After a more than 30-year career, Bloomington Fire’s top leader is retiring in December.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Ironmen shutout Wildcats in 29th edition of the Chili Bowl
By Jake Fogal NORMAL – The expectations have been met through three weeks of play as the Normal Community Ironmen have charged through three opponents with relative ease this season. Week 3 featured Community picking up not only a regular season win, but also a trophy that signifies a victory over a cross-town rival. The…… MORE
Heartland Community College student enrollment close to pre-Covid numbers
Heartland Community College’s enrollment numbers are gradually creeping up each year.… MORE
Normal approves contract to build new fire station
This will be the second new fire station since the opening of the headquarters station on Main Street in 2017.… MORE
Illinois State University reports largest freshman class in 36 years
Welcoming 4,417 freshmen to the school this fall, Illinois State University said Thursday it is the largest class the university has seen in the last 36 years.… MORE
Several area schools receive grant for water-bottle filling stations
A handful of area schools will get new water-bottle filling stations thanks to the H2O On the Go grant program.… MORE
U.S. Secretary of Education visits Springfield elementary school
A big blue bus (pictured) rolled up to Fairview Elementary School in Springfield Wednesday afternoon.… MORE
Lexington man arrested for animal cruelty
A Lexington man has been arrested for allegedly maltreating a dog, according to the city’s police chief.… MORE
Illinois crop progress is a touch behind the averages
There were 6.7 days suitable for field work during the week ending September 3, 2023.… MORE
McLean County Board chairman resigns
McLean County Board chairman John McIntyre resigned Tuesday afternoon for unknown reasons.… 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…