Scoreboards are sponsored by COUNTRY Financial Representative Eric Lapan.… MORE
Catherine Mary (Katie) Power
Catherine Mary (Katie) Power, 89, passed peacefully into Heaven on Saturday, May 11 surrounded by her loving family. Catherine Mary Payne was born February 7, 1930 to Charles H. and Gertrude (Scurrah) Payne in Bloomington IL. … MORE
City Council asked to aid Brandt’s growth plans, approve east side chicken coop
The Bloomington City Council is being asked to sign off on a plan to increase the size of the area’s enterprise zone to help Canada’s Brandt Industries grow its U.S. operations just north of Normal.… MORE
Normal reveals intent to move Uptown mural
The artists, who sued the Town of Normal and a building developer to protect the mural they painted at Uptown Circle, should welcome and support the town’s plans to spare the artwork from demolition. That’s the town government’s position in court papers filed in Peoria federal court prior to a scheduled court hearing on Monday.… MORE
UPDATED: Carrillo makes “gender neutral” request
A proposed change in the job title of elected ward representatives in Bloomington comes at the request of a new city council member.… MORE
USDA Projecting Mostly Lower Crop Prices for this Upcoming Year
Producers of many major crops are likely to see lower prices during this coming marketing year. (Gary Crawford/USDA) … MORE
Obituary: Robert James Trainor
Robert James Trainor FAIRBURY – Robert James Trainor, 62, Fairbury, died at 12:33 pm Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at his residence, Fairbury. His funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 am Monday, May 13, 2019 at St. Andrew Catholic Parish, Fairbury with Fr. Scott Archer officiating. Burial will be in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Fairbury.…… MORE
ISU board approves tuition freeze for next school year
The Illinois State University Board of Trustees agreed Friday to freeze tuition and room and board fees next school year for incoming undergraduate students who live in Illinois.… MORE
Weekend scoreboard
Scoreboards are sponsored by COUNTRY Financial Representative Eric Lapan Saturday: College Baseball– Illinois State 14, Bradley 1 CCIW Tournament at Naperville–Illinois Wesleyan 8, Millikin 2; North Central 8, Illinois Wesleyan 7 (championship) Heartland at Lewis and Clark (DH), postponed College Softball– NCAA Regional at Bloomington–Illinois Wesleyan 8, Calvin 0 (championship) NCAA Regional at Whitewater–Coe 7,…… MORE
A Message from Scott Laughlin
To the WJBC listeners who have noticed my absence over the past couple of weeks – thank you! I often wonder if anyone is listening. (That’s a joke.) What’s not a joke – I have kidney cancer. It has spread to my thighbone and a couple of other spots. I had surgery earlier this…… 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…