The Bloomington City Council is being asked to sign off on a plan to increase the size of the area’s enterprise zone to help Canada’s Brandt Industries grow its U.S. operations just north of Normal.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
UPDATED: Carrillo makes “gender neutral” request
A proposed change in the job title of elected ward representatives in Bloomington comes at the request of a new city council member.… MORE
ISU board approves tuition freeze for next school year
The Illinois State University Board of Trustees agreed Friday to freeze tuition and room and board fees next school year for incoming undergraduate students who live in Illinois.… MORE
A Message from Scott Laughlin
To the WJBC listeners who have noticed my absence over the past couple of weeks – thank you! I often wonder if anyone is listening. (That’s a joke.) What’s not a joke – I have kidney cancer. It has spread to my thighbone and a couple of other spots. I had surgery earlier this…… MORE
UPDATED: Artists fear Uptown mural demolition could happen soon
The lawyer, representing artists trying to save their mural in Uptown Normal, believes there’s a sense of urgency to prevent its demolition.… MORE
Council to vote on $55K lawsuit settlement against BPD
Two people, who sued the City of Bloomington and four of its police officers two years ago, will get $55,000 in an out-of-court settlement if the city council approves the deal Monday night.… MORE
“Alderman” seen as “masculine” title for Bloomington council
Elected representatives of Bloomington’s nine wards would no longer be known as “aldermen” in the city code if the council passes a proposed ordinance Monday night.… MORE
BPD examines all “possibilities” in recent armed robberies
Recent armed robberies in Bloomington have some similarities, and investigators said Thursday they don’t know for sure if the stick ups are connected.… MORE
Brews at the Zoo 2019
Join WJBC at the 4th annual Brews at Zoo on May 17th for drinks, fun, and animals!… MORE
Unit 5 parents “tired” and “frustrated” about racial disparity in the district
Some Unit 5 parents told the school board Wednesday night that African-American students at Unit 5 are more likely than other children to face discipline, and the district’s staff lacks diversity to teach minority children.… 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…