WGLT's Sound Ideas

Union members with AFSCME said Monday that the GOP's tax and spending plan passed this summer will bring devastating cuts to the Illinois State University community and beyond. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bloomington Career Academy [BCA] is largely moved in at the Willie G. and Gloria Brown Education Center that District 87 purchased from State Farm in 2024. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A foundational planning tool used to tackle some of McLean County’s most pressing health challenges has just been refreshed. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen discusses the impacts of the federal domestic spending bill at a union rally, a survey outlines McLean County's most pressing health concerns and Bloomington's new career academy aims to help more students find the career ambition earlier in school. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A state law designed to prevent lawsuits that curtail public participation in government now explicitly protects the news media. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Central Illinois attorney has been sanctioned after filing a brief written partially by artificial intelligence that cited several “hallucinated,” or non-existent, cases. It’s believed to be one of the first known cases of an Illinois lawyer being punished for misusing A.I. in a real case. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man from Normal accused of slipping abortion drugs to his girlfriend to prompt a miscarriage against her wishes will remain in custody as he awaits trial. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, a man from Normal is accused of terminating a pregnancy against his girlfriend's wishes, AI has become a helpful source for attorneys but sometimes too helpful, Heartland Head Start gets good news about its federal funding after a few uneasy months, and a new law aims to protect media in Illinois from so-called SLAPP lawsuits. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Bloomington-based early childhood program for low-income families has won renewal of a critical grant to keep operating for at least another five years. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

District 87 changed its policy for Bloomington High School that bans cell phones throughout the school day. Unit 5 refreshed its policy to keep student phones away during class in all but a few circumstances. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Normal Town Council has reviewed elements of a new strategic plan and approved changes to the Enterprise Zone that would offer development incentives in portions of Bloomington-Normal, including Bloomington's under-performing Eastland Mall. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Waiting Room Records is hosting its 4th annual free music fest, We’re Just Trying to Do Something Nice, Okay? at the Connie Link Amphitheater at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. The show will raise donations to support Clover’s Cat Club, an animal rescue service in Normal. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid Republican party efforts to gain congressional seats through off-cycle redistricting in Texas, there's an effort to revive a push for an Illinois state constitutional amendment to make political redistricting less ... well ... political. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The McLean County supervisor of assessments will start publishing assessed value changes and township equalization factors for the 2025 assessment year — some of the ingredients that determine what you property owners in property taxes. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Unit 5 and District 87 have new policies meant to limit cell phone use, but some teachers are skeptical, there's a new bipartisan effort underway to redo how Illinois draws its legislative maps, property assessments in McLean County are going up again as the housing shortage continues, and Bloomington-Normal record stores take the tunes outside their doors to a free concert. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rader Family Farms in Normal invites the public to its sixth annual Sunflower Days Festival. Adam Rader, of Rader Family Farms, said this year the farm has about 19 varieties of sunflowers for visitors to walk through, take photos with and pick. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The regional superintendent of schools for McLean, DeWitt, Livingston and Logan counties will not run for re-election. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, the regional schools superintendent is ready to call it a career soon after two decades helping educators, Normal approves expanding an area for tax incentives -- even for projects already approved, and Rader Family Farms shows off more sunflower varieties than you ever thought existed. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Promise Council of McLean County completed the District 87 leg of its Caring Adults program Wednesday. Students at Oakland Elementary were greeted by cheering parents, educators and other community supporters as they walked into school. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.