WGLT's Sound Ideas

The Department of Justice requested information regarding statewide election procedures late last month. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s never a good time for your electric bill to suddenly go up nearly $1,000. But this was an especially bad time for Steven Marifjeren and his two Windy City Wieners locations. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The McLean County League of Women Voters will conduct a study of the county's two election authorities. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, sky high electric bills have Twin City residents and business owners stressed. McLean County's two election authorities are being studied by the League of Women voters, one of which has been asked to provide voter data to the Department of Justice. And the public gets its first chance to weigh in on the county's Strategic Land Use Plan. 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.

A new organization hopes to improve the justice system experience for victims of crime in McLean County. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Normal mayor Chris Koos comments on the proposed one-year pause to an intergovernmental sales tax agreement, a new advocacy group raises awareness about victims' rights, and a trail extension in southern McLean County links McLean to Funks Grove. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As drivers prepare for a cruise down Route 66 during next year's centennial, a trail extension in southern McLean County will get bicyclists one step closer to a continuous safe path between Bloomington and St. Louis just beside the Mother Road. 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, as students pack up and head to college, international students are feeling anxious. Plus, a familiar face in the McLean County Sheriff's Office vies for the top job in next year's election. And a 1977 time capsule found at Bloomington Public Library inspired a 2025 edition. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

McLean County Sheriff's Lt. Jon Albee is looking to replace retiring sheriff Matt Lane next year. In this interview with WGLT's Eric Stock, Albee said his role as lieutenant in multiple divisions has prepared his to lead the department. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomington Public Library is now home to a time capsule which was put behind glass Friday afternoon. It will be opened in 2050. The time capsule holds several items significant to the past decade and to Bloomington-Normal. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen spoke against patient loss of Medicaid coverage during a tour of an OSF HealthCare facility in Peoria. Sorensen, D-Moline, toured the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit [NICU] at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria on Thursday. He discussed the local impact coming from cuts to Medicaid included in the GOP's massive tax cut and spending plan signed by President Trump in July. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Visual artist David Wilson is alive and exhibiting. That’s what he called a collection of collages on display now at Bloomington Public Library. Alive and Exhibiting is part of a gallery series installed on the library’s second floor, outside the renovated facility’s community rooms. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A charity run from Bloomington-Normal to Peoria turns 40 this year, supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and its affiliate clinics across the country—the first of which opened in Peoria in 1972. Founded in 1985, the St. Jude Bloomington-Normal to Peoria Run was the first of more than 30 fundraisers convening in Peoria by foot. Runners participating in St. Jude's original charity run left Memphis on Tuesday. In addition to the inaugural satellite route from Bloomington-Normal to Peoria, runners start from Canton, Chillicothe, Dunlap, LaSalle/Peru and Washington, among many others. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Those inside the renewable energy sector find themselves at a crossroads as the GOP's massive tax cut and spending bill will sunset tax credits and incentives from the industry. Those groups now face the difficult decision of how to handle environmental projects which are usually years in the making. The Illinois Environmental Council [IEC] is a nonprofit organization working to make sure environmental and climate communities are heard in public policy and legislative affairs. IEC published its own analysis of the bill, claiming it would set back environmental progress, jobs and initiatives across Illinois. The organization is worried how the law will affect the wallets and livelihoods of Illinoisans. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connect Go, the new on-demand public transportation service in McLean County, is looking to expand service to meet what managers see as growing demand. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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A senior at Normal Community High School learned about federal policymaking in a mock Senate this month in Washington, D.C. Girls Nation, a program presented by the American Legion Auxiliary, sends 102 high schoolers, two from each state, to Washington to act as senators. These students pass legislation, run for other forms of leadership and meet leaders from their state during their time in D.C. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood also called for more transparency from the Trump administration in the case of the late sex trafficker and billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. The Epstein case and stalled release of information from it has drawn bipartisan reaction against the Trump administration. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.