The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for McLean County and much of the entire WJBC listening area until 3 p.m.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Report: GOP lawmakers don’t cash Rauner checks during budget battle
Gov. Bruce Rauner gave about $400,000 to Republican legislators in May but close to one-third of those lawmakers haven’t cashed the checks, according to a published report.… MORE
Bloomington again discussing public comment
By Adam Studzinski BLOOMINGTON – Public comment is up for discussion again Monday night at the Bloomington City Council meeting. In June, aldermen chose not to go forward with a proposal to limit residents to only speaking about items on the agenda. “It does appear that the majority of the council just wants to maintain…… MORE
Kirk seeks ban on household products with microbeads
By John Gregory/Illinois Radio Network CHICAGO – A bill in Congress aims to do what Illinois lawmakers did last year: phase out household products with plastic microbeads. U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., is one of the co-sponsors of the Senate version of the legislation. He says he’s concerned about the 46,000 microbeads per square kilometer…… MORE
Traveling Vietnam Wall is coming to LeRoy
The Traveling Vietnam Wall is coming to LeRoy. The replica of the actual wall in Washington, D.C. will be on display at Kiwanis Park July 23-26. … MORE
State landfills have capacity for another 21 years of trash
Illinois residents may soon have a hard time finding places to put their trash. … MORE
Gary Hart on corruption and scandal
Former senator and author Gary Hart. Photo courtesy Blue Rider Press. One of the Democratic party’s brightest lights of the 70s and 80s claims that modern U.S. governance has suffered a drastic shift for the worse in the last few decades. Former senator and presidential candidate Gary Hart says that a culture of lobbying and…… MORE
McLean County re-working, expanding lease agreements with PBC
The McLean County Board is planning to re-write and expand its lease agreements with the county Public Building Commission.… MORE
Child predators try to stay one step ahead of police
Even as police continue efforts to stop the production and distribution of child pornography, criminals are finding ways to stay one step ahead of the authorities.… MORE
Lawmakers displeased with snub from Rauner administration official
Not only did the Rauner administration snub a House committee’s invitation to testify, it missed out on a good story to tell, in the opinion of the committee’s chairman.… 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…