WGLT's Sound Ideas

A retired teacher, coach and athletic director, Brian Knutson of Bloomington has watched the Masters every April on TV. That changed this year, when he was given two tickets for each round of the Masters’ four-day run. So when Rory McIlroy completed golf’s career Grand Slam on Sunday, sinking a birdie putt on the 18th hole to win a playoff over Justin Rose, Knutson was in the fourth row of green-side chairs. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Unit 5 school board on Wednesday discussed results of a phone use study, following a study that began in July of phone use and discipline in schools — with potential changes to the district’s policy in mind. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, McLean County schools explore new cell phone policies as the state considers a ban in the classroom, developers get pushback on plans to demolish three downtown Bloomington buildings, a Bloomington man stood within feet of history at the Masters, plus the Bloomington-Normal Youth Symphony grows in numbers and in rigor. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomington’s Historic Preservation Commission begrudgingly cleared the way Thursday for three downtown buildings to be demolished to make room for redevelopment. 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.

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.

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.