycares and schools. It’s a great feeling says Pritzker. “And it’s all because the people of Illinois did the right…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Police will soon have the technology officers said they need to help solve major crimes. The city council voted 8-1 Monday night to approve a two-year contract with Flock Safety to install automatic license plate-reading cameras. The first year of the contract, cameras will be placed at 10 locations…… MORE
A 4-year-old child and three Pekin Police officers were taken to a local hospital after the child was rescued after falling into a lake.… MORE
BLOOMINGTON – Despite the mask mandate ending on Monday, McLean County’s top health officials warn the public of a possible uptick in hospitalizations as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.… MORE
Multiple apartments are no longer livable until repairs are made after a fire erupted at Cedar Circle Apartments Sunday morning.… MORE
Normal Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect in a battery of an older person.… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Gas prices are up across the country amid the Russia and Ukraine conflict. Here in Illinois, gas is up 14.8 cents over the week, averaging $3.85 a gallon. According to GasBuddy, prices in the state are up 34 cents compared to last month, and a dollar more expensive compared to…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – An omicron subvariant has been identified in central Illinois. It’s called BA.2 and two cases were identified by Reditus Labs in Pekin, according to a news release. “It’s amazing to see how quickly this virus keeps mutating,” said Reditus CEO Dr. Aaron Rossi. “Hopefully, it will continue down this pathway…… MORE
By IIS Radio CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker and other elected officials joined a Chicago rally in support of Ukraine on Sunday. The governor presented a message of solidarity for the country currently under attack. Pritzker’s great-grandfather left Kyiv, Ukraine for Chicago in 1881. WJBC News can be reached at [email protected]… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Hundreds took a dip into an icy cold Miller Park lake in Bloomington for a polar plunge to benefit the Special Olympics Saturday. More than 600 plungers took part in the event, which is hosted by Illinois Law Enforcement. Organizers had to cut through around 12 inches of ice on…… MORE
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.” …
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…
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…
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…