By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Behavioral health. Addiction treatment. Professionals in these fields are harder to find. “Historically, when we have lost staff, we have lost staff to our partners in the law enforcement realm,” Joel Johnson, CEO of Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC), told a Senate committee. “Typically, we lose staff to better-paying…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe said Friday he’s nominating a downtown business owner to fill the vacant Ward 6 city council seat. De Urban is owner of Alley Kats Art and Antiques, and must win majority council approval to fill the seat formerly held by Jenn Carrillo, who resigned because she…… MORE
A central Illinois man accused of sexually assaulting his piano students has been found guilty on all 20 counts.… MORE
By WJBC Staff BLOOMINGTON – Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday presented a proclamation recognizing Heartland Community College and regional manufacturing partners for their key role in preparing the Illinois workforce for advanced manufacturing careers. The governor presented the proclamation to Heartland Community College President Keith Cornille. Earlier this month, the state kicked off Manufacturing Month…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – As the mercury goes down, the costs go up. Citizens Utility Board executive director David Kolata told a Facebook Live audience Thursday, “Our natural gas heating system is increasingly unaffordable. It really isn’t sustainable on environmental grounds, but it isn’t sustainable on economic grounds, either. It is driving large parts…… MORE
A former Normal Police officer, who used to be a school resource officer, has pleaded guilty to drunken driving.… MORE
By Blake Haas BLOOMINGTON – The need for mental health help is on the rise in the twin cities, as PATH Crisis reports a significant increase in calls for assistance related to the issue. According to Kevin Richardson, the call center program manager at PATCH Crisis, calls began flooding the nonprofit at the start of…… MORE
McLean County’s rolling positivity is on the decline as health officials report 20 new cases of COVID-19.… MORE
By WJBC Staff BLOOMINGTON – Heartland Community College is showing off its new facility that will train students to work in the electric vehicle industry. The program offers certificates and degrees in electric vehicle energy storage (EVES). Gov. JB Pritzker, state officials, and other local leaders got to tour the facility Thursday. “This first of…… MORE
By WJBC Staff BLOOMINGTON – Starting on Sunday, those making a local phone call in the Illinois area codes of 309, 618, and 708 will have to dial the ten digits to make the call. The change aims to help clear the way for a 3-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you have one of these…… 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…