Category Archives: WJBC's Top Stories

Old Pantagraph building eyed for $18 million bus transfer center
Interim General Manager Mark Peterson said it’s the trustees’ preference to utilize the iconic building instead of demolishing it. (Photo courtesy: HOI/ABC)By Heart of Illinois ABCBLOOMING...
Syndicated Author Feb 24, 2021

McLean County’s top prosecutor says violent crime is down despite recent murder trials
State Attorney Don Knapp. (Photo courtesy: Heart of Illinois ABC)By Heart of Illinois ABCBLOOMINGTON – The McLean County State’s Attorney says despite the recent uptick in murders in the a...
Syndicated Author Feb 24, 2021

State Rep. Brady: “I think we’re going to find ourselves creating amendments” when it comes to the crime bill
State Rep. Dan Brady. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)By Blake HaasBLOOMINGTON – As Gov. Pritzker signed a sweeping criminal justice reform bill on Tuesday, one state lawmaker says some areas of the ...
Syndicated Author Feb 24, 2021

Rolling positivity rate below 3%; McLean County adds 11 new cases of coronavirus
The county’s rolling positivity rate inched down to 2.6%. (Graphic courtesy McLean County Health Department) By Neil DoyleBLOOMINGTON – There are 203 active coronavirus cases in McLea...
Syndicated Author Feb 24, 2021

Panel of tourism and hospitality professionals urges state senators to get Illinois moving
Mike Jacobson, president and CEO of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, says his industry means a lot to the economy – and to people who need jobs. (Facebook/Illinois Restaurant Associat...
Syndicated Author Feb 22, 2021

Solar Energy expert: Texas blackouts due to climate change
Shannon Fulton with Straight Up Solar spoke with WJBC’s Marc Strauss. (Photo by bengt-re/flickr)By Blake HaasBLOOMINGTON – As power slowly comes back on in the lone star state due to a nat...
Syndicated Author Feb 22, 2021

MCHD reports 62 new cases of coronavirus
The county’s rolling positivity rate inched up from Friday to 2.8%. (WJBC file photo) By Neil DoyleBLOOMINGTON – McLean County has added 62 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday, accordi...
Syndicated Author Feb 22, 2021

Impacts of online learning
Dr. Sameer Vohra spoke during a webinar put on by the University of Illinois Springfield Friday.(Dave Dahl/WJBC) By Dave DahlSPRINGFIELD – After almost a year, the novelty of online learnin...
Syndicated Author Feb 22, 2021

Presidential historian writes new book about George Washington
Alexis Coe, the author of a book about George Washington, "You Never Forget Your First," appeared online at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. (Dave Dahl/WJBC) By Dave DahlSPRINGFIELD ...
Syndicated Author Feb 22, 2021

ISU’s Dietz plans for ‘traditional’ fall semester thanks to COVID vaccine
Illinois State University President Larry Dietz. (WJBC file photo)By Heart of Illinois ABCNORMAL – Illinois State University is planning for a much more traditional semester next fall with stude...
Syndicated Author Feb 19, 2021