WGLT's Sound Ideas

Bloomington saw a slight increase in crime over 2025, but the officials numbers still tell a story of some improvements, according to the department’s head. Bloomington Police Chief Jamal Simington said gun-related crimes decreased from 2024. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A first-of-its-kind art exhibition on display at the Joe McCauley Gallery features works created by student veterans at Heartland Community College. The show is a culmination of the inaugural CreatiVets program at Heartland. Veterans ranging in age from their 20s to their 90s created mixed media works including painting, pottery and collage. The centerpiece of the CreatiVets show is a memorial to participant Nancy Benedict of Pontiac. Benedict died unexpectedly in a car crash last September. She served in the Marine Corps from 1975-1978, stationed in southern California. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unit 5 may soon consider whether closing Carlock Elementary would be beneficial to the school district's efforts to correct enrollment imbalances. The potential closure of the school in northwest McLean County has been a recurring theme in preliminary meetings of an enrollment study, though a final recommendation has not yet been made. Carlock families have been showing up by the dozen to school board meeting each month to urge Unit 5 not close their school. K-12 correspondent Braden Fogerson has more on why Carlock residents say their school is worth keeping. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomington Fire Department [BFD] is making strides in improving internal and external goals for hiring new staff this year. The department has seen recruitment numbers exceed expectations while also getting approval for two full-time community health navigators. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Winter Olympics are officially underway in Milan. A number of the members of Team USA come from right here in Illinois — including four members of the U.S. Olympic women’s hockey team. WBEZ's Noah Jennings reports. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To reduce water use in an ongoing severe drought, the City of Bloomington has asked residents to conserve water by a goal of 10%. Water shortages are not unheard of for the city. Even at its start, water was scarce in Bloomington. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Illinois lawmakers say they have concerns with increasing higher education funding because of a tight budget. The Illinois Board of Higher Education is requesting a nearly 5% increase in its budget for public colleges and universities and a change to flexible funding informed by specific institutional factors, referred to as "evidence-based." Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Meet the Newsroom series pulls back the curtain to introduce you to the team that makes WGLT possible. The series continues with digital content director Emily Bollinger. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Illinois State University's Queer Coalition kicks off a month-long film series this week at the Normal Theater. Fired Up: The American AIDS Crisis on Film captures the early days of the AIDS crisis, with community leaders and scholars introducing each film—those who lived through and cared for others during the height of the epidemic. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A cancer survivor from Springfield is urging Black women in Illinois to share their experiences with health care. Erica Austin earned her Ph.D. from Illinois State University and works in the medical field. She is the Illinois ambassador for "VOICES of Black Women," a nationwide research study aimed at closing health gaps among Black women, including disproportional cancer mortality rates. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many major medical and health care organizations have decided to ignore new guidance from the federal government related to the childhood vaccination schedule. President Donald Trump and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently reduced the number of immunizations routinely recommended for all children from 17 to 11. Last September, Republican U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood voiced concerns about some of the statements coming out of Kennedy's department. But LaHood is refusing to break entirely with the Trump administration on the vaccine question — while acknowledging he now has more than just concerns. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Illinois Senate Republicans have introduced a series of bills to increase penalties for repeat offenders of orders of protection, no stalking orders and civil no contact orders. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Republican Congressman for Central Illinois said he thinks President Trump's immigration policy has largely been a success. Darin LaHood, whose district includes portions of Bloomington and Normal, said the administration has secured the southern border and reduced illegal crossings by 98%. He said cooperation from the Mexican government has also improved. LaHood also praised the administration priority of arresting criminals. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While restrictions on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program, or SNAP, begin and winter weather continues, one food pantry in north Normal is bolstering its efforts to combat food insecurity. Unity Cupboard is a food pantry and service of the University of Illinois Extension in Bloomington-Normal. It’s open every Thursday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Unity Community Center on Orlando Avenue. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A program that works to reduce the caseloads at Bloomington-Normal emergency rooms and the McLean County jail has seen significant growth in the last two years. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 6,000 people have died in nationwide protests in Iran against the country’s regime and continued economic uncertainty, according to NPR. Some experts in Iran believe the death toll is as high as 30,000. Elahe Javadi is an associate professor of information systems at Illinois State University. Close to 100 members of her immediate and extended family still live in her hometown, Hamedan. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chris Greene Quartet makes its Bloomington-Normal debut next weekend, headlining an evening at Jazz UpFront. Greene is a saxophonist and band leader from the northern Chicago suburb of Evanston. The quartet is currently touring with Greene's 2024 album Conversance. The Feb. 13 stop in Bloomington-Normal is paired with a visit to the Krannert Center in Urbana the day before. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An upcoming strategic planning retreat for the Normal Town Council will help the town focus on issues for the next several years, and will include data from focus groups facilitated by a group at Northern Illinois University. Mayor Chris Koos said one idea that has come up periodically over the last couple of decades is back again. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chestnut Health Systems is launching a new research study aimed at supporting young adults who struggle with substance use, along with their families. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomington-Normal home sales declined last year, though there are a couple positive signs. The Mid-Illinois Realtors Association said home sales were down 5.9% in 2025. Berkshire-Hathaway Home Services Managing Broker Ed Neaves said there is still a supply bottleneck. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.