WGLT's Sound Ideas

Each June, the DeWitt County Museum in Clinton has stunning textiles tucked in every nook and cranny. Handmade quilts adorn century-old furniture in the stately Victorian home once owned by C.H. Moore. Quilted Keepsakes has been an annual attraction for decades, a quilt show and competition culled from the DeWitt County Museum's collection and community contributions loaned to them for the month. “In fact, a couple years ago we had one lady that was just putting the final stiches in when she loaned the quilt to us,” museum director Joey Long said. “These ladies create these amazing pieces of art.” Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, an entomologist explains why the cicadas have missed Bloomington-Normal, the DeWitt County Museum tells the story of how quilts aided the Underground Railroad, plus one man makes it his mission to turn the village of McLean into a video game mecca. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

McHistory: the ups and downs of the life of an elevator operator Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Normal Town Council hasn't yet decided how to address the loss of grocery tax revenue included in the new state budget, according to Mayor Chris Koos. That spending plan repeals the grocery tax, a move proposed by Gov. JB Pritzker. The state shared part of that money with cities and towns. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This spring and early summer was supposed to be a time to "come on feel the noize" of cicadas. Two broods of periodic cicadas — one on a 17-year cycle, the other on a 13-year period — are emerging at the same time. But McLean County residents have NOT heard that pumped up volume so much. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra (ISO) has a new maestro. Taichi Fukumura beat out three other finalists vying for the job last season, following Maestro Ken Lam's departure in 2022. He led the season opener in October and returned for the popular Holiday Pops in the Heartland. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid far more potent than morphine. Illegal fentanyl, which can be mixed with other drugs without the knowledge of the user, contributes to more than 70% of overdose deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC data from 2022 indicates over 74,000 overdose deaths could be attributed to synthetic opioids that year. The U.S. House of Representatives committee on the Chinese Communist Party [CCP] has compiled a report on how the Chinese government exacerbates the problem of illegal fentanyl in the U.S. The committee’s ranking Democratic member, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, says Chinese companies with otherwise legitimate operations are supplying the dangerous drug with tax incentives from the CCP Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, you'll hear from Normal Mayor Chris Koos about how the new state budget (including the elimination of the state's grocery tax) will impact his town. Plus, an interview with an Illinois congressman about China's role in illegal fentanyl reaching the U.S. And you'll hear from the new music director of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The presence of reproductive rights in the fall political campaign took center stage in the Senate on Wednesday, with a Democrat-backed vote to declare contraception a federal right. WGLT's Charlie Schlenker reports. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan Lancaster is a business owner, a community organizer — and soon-to-be History Maker. But to many in Bloomington-Normal, she is simply known as "Momma.” Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Numerous housing developments aimed at helping to close the gap in Bloomington-Normal’s ongoing housing shortage have failed to get off the ground in recent years, but Central Illinois property management company Christian County Development Corporation (CCDC) and Georgia-based developer Domera Development LLC are defying the odds. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Republican lawmaker who voted against Illinois' $53 billion budget says state spending has gone too far during the Pritzker administration. State Sen. Tom Bennett of Gibson City said the state's plan to add a new tax on sportsbooks and increase taxes on gaming is the wrong approach to balancing Illinois' financial ledger. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unit 5 teacher Amy Moore of Normal was killed just a week after final papers were filed in her divorce. She had multiple orders of protection. But an advocate for people trying to leave abusive situations says those orders are often violated. First thing: This is how to get help. The Countering Domestic Violence program hotline is 309-827-7070 at Mid-Central Community Action in Bloomington. Sergio Ponce, senior court advocate with the program, said there are certain riskier times for women trying to break ties with their abusers because abuse is a lot about control. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, you'll hear from a court advocate with Countering Domestic Violence, about misperceptions about partner violence and abuse, in the wake of Amy Moore's death. Plus, an interview with state Sen. Tom Bennett to recap the spring legislative session. And you'll meet another one of this year's McLean County History Makers, Jan Lancaster. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Bloomington-Normal grapples with Amy Moore's death, it's also confronting misperceptions about domestic violence and abuse. You'll hear from senior court advocate Sergio Ponce with the Countering Domestic Violence Program. That's on the next Sound Ideas, made possible in part by Bloomington-Normal Audiology. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anyone who’s ever tried to keep a child quietly confined to their seat during a theater performance knows it’s a losing proposition. Kids are squirmy. And they have questions about the world around them that must be answered. Immediately. They laugh, they cry, they announce their boredom or immediate need for the restroom. All without any of the filter that ego imposes on the id. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An online fundraising campaign has already brought in more than $270,000 for the three sons of slain Unit 5 teacher Amy Moore — in less than three days. Moore, 48, was fatally shot by her ex-husband, who then killed himself, last week at her Normal home, authorities said. That left their three sons — ages 12, 11 and 7 — parentless. A GoFundMe fundraiser launched Friday on their behalf has raised $270,610 as of midday Sunday, from 2,300 donations, toward a goal that's already been increased to $400,000. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a teacher such as Amy Moore dies a violent death, the impact on a community is larger than for most other deaths. Current and former students and their families, and the colleagues of the teacher grieve in addition to the immediate family. The Unit 5 school district is trying to address that broader trauma following Moore's killing by her ex-husband last week, shortly after the filing of final divorce papers. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the SpongeBob Musical, a typical cast has 30 to 35 actors, but in The Penguin Project of McLean County’s production, that number is doubled — one of many modifications made so youth and young adults with special needs are center stage in every role. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The annual Illinois Game Con is Saturday at the Interstate Center—a gamer’s paradise that promises to be bigger and better than ever. The video game and card collectors’ convention has grown to become the largest in Illinois, drawing more than 2,000 people last year. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.