WGLT's Sound Ideas - Full Episodes

Governor JB Pritzker says there's a reason the state borrowed 97,000 vaccine doses from a federal program to immunize people in long term care facilities. He says the federal estimate of needed doses includes full facility capacity and there are really a lot of empty beds. Pritzker says if the state is wrong about the extra, they can pay back the loan with other doses. Plus, District 87 Superintendent Barry Reilly reflects on his career as he ramps down to retirement. Finally, hear how the

A lot of people tried to use a sign-up system for McLean County vaccine clinics; it crashed. The Health Department has switched programs; hear more about that. Plus, all the worlds a stage and all the men and women merely players.The Illinois Shakespeare Festival tells you about the exits and entrances for this season. All that and the day's news.

Famed sportswriter Dave Kindred has a new book out, but it's not about sports, its about addiction and kids in pain, and it's personal, about Kindred's grandson. Plus, College Presidents and Chancellors say the governor should make their faculty and staff a higher priority for vaccination. There's a nationwide shortage caused by the pandemic. No, not toilet paper, or hand sanitizer. It's beer cans. Bloomington-Normal craft brewers are affected. Finally, hear from the first graduates of a YWCA

The Normal Theater is reopening and it's first film is about a pandemic, an airborne form of Alzheimer's Disease. Theater Manager Adam Fox talks about the film Little Fish and its appropriate, yet coincidental connection to the times we live in. Plus, reopening restaurants in Bloomington-Normal are having a tough time getting help. A lot of the professional class of restaurant workers; managers, chefs, sous chefs and so on, have moved on - or out -of town. The economy may not look the same once

Bloomington-Normal musician Joe Borbely says creating a new song called "White Tornado" was a trip. Borbely says the debut album for the Progressive Spacerock quintet CAPS LOCK was almost literally a life-saver. Plus, the pandemic did not slow 2020 home sales in the Bloomington-Normal area. The Town of Normal has fined a COVID scofflaw restaurant, given out hundreds of thousands of dollars in pandemic housing assistance, and made some painful preliminary budget choices. Finally, a chat with

As Unit 5 prepares to return to all in person instruction, some parents are balking. Hear pushback on Unit 5's position that regular classes can be safe. Plus, vaccine frustration, or even vaccine envy is a thing. Carefully curating your Zoom room is important. Spiff up your at home professional presentation. Finally, listen to a report on a savanna restoration project in the heart of Bloomington-Normal.

Illinois High School Association Executive Director Craig Anderson says wearing masks in high intensity sports does prevent Coronavirus infections. High school basketball is back on in Illinois. Plus, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth says restoring the renewable fuel standard is very important for farmers as well as the environment. Learn about art that promotes human rights as part of a Bloomington Normal exhibit. Grieving families of the dozens of people who died of COVID at the Lasalle Veterans

The state's Restore, Reinvest, and Renew grant, or R-3 allows new programs to come to Bloomington Junior High and some elementary schools. Project Oz Director Lisa Thompson says they have plans for the marijuana tax money award. So does Prairie State Legal Services, which wants to overcome mistrust of the legal system among African Americans that can hinder help for lower income people for civil matters. One of the goals in legalizing marijuana in the state was to promote minority ownership of

It may help vaccine-hesitant African Americans to hear about the vaccine from someone who is Black. Reverend Brigitte Black of Wayman A-M-E Church in Bloomington is holding a vaccine town hall. Plus, Connect Transit has three potential downtown Bloomington locations for a new bus transfer center; the decision looms. ISU students have hope and anxiety about the vaccine and about waiting a long time for it. Jessica McKnight took over the McLean County Health Department exactly one year ago; it has

Underrepresented college students often have more trouble finishing. One counterintuitive answer is to start them on college work in high school. Heartland Community College has a new dual credit aid program. A data technology famous for giving rise to Bitcoin is the latest Insurance Industry adoption at State Farm. Hear more on blockchain and subrogation. Meet the new State Senator for parts of Bloomington Normal, and the Mayor of Bloomington drops by.