Rockford is one step closer to a casino now that its city council has chosen a preferred
bid.… MORE
Category Archives: WJBC’s Top Stories
Long prison sentence awaits local woman convicted of armed robbery
A Bloomington woman will be sentenced to mandatory prison time in December after a McLean County Jury convicted her of robbing a co-worker at gunpoint.… MORE
McLean County Board panel seeks to resolve Treasurer-Auditor power struggle
The McLean County Board’s Finance Committee will meet in special session Monday to seek a resolution to an increasingly heated dispute between the county government’s two elected fiscal officers.… MORE
Rivian thanks community for support by showing off what will be built here
Rivian Automotive’s display of its soon-to-be produced electric pick-up truck and sport utility vehicle attracted Governor JB Pritzker, federal and state lawmakers. However, company chief executive RJ Scaringe said Sunday’s celebration was for the hundreds and perhaps thousands of Twin-City residents who showed up to see the vehicles up close, and meet with Rivian’s team at Uptown Circle.… MORE
More information comes out about investigation into Sen. Martin Sandoval
More information’s coming out about why the feds may be interested in Sen Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago). The full search warrant from last month’s raids on his home and offices points to Big Energy, red light camera companies, gambling interests, as well as road builders.… MORE
State officials urge drivers to watch out for deer during mating season
State officials are asking drivers to be extra vigilant while driving in rural areas as deer become more active in the coming months. … MORE
Illinois farmers expected to pull less crop from fields this year
As the fight for trade deals continues in Washington, Illinois farmers are expected to harvest less than last year.… MORE
Illinois lawmakers expected to take up vape flavor ban later this month
The American Lung Association of Illinois wants lawmakers to take up measures to ban flavored vaping products, but a vape shop manager said the industry is willing to work on a compromise.… MORE
Gov. Pritzker recommending suburban and downstate police and fire pensions to consolidate
Closing down Sterigenics in Willowbrook and cleaning up facilities in Lake County are the chosen remedies for ethylene oxide. Chemical lobbyist Mark Biel, who testified Thursday at a House hearing in Chicago, says those actions are expensive and unnecessary. He says there’s no cancer link.… MORE
State Farm’s Downtown Bloomington building sold
State Farm has announced the sale of its Downtown Bloomington building has been finalized.… 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…