The Leadoff

WGLT's The Leadoff is everything you need to know for Tuesday, May 17, 2022. At a time when democracy feels very much at risk, an Illinois political scientist says youth civic engagement is a bright spot. Former Chicago alderman and political science professor at the University of Illinois Chicago Dick Simpson says as the January 6th insurrection demonstrated, democracy isn't in great shape. But he says there's hope to restore it... if we're willing to put in the work. Plus, there's a new graduation requirement for Illinois State University students: at least one course focused on inclusion, diversity and equity in the U.S.

WGLT's The Leadoff is everything you need to know for Monday, May 16, 2022. Enrollment deposits for incoming first year students are so robust that Illinois State University is in danger of running out of space. Plus, a look at the primary race for a seat on the McLean County Board where three Democrats are vying for two spots on the November ballot.

WGLT's the Leadoff is everything you need to know for Friday, May 13, 2022. Luck — good or bad — will be the theme of the tonight's Next to Normal Story Slam, the first since the storytelling event went on hiatus two years ago. Plus, Unit 5 is gearing up for another phase of public input on its financial future.

WGLT's the Leadoff is everything you need to know for Thursday, May 12, 2022. Pontiac residents and leaders are worried after the state corrections department moved 171 medium security inmates from the Pontiac Correctional Center to other prisons early this year — the fear is the rest of the prison build in the 1870s will shut down too. Plus, a study of people sent to the McLean County Juvenile Detention Center over a decade finds the more times they were booked into the juvie jail the more likely it was they would be booked into the adult jail later. But its complicated.

WGLT's the Leadoff is everything you need to know for Wednesday, May 11, 2022. In the wake of two shots-fired reports in two days, Sarah Nardi reports on a Bloomington Police Department annual report on gun violence. Plus, former Congressman Tim Johnson has died at the age of 75. Charlie Schlenker has more about the life of a quirky, sometimes caustic, and always energetic public servant.

WGLT's the Leadoff is everything you need to know for Tuesday, May 10, 2022. New analysis from the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council shows not only that the housing shortage is significant, but it's also grown since the last study done five years ago. Plus, American Red Cross workers speaking in Peoria say the conditions under which they're working are contributing to a nationwide blood shortage.

WGLT's the Leadoff is everything you need to know for Monday, May 9, 2022. The Bloomington City Council meets tonight at 6. The council will vote on a potential replacement for former council member Jamie Mathy. Grant Walch is the proposed replacement. Illinois State University plans to open its new College of Engineering in the fall of 20-25. The university has agreed to spend 3 million dollars to redesign two buildings to house the college in the short term. Plus, ISU students will be paying more in tuition and room and board.

WGLT's the Leadoff is everything you need to know for Friday, May 6. Charlie Schlenkerreports on the local impact that overturning Roe v. Wade could have for Illinois. Plus, the athletics director at Illinois State says changes to name image and likeness rules for student athletes are overdue.

WGLT's the Leadoff is everything you need to know for Thursday, May 5. A judge decided Wednesday to strike down a ruling from the McLean County Electoral Board and remove 5 Republican County Board Candidates from the June primary ballot. Plus, Colene Hoose Elementary School broke ground Wednesday morning on the new “world class” playground designed by Danish architect. The new playground will teach kids to care about the environment in the long-term.

WGLT's the Leadoff is everything you need to know for Wednesday, May 5. Last night, six Democrats vying for a shot at the open 17th Congressional District seat talked everything from infrastructure to climate change to abortion access. Plus, a rally in Bloomington yesterday for support of access to abortion followed the leak of a Supreme Court draft opinion that suggests Roe v. Wade could be overturned.