WGLT's Sound Ideas - Full Episodes

Hear about Tina Sparkle's first album in nine years. Jon Norton talks with the Central Illinois trio about the album Southern Hospitality. Plus, State Farm just improved its benefits package to try to keep employees from moving to those other places: Geico, Progressive, those folks. Ryan Denham looks at the competition for talent in the insurance game. A Eureka College scholar studies conservative and progressive belief tendencies on conspiracy theories. And central Illinois restaurants are

30 year old Danielle Kater died from Coronavirus complications. She is the youngest McLean County pandemic death. She had no underlying health conditions. In an extended interview, Dana Vollmer talks with Kater's parents and husband about their loved one and the message they want to send; take the virus seriously.

Bloomington High School Junior Dawson Marshall says the community wide virtual theater festival he's working on is just as cool as non pandemic theater. All the world is indeed a stage. Plus, a Republican lawmaker says Governor JB Pritzker's high handed handling of the pandemic makes him vulnerable in two years. And central Illinois school districts are pulling back from in person classes as community COVID cases continue to rise.

Today on WGLT's Sound Ideas: The Bloomington-Normal community mourns the loss of Barb Adkins, a former deputy city manager. Eric Stock checks in with the VA's outpatient clinic in Bloomington as it navigates COVID-19. And an Illinois State University weighs in on masks and youth sports.

It's quarantine opera. Producers send recorded music to the singers who stage, act, and perform in their homes and send the footage in to combine with other singers. MIO Opera offers YouTube Donizetti with emerging central Illinois artists. Plus, stop feeling guilty about putting all the food packaging and waste food into the landfill. You can do something about it with a new Bloomington Normal composting service. And a social worker is going back to school so she teach others who want to follow

As Coronavirus mitigation efforts hit Bloomington Normal the Chamber of Commerce says it's time to support struggling restaurants. Chamber of Commerce board chair Nate Hinch reacts to a halt of indoor food service by urging people to bundle up and eat outdoors. Plus, if music soothes the heartache of pandemic isolation, what's on your turntable? Jon Norton has more. In spite of adverse weather conditions in the spring and late summer McLean County farmers say the crop was alright, not fantastic,

Restaurant owners in Mclean County are not happy with Governor JB Pritzker's mitigation order limiting service. There's a rising protest. Plus, hear a report on why Democratic Congressional Candidate Betsy Dirksen Londrigen lost bigger than last time out against Representative Rodney Davis. The head of the McLean County Republican Party offers her take on turnout and Trump. And Political scientist Lane Crothers notes a lot of people underestimated the passion of Republican voters in this cycle.

It's the job of law enforcement to plan for scenarios after the election that include unrest. Eric Stock has a report. A family from LeRoy says the trope that young people don't get hurt by the Coronavirus is tragically wrong. Plus, the Mayor of Normal says the latest Covid mitigation efforts hurt bars and restaurants disproportionately AND too much. And the new diversity officer for the city of Bloomington says he wants to remove systemic inequities in city government.

It's the two sentence horror story competition. We'll scare you like it's the year 2020. Plus Eric Stock tells you about the fight to control the McLean County Board. A public policy journalist examines the progressive income tax proposal for the state of Illinois. And Laura Kennedy goes meta meta on the next Community Players Theater production.

Here's a tale of two neighbors with very different political ideas. Yet Trump-supporter Brian Knuth and neighbor Wendy Gochenaur say they actually get along very well. Plus, a report on Black Mental health. A disproportionate hit from the pandemic, police killing after police killing, and racist language from the far right all take a toll. And hear the candidates for State Representative in the 88th District. Keith Sommer, Karla Bailey Smith, and Ken Allison take part in a WGLT forum.