WGLT's Sound Ideas

After a years-long fight to save the old water tower in McLean, work is now being done on the Depression-era relic that a community group hopes will help fuel a renaissance in the village of about 700 residents. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomington-Normal needs more affordable housing. What if we told you there was a way to create a bunch of unsubsidized housing at about half the cost of a traditional single-family home? That solution is manufactured homes, aka mobile homes. But that option is rarely discussed as policymakers and developers try to address a housing shortage that’s driven up rents and home prices across Bloomington-Normal. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, the last in WGLT's series on a mobile home operator's business practices, McLean County's new mental health plan more help for young adults and a McLean County village turns back time to boost traffic for the Route 66 centennial. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home Sweet Home Ministries [HSHM] is getting ready to fill Bloomington’s first non-congregate shelter village, The Bridge, with residents in a few months. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twin City mobile home park owner Oak Wood is a part of a larger trend of manufactured home (aka mobile home) communities being taken over by private equity. As individual owners have sold off this part of their portfolios, advocates for affordable housing have risen to meet the need. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A debate is emerging about the optimum size of the Town of Normal Fire Department and the positioning of fire stations. This comes with a study issued by the union representing firefighters. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, firefighters in Normal say the town's plans to close its College Avenue station will leave an older population at greater risk due to longer emergency response times, the third in WGLT's series on a mobile home operator's business practices and how its Bloomington-Normal tenants can advocate for themselves, plus Bloomington's shelter village details its rules and who can stay there. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Huge compensation agreements for the CEOs of Rivian and Tesla may not be excessive even though they range from several billion to a trillion dollars. Ajay Samant, dean of Illinois State University's College of Business, said the recent $4.6 billion contract for Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has not raised too many eyebrows. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Students and staff at Bloomington High School agree the new cell phone policy is limiting distractions in the classroom. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amanda Hodel and Kelly Abrahamson of Bloomington are neighbors. They both have dogs. They both struggle to make ends meet. And they’re both trapped. They can’t afford to move. And they can’t afford to stay. This is life for many when private equity buys the land out from under you. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, the second of WGLT's four-part series on mobile home operator Oak Wood business practices in Bloomington-Normal, Bloomington High School students are getting used to a cell phone ban at school and an ISU scholar says CEOs are making a lot more now, but a lot more is asked of them. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Illinois State University alum who worked in financial management at USAID says he did not see waste, fraud and abuse at the now-defunct agency. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, mobile homes [aka manufactured homes] were one of the most affordable housing options in Bloomington-Normal, especially for those with low or fixed incomes. Oak Wood’s arrival in the market has changed that. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, the first of WGLT's four-part series on mobile home operator Oak Wood business practices in Bloomington-Normal, an ISU alum who lost his job at US AID felt so much of his and the agency's work was misrepresented, and a union leader is pushing for a millionaires tax to bolster funding for education in Illinois. 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.

Miami-based playwright Ariel Cipolla wrote So You Think You Can Stay in 2021, an immersive play gamifying the immigration system as a reality show in which the prize is U.S. citizenship. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Salvation Army of McLean County is asking for substantially more money during this year's Red Kettle campaign. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, McLean County is looking for more water source protections after officials say state carbon capture laws don't go far enough, the Salvation Army of McLean County is asking for a lot money for its red kettle campaign this year, and a play coming to the Normal Theater uses a game show to humanize immigration. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.