WGLT's Sound Ideas - Full Episodes

The state of Illinois has a budget, but it is not balanced. The unfunded pension obligation is now at $130 billion and rising. There are challenges ahead for everyone and many social and human service agencies are already stretched to the breaking point after the last decade of underfunding and the last two years of fiscal uncertainty from the budget standoff. Listen to a GLT Forum with leaders of local government, education, and human service organizations talking about the permanent damage

A Bloomington-Normal based bicyclist recently tried the longest and most difficult bike ride in the world. Thursday Gervais quit after only a few stages in the race across Russia, but will stay on the bike. Hear how she thinks the race must change to continue and have credibility. Discover how new imaging can lead to an earlier Alzheimer’s diagnosis. GLT correspondent Colleen Reynolds reports on the study underway at Fort Jesse Imaging. And a blues band is reuniting. The Blue Aces performed

The Sister Cities program has been a political football in Bloomington of late. But, Committee Chair Darren Sampson says it still has real value for twin cities culture.From post war citizen diplomacy to today, Ryan Denham has more on the sister cities effort. There’s a new scan available in the twin cities to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. Colleen Reynolds has that story. And there's a teacher shortage in Illinois and across the nation. GLT's Charlie Schlenker talks with the people trying

There's a lot of interest in donating human milk in McLean County. Tammy Brooks from the McLean County Health Department oversees the milk bank program that has thousands of ounces in storage. GLT's Ryan Denham talks with donors about the milk bank. You'd recognize the music of Verlon Thomson. His songs have been recorded by the biggest in the music industry. Find out why an ISU professor is KickStarter Fundraising Mode to raise money for a documentary about the singer-songwriter and American

The City of Bloomington could look at its own asphalt plant. The why or why not in part two of Colleen Reynolds’ interview on the street resurfacing program. Ryan Denham looks at Bruegala and a new entry into the Bloomington Normal Craft Brewing Scene. Plus, Jon Norton talks with Country Bluegrass Legend Sam Bush.

Catch up with Senators Duckworth and Durbin. During the August Congressional Recess, Illinois elected representatives are buzzing around the state. Charlie Schlenker has the interviews with reaction to the latest Trump administration controversy, plus questions about health care and agriculture. GLT’s Ryan Denham catches up with McLean County Trump supporters we first heard from during the election season. Find out if their support is decreasing. And get an update on Bloomington’s roads and

There are other reasons to like brick streets than historical authenticity or neighborhood environment. Economics are a factor too. A master plan for brick streets in Bloomingtin, revised and reconsidered. Plus. Furor in McLean County over GOP Chairman Chuck Erickson's support of Donald Trump's much criticized comments about the killing and violence in Charlottesville, VA.

Find out if the opening of the new Portillos is a big deal. It is online and in social media. Ryan Denham talks with Nate Carpenter from ISU's Social Media Analytics Command Center. Portillos opens today. Find out if a 10 th century German emperor has any resonance today. Charlie Schlenker talks with ISU history professor and author of a new biography of Fredrick Barbarossa. And Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner is in the studio to talk about a trip to Japan, the Downtown Bloomington Association,

Get tips on preventing West Nile Virus. It’s rare, but for some people it’s worth the trouble to avoid the mosquito bite. Contracting the virus can be deadly according Angie Crawford with the McLean County Health Department. You’ll also hear how to deal with preventing carriers of the Zika virus during an edition of Grow. Hear a discussion about the latest on the school funding bill from the Illinois Public Radio politics roundtable. And there’s a preview of the Front Street Music Fest.

A local historic Rt. 66 landmark has found new life through the efforts of the Town of Normal and a well-known Rt. 66 scholar. Terri Ryburn hopes the restored Sprague Super Service station will allow her to facilitate tourism on The Mother Road. The opening of the restored landmark is this weekend. The effort to build on the renaissance of Rt. 66 tourism in central Illinois, plus the city of Peoria faces a discrimination lawsuit over its nuisance ordinance, and a political spat in McLean County