Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories

City of Bloomington proposing $25 million ‘Streetscape’ revamp

City of Bloomington proposing $25 million ‘Streetscape’ revamp

By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON (Heart of Illinois ABC) – A $25 to $30 million proposal could renew the ‘Streetscape’ in downtown Bloomington. City Manager Tim Gleason plans to seek approval for the first part of the plan, a $750,000 study already appropriated in the city’s budget, in August. The changes under the proposal are largely…MORE

Phase one of renovations at Bloomington Public Library begin

Phase one of renovations at Bloomington Public Library begin

By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON (Heart of Illinois ABC) – Renovations to the Bloomington Public Library have begun. The construction is set to be completed in three separate phases. Bloomington Public Library director Jeanne Hamilton says that the library may face closure during each phase. “It’s really difficult to try to move safely around the traffic…MORE

Bloomington woman dead after car crash in Nebraska

Bloomington woman dead after car crash in Nebraska

By HOI ABC OGALLALA (Heart of Illinois ABC) – A 14-year-old boy was behind the wheel when he hit a mother and daughter. The juvenile was driving a 2006 Chevrolet Blazer down the 1800 block of Stagecoach Trail, Ogallala, NE. 61-year-old Patricia O’Meara and her 28-year-old daughter Katelyn Einck, were walking down the dirt road…MORE

BPD probing weekend shots fired incident

BPD probing weekend shots fired incident

By WJBC Staff BLOOMINGTON – Over the weekend, Bloomington Police were dispatched to the 600 block of Douglas Street for a shots fired call. Upon arrival, officers found physical evidence that a shooting had occurred. Authorites say the incident happened just after 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The circumstances behind the shooting are still under investigation. At…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…