The theme of Gov. Pritzker’s budget message Wednesday afternoon was “optimism,” but he was not above introducing a little hard-sell of his graduated income tax.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Heartland College students to see tuition and fee increase
For the third straight year, trustees of Heartland Community College are raising the cost of attending the school.… MORE
Blagojevich praises Trump from Chicago home after release
Former Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich gushed about Donald Trump Wednesday, a day after the Republican president commuted his sentence for political corruption.… MORE
Illinois bill to require electric car charging outlets in homes moves forward
Illinois lawmakers moved forward with legislation that would require high-voltage outlets to be installed in most new construction, renovations, and a significant portion of all parking garages to allow for electric car charging.… MORE
Illinois lawmakers eye statewide plastic bag ‘fee,’ regulations for other consumer plastics
Some state lawmakers want to further regulate products consumers use every day, including a statewide fee on plastic bags.… MORE
Portion of McLean County pot sales earmarked for mental health funding
Some of the revenue McLean County government might receive from sales of recreational marijuana will go toward local mental health programs.… MORE
Durkin calls for a truly balanced budget
When Gov. JB Pritzker gives his budget address today, a top Republican is hoping for a repeat.… MORE
Illinois lawmakers react to Trump commuting Blagojevich
Illinois lawmakers are reacting to President Trump’s commutation of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.… MORE
Pier 1 Peoria, Bloomington stores look to survive company bankruptcy
Home furnishings retailer Pier 1 plans to close about half of all of its stores, but its Peoria and Bloomington locations are apparently not on the closure list.… MORE
Exelon says investigation into lobbying practices may result in ‘criminal’ penalties
The owner of Illinois’ nuclear power plants said it could face criminal charges and other penalties in connection with a federal investigation involving the company’s lobbying practices in Springfield, but Exelon officials said they don’t know how any of those things could play out or what they could mean for the company’s bottom line.… 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…