By WJBC Staff BLOOMINGTON – The intersections of Towanda Barnes Road and Fort Jesse Road and Raab Road will have temporary traffic signals installed Thursday. The signals will be used to the duration of the construction project. The signals at both intersections will be set up with two temporary lights. All left, right and through…… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Man pleads guilty to armed robbery and burglary charges
By Joe Ragusa BLOOMINGTON – A man suspected of robbing the Rosati’s Pizza on Bradford Lane in Normal last year has pleaded guilty. Benjamin Carney, 19, will see eight years in prison in exchange for concurrent sentences on the armed robbery of Rosati’s in June of last year and a charge of residential burglary in…… MORE
BPD arrest pair for Evergreen Cemetery vandalism
By Adam Studzinski BLOOMINGTON – Two suspects have been arrested by the Bloomington Police Department in connection with recent vandalism at Evergreen Cemetery. Police said Terry L. Ridgeway Jr., 32, and a 17-year-old juvenile, both of Bloomington, have been arrested for felony criminal property damage. Bloomington officers were called to Evergreen Cemetery on April 18…… MORE
McLean County suggests mandates Illinois could eliminate
McLean County officials say new election mandates have cost the county $300,000 per year and haven’t increased voter turnout. (WJBC file photo) By Eric Stock BLOOMINGTON – McLean County officials have lent a hand to the governor’s office as it looks for state mandates that could be eliminated. Gov. Bruce Rauner has suggested local governments…… MORE
McLean County Drug Court celebrates nine years
Tatu stands with John Iverson, another client that went through the McLean County Drug Court. (Colleen Reynolds/WJBC) By Joe Ragusa BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Drug Court is celebrating nine years of programs that offer treatment to drug offenders instead of prison. “With our graduates, we have about 12 percent recidivism, which is amazing,” Director…… MORE
Seven perish in private plane crash near Bloomington
Authorities near the scene of a plane crash east of Bloomington block roads leading to the crash site. (Terry James/WJBC) By WJBC staff BLOOMINGTON – Seven people returning from the NCAA Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis lost their lives early Tuesday in a plane crash east of Bloomington about two miles from Central Illinois Regional Airport.…… MORE
Fans say goodbye to coach Ward
Lyons predicted Ward was on track for a head coaching job. (WJBC photo/Terry James) By Terry James NORMAL – Pictures and videos of Illinois State associate men’s basketball coach Torrey Ward were on display as a memorial was held Monday night for the coach who died in a Bloomington plane crash. Hundreds were at the…… MORE
Schock tours Bloomington’s Destihl Brewery
U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Peoria) said Bloomington's Destihl Brewery is "what it's all about."… MORE
New provost named at Illinois State University
Janet Krejci has been named Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.… MORE
Davis concerned over new safety rules for rail cars
The derailment of some rail cars carrying crude oil near Galena is another reason to review rules put on rail companies.… 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…