WGLT's Sound Ideas

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

On today's episode, administrators at Illinois State University and elsewhere in higher education lament decades of state disinvestment, Bloomington's mayor hopes a new housing project downtown will spur more development in the city's urban core, Illinois Wesleyan breaks ground on a new space for students to solve problems and think big, plus the Bloomington Bison consider their first season a success off the ice -- it not on it. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Managers for the Bloomington Bison hockey team consider their first season a success even if the team's on-ice goals came up short. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Illinois Wesleyan University held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for a new facility that will provide spaces for students of all areas of study to meet and collaborate. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, ISU alum Brendan Hunt from the hit TV series Ted Lasso returns to campus for a three-day residency plus a cartoonist gives a talk at ISU about how AI helped her create a memoir. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of Illinois State University’s most accomplished theater grads is back on campus — the place that helped inspire his breakout character on the TV series Ted Lasso. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Thomas Metcalf School, an Illinois State University lab school, unveiled a new playground Tuesday that its students helped design. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, two fatal crashes involving pedestrians on the ISU campus have promoted the the university and town to look for safety solutions, a food bank will stop distribution in Bloomington-Normal despite historic need, a Bloomington shelter sees positive response from a new outreach effort, plus grade school students in Normal marvel at a new playground they helped design. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Salvation Army of Bloomington has launched a pilot program to ensure its emergency winter shelter clients connect with community services before leaving its seasonal program. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Illinois State University and the Town of Normal are seeking public feedback to make the campus safer for drivers and pedestrians. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A food pantry that serves hundreds of Bloomington-Normal residents each month is ending. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nonprofit Lifelong Access held “LEO's IMPACT: An Autism Awareness Expo” on Thursday at its location in Normal, bringing together volunteers, community organizations and the public to promote awareness and support for people with autism. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, a soldier from Bloomington finally returns home more than 80 years after he died on the battlefield, McLean County fights to keep a federal grant for disease surveillance that the Trump administration wants to cancel, a Bloomington-Normal family is turning tragedy into a way to help others, and meet the ISU Police Department's new therapy dog. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The McLean County Health Department [MCHD] ramped up surveillance of infectious diseases following the COVID-19 pandemic, and it did that with the help of federal funding, which is now in jeopardy. The Trump administration is trying to claw back a $600,000 grant, arguing the funding is no longer needed because the pandemic is over. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a new therapy dog on the Illinois State University campus, and it’s owned by the police department [ISU PD]. Pawfficer Korg is about 2 years old and Sgt. Mike Gardner said he’s continuing the legacy of his predecessor — Sage — in helping the department connect with students and the greater Bloomington-Normal community. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With pride and gratitude, the remains of World War II U.S. Army Pfc. Robert Bryant were buried with military funeral honors Saturday at Park Hill Cemetery in Bloomington. Bryant was killed in action while searching for wounded rangers from his unit in Italy in September 1943. 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.

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

Illinois senators voted unanimously, 55-0, on Thursday to ban carbon sequestration near the Mahomet Aquifer, is the sole source of water for nearly 1 million people in the region, including much of McLean County. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.