Broadband access will be available to more of rural Illinois, with $50 million in capital funds available as matching funds announced by Gov. JB Pritzker.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Salvation Army annual campaign falls short
The Salvation Army of McLean County announced Thursday its annual Christmas Campaign fell short of its desired goal.… MORE
Legislative Inspector General Office says more autonomy needed to investigate corruption
The person who is supposed to be policing members of the General Assembly says she is hamstrung by the rules the General Assembly created.… MORE
Rountree gets eight years in prison for daughter’s death
The father of murder victim Rica Rountree pleaded guilty Thursday in McLean County Court to a felony charge of endangering his daughter’s life.… MORE
Illinois lawmakers override Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s veto of sales tax exemption
The Democrat-controlled General Assembly voted to override Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s veto of a sales tax exemption.… MORE
Proposed constitutional amendment would establish ‘lockbox’ for Illinois’ FOID card funds
An Illinois lawmaker is proposing to change the Illinois Constitution to protect Firearm Owners Identification card fee revenue from being swept into the state’s general fund. … MORE
Midwest Food Bank gets $45,000 donation for different programs
The Midwest Food Bank is getting a donation to help programs across Illinois and Indiana.… MORE
OSF: Keep your heart healthy during National Heart Month
February is National Heart Month and OSF St. James in Pontiac has some tips how to keep your heart healthier.… MORE
Bill to ban red-light cameras gets new life after bribe scandal
A bill to ban red-light cameras in some Illinois municipalities moved forward Wednesday shortly after a former state lawmaker pleaded guilty to taking bribes to protect a red-light camera operator.… MORE
Bill to give all local governments ability to levy gas taxes could push pump prices higher in Illinois
The sponsor of a measure that would give local governments the ability to tack on a municipal gas tax on top of state and federal gas taxes said it was designed to level the playing field inside the state’s boundaries, but a group representing convenience stores said it would make Illinois even more of an outlier compared to neighboring states.… 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…