WGLT's Sound Ideas

Heartland Community College honored military veterans during a community celebration on Monday, marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps the day before Veterans Day. The keynote speaker was retired Maj. Gen. John L. Borling of the U.S. Air Force. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bloomington City Council has approved spending on water treatment plant upgrades and activated carbon treatments to improve the taste of the water already flowing from Lakes Evergreen and Bloomington. In this interview with WGLT's Charlie Schlenker, Mayor Dan Brady talks about what needs to happen at the treatment plant and other water issues. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The LeRoy school district now has enhanced, data-rich school maps, allowing first responders to more quickly respond to emergencies. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Counselors and other addiction advocates from across Illinois gathered in Normal on Thursday to explore ways to reduce the harms caused by gambling. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Type 07 is the basic federal license required for individuals or businesses to manufacture firearms in the United States. What happens when these licenses are given to people that don’t need them? Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, a new study claims many people in Illinois holding a federal gun manufacturing license are NOT actually making any guns, counselors come to Normal try to stop gambling before it starts with children, a McLean County school becomes the first to add GIS mapping to aid first responders, and a reflection on the passing of Fr. Doug Hennessy. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CreatiVets and Heartland Community College host veteran-focused art classes that count for class credit and help veterans heal. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mayor of Normal is answering criticism of the town council decision's to move ahead with the Uptown underpass project despite steep price increases and a larger town share of the $40.3 million cost. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ideal of bipartisanship has dwindled in Congress and in Washington over several decades. The Dirksen Congressional Center in Pekin is holding an event to highlight the importance of that quality in helping government work well. That's at 4 p.m. Thursday at Bradley University’s Alumni Center. Panelists are former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, former U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, former Rep. Bob Dold, and Ron Elving, NPR's senior editor and correspondent on the Washington desk. Elving said in a WGLT interview that after four decades in Washington watching the sausage being made, the ideal of bipartisanship is scarcely even honored in the breech. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The state's chief arts and humanities councils gathered cultural leaders from across Illinois last week to discuss successes and challenges in an evolving landscape for the sector. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, leaders of arts organizations in Bloomington-Normal look for collaboration and inspiration during a time of funding uncertainty, a longtime political watcher from NPR has a theory why lawmakers don't get along anymore and the city of Bloomington has short and long-term concerns about its water supply. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Derek Beach, Jon Bonar and a few others were chatting at the rink Sunday morning before hockey practice when a new guy showed up. The new player was from Florida, looking for a hockey home after moving to Illinois. They pointed him to the locker room. He’d found it. Beach, Bonar and the rest of the Central Illinois Veteran Warriors hockey team take pride in creating a welcoming environment for all comers, including those Bloomington-Normal. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Veterans returning home from active duty have a variety of resources to turn to for support while reentering civilian life. Until the 1970s, those who fought overseas frequently found what they needed at their local VFW post. Local chapters of the nationwide fraternal organization have struggled in recent decades, but Bloomington’s Post 454 is committed to meeting the moment and supporting veterans of all generations. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A unique problem-solving court is celebrating the graduation of an Army veteran from Chatsworth. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, a Veterans Day special that details various supports Bloomington-Normal offers for veterans' mental health, creativity and legal affairs. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dogs have been called “man’s best friend” for thousands of years, though their exact origins as companions are still up for debate. From guarding early camps to helping with hunting, dogs have served as loyal partners to humans. Today, they continue to support people by assisting those with disabilities, detecting explosives, providing protection and offering comfort to individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]. Training dogs for those tasks is no easy feat, but Devildog Canine in Normal is up for the challenge. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent suspension of federally funded food assistance for needy Americans as well as upcoming rule changes in Medicaid are presenting difficult challenges for state policymakers. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Food banks across central Illinois are feeling the strain following the federal government shutdown that has put food assistance in jeopardy. Lines at food pantries began growing longer soon after the shutdown began last month. Eric Hodel is CEO of Midwest Food Bank that has warehouses in Normal and Peoria. Hodel offers an example that he said has become typical among the food pantries the nonprofit serves. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, food pantries wait for an end to the government shutdown that's put SNAP benefits in limbo, a state lawmaker discusses how the federal government shutdown is impacting state operations, a prisoner of war in Vietnam urges fellow vets not to look back and to keep looking for ways to serve, plus man's best friend is serving veterans in McLean County through protection and therapy. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As downtown Bloomington’s art galleries prepare for a milestone Art Walk, one of the event’s founders unveils an exhibition that is both new, and decades in the making. Angel Ambrose first debuted Reckoning Home this summer at Foster Gallery, a division of First United Methodist Church of Peoria. A version of the exhibition is on view for a month in the Monroe Building, where Ambrose has had her studio for more than two decades. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.