A warm, wet week finished off September for Illinois farmers. The statewide average temperature was 68 degrees, seven above normal. … MORE
Blue Ridge teachers union discloses latest offer to break stalemate
With a possible strike looming, the union representing teachers and other Blue Ridge School District employees is releasing to the public its latest contract proposal.… MORE
Cannabis task force to begin its work this week
Bloomington’s cannabis task force will meet for the first time Thursday night aiming to gather information and recommend whether the city council should allow the sale recreational marijuana in the city.… MORE
DeWitt County Coroner will seek re-election
DeWitt County Coroner Randy Rice has announced he will run for re-election in 2020.… MORE
WJBC Voices: Words fail me
One of the sayings that was popular in the law enforcement community back then was that “There’s no Miranda north of I-80.” … MORE
Fire professionals promote new smoke detectors
A law requiring Illinois homes to have an updated smoke detector – with a sealed, ten-year battery – is not in effect until the end of 2022, but fire professionals are promoting it now. This coincides with Fire Prevention Month.… MORE
NWS: Weekend tornado caused minor damage in Logan County
The National Weather Service has confirmed that two tornadoes caused minor damage in parts of central Illinois over the weekend.… MORE
ISBE to hold budget hearing at Bloomington High School
The Illinois State Board of Education will hold a hearing later this month in Bloomington to gather community input on the state’s budget for public education.… MORE
BPD: Two robotic vacuums stolen from local store
Bloomington Police are asking for the public’s help to identify a woman who allegedly stole two autonomous robotic vacuums.… MORE
Illinois ranks fifth nationally when it comes to the number of energy- efficiency jobs
By Illinois Radio Network SPRINGFIELD – The state of Illinois ranked fifth nationally for the number of energy- efficiency jobs in the state. According to a new report, the sector is responsible for more than 90,000 workers in the state, up about three-percent from 2018. “The cool thing about energy-efficiency careers is they are incredibly diverse,”…… 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…