John Gerend, a Vietnam War veteran from Lake Villa, Illinois, was exposed to Agent Orange while on duty. Suffering from diseases associated with exposure to the toxic chemical, he said he still considers himself fortunate.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
UPDATE: One person shot Sunday night recovering from his injuries
A man is recovering after being shot Sunday night while at an event at the Bone Student Center.… MORE
Duckworth endorses Lt. Gov. Stratton for U.S. Senate seat to replace Durbin
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth endorsed Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on Monday in the 2026 Democratic primary for Illinois’ open seat to replace longtime Sen. Dick Durbin. … MORE
Tuition, fees rising at Illinois universities as state funding lags inflation pace
The cost to attend state universities has been rising, and some institutions have said they’ll have to continue pushing the brunt of state budget shortfalls onto students and families if there isn’t a change.… MORE
Eureka man arrested on alleged child pornography charges
A Eureka man has been arrested on alleged child pornography offenses involving a child under 13.… MORE
ISU PD is asking for help identifying a suspect in a Sunday night campus shooting
One person was injured and taken to a local hospital after a Sunday night shooting near the Bone Student Center on the Illinois State University campus.… MORE
Peoria airport hits all-time record passenger numbers in March
The records keep falling when it comes to total passengers at the Gen. Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport.… MORE
Police and ISP raid spa, rescue human trafficking victim
The Illinois State Police announced that it, in conjunction with Normal Police, raided an area massage spa and recovered a person who had been trafficked.… MORE
Illinois community-based foster homes face insurance ‘crisis’
Insurance companies are reducing the scope of coverage for some community foster agencies in Illinois, leading to higher costs, diminished coverage and fewer options for agencies who say a continuance of the trend could lead to closures. … MORE
Normal police get $750,000 grant to hire new officers
On Thursday, US Representative Eric Sorensen presented the Town of Normal with a check to help with public safety.… 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…