WGLT's Sound Ideas

Ryan Pedon was in college when the Illinois State men’s basketball team last won the Missouri Valley Conference. The ISU head coach has gone from playing in Division III [Wooster] to coaching in the Big Ten [two years as an assistant coach at Illinois and five years at Ohio State] to leading a mid-major program that's hoping this is finally the year. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump administration trade and regulatory policy initially hurt electric vehicle maker Rivian. Changes in the administration stance may now help some. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, tariffs aren't hitting Rivian as hard as they were, plus a wide-ranging interview with ISU men's basketball coach Ryan Pedon. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State Rep. Sharon Chung helped defeat a bill that would have enabled the state to regulate homeowners insurance rates. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a time where the number of mental health professionals is going down and patient demand is going up, AI might be where people turn when they need professional mental health assistance. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The head of electric vehicle maker Rivian says the future is not just EVs, it’s artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles. And it’s coming sooner than you might think. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Rivian is ready to dive into A-I to make self-driving vehicles, mental health experts worry A-I therapy may only have short term benefits and a Bloomington state lawmaker wants the governor to back off efforts to regulate insurance rates. 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.

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.