WGLT's Sound Ideas

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Illinois Symphony opened its 2025-26 season last month with a pops concert dedicated to music from Star Wars, with guest conductor Vince Lee at the podium. Music director Taichi Fukumura leads the first concert of his second year in Bloomington-Normal on Saturday, Nov. 8, with a trio of masterworks by Beethoven, Béla Bartók and Miklós Rózsa. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, the town of Normal pushes through tax increases for a long-awaited Uptown underpass in a matter of days after a decade of fits and starts, and the Illinois Symphony's music director returns to the podium for the first time this season with Hero's Journey. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new adaptive playground at Stevenson Elementary School opened Monday, giving the surrounding community a chance to celebrate and remember. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The St. Vincent De Paul food pantry has seen more and more families come to its doors since the government shutdown began last month, putting SNAP benefits in jeopardy. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomington Township plans to offer financial relief to SNAP recipients whose benefits are being suspended or reduced during the federal government shutdown. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, as Normal consider two taxes increases to pay for an uptown Underpass, two Uptown business owners have a problem with the plan and how it's been rolled out, a Bloomington food pantry sees longer lines as SNAP benefits are cut during the government shutdown, Bloomington Township looks to offer emergency relief to those who lost food assistance, and a Bloomington grade school dedicates a new inclusive playground in honor of a former student who died in a car crash last year. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During a visit to WGLT ahead of its Radio Faces fundraiser on Thursday, NPR CEO Katherine Maher expressed optimism about public media's future but cautioned there are many challenges ahead. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fans of the cult classic independent film The Room have the chance to say, “Oh, hi Mark” to Mark, played by actor Greg Sestero, at Normal Theater on Nov. 8. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, a conversation with NPR CEO Katherine Maher plus a cult-classic comes to Normal next weekend as part of a double-feature. 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.

New report card data released Thursday show more Bloomington-Normal public schools are flagged for certain underperforming student groups and fewer schools are in the Top 10% statewide, even as local students joined their statewide peers in showing academic gains. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve tried to buy a home recently in Bloomington-Normal, you already know that it’s a sellers’ market. But there are signs that demand from buyers is softening – even as prices keep climbing. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To get the decade-old Uptown underpass project over the finish line in Normal will require increases in food and beverage and hotel-motel taxes. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, the long-awaited Uptown Normal underpass now won't happen unless the town comes up with more money, through tax hikes, economic jitters and a housing shortage soften the market in Bloomington-Normal, and the new school report card shows improvements in Unit 5 and District 87. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Surace, an AI pioneer and futurist entrepreneur, will host a talk on how to 'Win with AI Today: Practical Tips for Work, School, and Home' as part of ISU's presidential speaker series at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the Brown Ballroom of Bone Student Center. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A manager at a McDonald’s in Normal was recognized by the company as being in the top 1% of all its restaurant managers worldwide. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Illinois State men's basketball team prepares for one of its most anticipated seasons in years, head coach Ryan Pedon says he's frustrated that schools like ISU have a tough time getting schools from major conferences to play them. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What remains of Reditus Labs will pay out $5.5 million to settle a lawsuit sparked by a whistleblower who was one of the first to spot fraud inside the now-defunct Central Illinois COVID testing giant. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, a former employee at Reditus Labs blows the whistle and lands a multi-million dollar settlement against the now-defunct COIVD testing company, an AI pioneer has suggestions for students and faculty at ISU on how to use large language models and other AI, ISU men's basketball coach Ryan Pedon wants to play more power conference schools but can't find takers and Tynessia Edmonds is recognized as one of the top leaders at McDonalds. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.