With President Joe Biden signing legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021, Gov. JB Pritzker announced that state government offices will be closed Friday, June 18 in accordance with the new federal law.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Governor announces new COVID-19 vaccine lottery
The state is announcing a new COVID-19 vaccination lottery with $10 million in prizes.… MORE
Clinton Police charge Lincoln man with multiple counts of burglary
A Lincoln man remains behind bars in DeWitt County on multiple burglary charges after Clinton Police say he allegedly broke into storage units.… MORE
Board approves $23.4 million for new agriculture building at Heartland Community College
Add agriculture to the list of growing fields at Heartland Community College in Normal.… MORE
Over 28,000 passengers through CIRA last month
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Central Illinois Regional Airport reported much stronger passenger numbers last month. CIRA Deputy Director Fran Strebing says 28,885 people entered the airport in May, which is their highest number this year. “Better news even is that it’s creeping back to 2019 levels,” Strebing told WJBC’s Scott Miller. “Not there yet,…… MORE
IDPH reports first mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile virus
By Neil Doyle SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed the first mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile virus this year. The North Shore Mosquito Abatement District collected a positive mosquito batch on June 9 from Skokie, Illinois in Cook County. No human cases of West Nile virus have been reported…… MORE
McLean County adds 2 COVID-related deaths, 24 new cases
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – McLean County health officials are reporting 24 new cases of coronavirus since last week, including two additional deaths. MCHD says a woman in her 60s and a woman in her 90s died from COVID complications, bringing the number of lives lost to 233. Here’s a breakdown of the new…… MORE
Gov. Pritzker signs legislation making Juneteenth an official state holiday
By WJBC Staff SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Wednesday declaring June 19, Juneteenth, an official state holiday. To commemorate the abolition of slavery throughout the United States and its territories in 1865, Juneteenth will be recognized as National Freedom Day in Illinois. “Just as Illinois led the nation as the first state to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment,…… MORE
State Sen. Barickman calls state budget “fatally flawed”
A Central Illinois lawmaker, who is mulling a decision to run for Governor, says Illinois’ new state budget was ‘fatally flawed.”… MORE
Miller Park Zoo rebrands logo, updates mission statement and values
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Fresh from celebrating its 130th Birthday this past weekend, the Miller Park Zoo has rebranded its logo, mission statement and values. Zoo director Jay Tetzloff presented and explained the new logo during a press conference Wednesday. “It features our current signature exhibits, the flamingos, our snow leopard and cats…… 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…