Illinois politicians and religious leaders believe the Pope’s message to Congress on climate change should be answered on the state level by passing a bill on renewable energy.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Economic Development Council presents snapshot into area’s economy
The cost of doing business in Bloomington-Normal has gone up this year.… MORE
Bloomington man pleads guilty to fatal DUI
A Bloomington man has pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI leading to death in relation to a fatal accident which took place on March 16.… MORE
Congress members call Pope’s speech ‘special,’ ‘energizing’
The Pope’s speech to a joint session of Congress today (Thursday) is being called special and energizing by those who witnessed it in person.… MORE
Caterpillar to cut 10,000 jobs worldwide
Peoria-based Caterpillar is laying off as many as ten-thousand employees worldwide through the end of 2018 as it works to cut costs.… MORE
Reilly felt ‘obligated’ to request additional sales tax hike
The proposal that Bloomington raise its sales tax one-quarter percent for schools on top of the one-percent hike it approved this week came as a surprise to some.… MORE
Mitchell, Cabello propose bill to restore death penalty
The increased threat of violence against law enforcement officers and recent high profile cases of children being killed have prompted two Illinois lawmakers to propose a reinstatement of the death penalty in Illinois.… MORE
Coalition announces 300,000 signatures for redistricting reform
The Independent Map Coalition announced this week they already have over 300,000 signatures endorsing the plan to place an amendment on the 2016 ballot.
… MORE
Unit 5 approves new fiscal year budget
Unit 5 has approved its budget for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.… MORE
District 87 approves budget, talks sales tax increase
A newly approved 2015-2016 budget and the effect of a recent sales tax increase by the City of Bloomington were among the topics discussed by the District 87 school board Wednesday night. … 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…