The bill that will raise minimum wage in Illinois to $15 was signed Tuesday by the governor.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
State Farm customers see second cut to rates
Illinois’ largest auto insurer says its overall personal auto rate will drop by two percent impacting customers to the tune of approximately $43 million.… MORE
Aldermen eye continuing video gaming freeze
Bloomington aldermen appear ready to extend the one-year freeze preventing businesses from installing new video gaming machines.… MORE
Mayor Renner backs local gasoline tax hike to fix streets
Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner said Monday night he favors a four-cent per gallon hike in the local gasoline tax to repair crumbling streets.… MORE
Activist group to show opposition towards Dwight ICE detention center
A group of activists is planning to voice opposition for a proposed ICE detention center.… MORE
Dietz: Minimum wage bill mixed blessing
Illinois State University President Larry Dietz is weighing in on the $15 minimum wage bill.… MORE
Koos: Amazon’s investment shows Rivian is “real deal”
Normal Mayor Chris Koos is not saying, “I told you so,” but Koos said he’s known for quite some time that electric vehicle maker Rivian is the real deal.… MORE
Owner shuts down Minonk’s only grocery store
The only grocery store in the small city of Minonk in Woodford County is losing its grocery store despite efforts in the community to save the business.… MORE
Radio Bloomington-St. Jude Radiothon surpasses $100,000 to help kids with cancer
The 11th annual St. Jude Radiothon to help children with cancer and their families raised more money than last year. However, one of the organizers of the two-day event on WJBC and two of our sister stations at Radio Bloomington, said the goal was not to surpass last year’s total, but to find cancer cures.… MORE
Running four days to save children’s lives
Running 465 miles in the heat of summer to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital started with less than two dozen runners, now its grown to a journey of thousands.… 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…