By A.J. Harris HUDSON – Green Gables Bar and Grill, the popular bar and restaurant is on fire. Reports of the fire started coming in around 3:30 Monday. Initial reports indicated the fire was under control, but as more information was available it appears the blaze spread. Eye witnesses who were out at the scene…… MORE
State and contractors working to be more diverse and inclusive
Both the state and its contractors are working to be more diverse and inclusive. … MORE
New law aims to protect students with outstanding fees
A new state law will ensure public high school students are not negatively affected by any outstanding fees.… MORE
City of Bloomington hosting free Family Day on Saturday
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts is hosting a free Family Day event on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the North Pavilion in Tipton Park. Activities slated for the family fun day include The Unique Twist balloon artists, an inflatable obstacle course and other games. Program Manager…… MORE
Illinois gas prices make big jump in latest report
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-The latest gas report from GasBuddy shows Illinois gasoline prices increase in the past week. According to GasBuddy, prices are up 19.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $4.60 per gallon. In the latest report, the cheapest station in the state is priced at $3.93, while the most expensive was…… MORE
Challenges of communicating ‘climate change’
By Dave Dahl PEORIA – There’s more to “climate change” than you might have known. “Climate change has local impacts, primarily,” says state climatologist Trent Ford. “That sort of thing, what climate change means for Peoria, means for central Illinois, means for the Quad Cities – that’s not studied at the federal level. That has…… MORE
LaHood and Osman discuss electric vehicles
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – As fewer people buy gasoline, someone will have to pick up the slack. And how to pay for road construction is not the only question. “You’ve got to put some money into the grid,” said former U.S. transportation secretary Ray LaHood, who is also a former congressman from Peoria. “The…… MORE
Leah Marlene continues hot streak on ‘American Idol’
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Normal native Leah Marlene has advanced to the Top Five after Sunday night’s episode of ‘American Idol.’ Marlene sang ‘Electric Love’ by American singer-songwriter Børns and ‘Sanctuary’ by the cast of Nashville, moving on after viewers voted for her to continue on her journey. Seven-time Grammy winning artist and producer…… MORE
WJBC VIP: Win Tickets to Forever Motown at the BCPA
‘Forever Motown’ is coming to the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts and we have your tickets!… MORE
Treasurer: Millions up for grabs in McLean County
The Illinois Treasurers’ office is looking to return millions of dollars to McLean County residents.… 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…