WGLT's Sound Ideas - Full Episodes

Some of the new jobs in Bloomington Normal have come at the expense of other companies - and some employers simply can't find the workers they need. A Bloomington Normal labor management expert says the Great Resignation also plays a part in the net job loss in the twin cities last year. The U.S. Attorney for the central district of Illinois says only a small number of people are responsible for most gun violence...If not, there's always incarceration. And a Bloomington woman who got a kidney transplant tells African Americans during Black History month....Blacks are three times as likely as others to have kidney disease.

Schools are so short of substitute teachers they're now taking college students. It serves the colleges and the K-12 districts. And as central Illinois braces for a mid-week winter storm, learn about the surprisingly complex job of operating snow ploughs. Adding the U of I at Chicago to the Missouri Valley conference is about more than sports...And there are broadcast rights. Plus, despite pressures on the restaurant industry...high costs, labor shortages, you name it, it was a pretty good year for twin cities eateries.

The next Supreme Court justice nomination has implications far beyond court decisions. An Illinois State University Scholar says the appointment of a Black woman will help the court better reflect the nation. Plus, learn about an LGBTQ plus tabletop game night just ahead on WGLT's Sound Ideas. A lot of areas served by the Peace Corps are undergoing vast sociological, political and economic changes, but Bloomington Normal advocates say the service organization remains vital and relevant. And hear about the experimental new classical music of the Red Note Music Fest in Normal.

Bloomington Police say if new gun conversion kits spread, two or three round shots-fired incidents could become gun battles of ninety rounds in five seconds. And a candidate for State Treasurer says he wants to combine the office with state Comptroller. The significance of in-school COVID testing really depends on the district. But other mileage varies as school districts decide how best to reduce quarantine times after direct contacts with COVID positive people. And test supplies might become scarce. There's such a big shortage of substitute teachers school districts even want to use kids from Colleges like ISU as subs. And hear the music of Great Value Jesus.

Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason says he's excited about creating incentives to rehab houses. Gleason says some areas of town fit perfectly with people who want to live near the city core and who don't want to live in a three hundred thousand dollar house. The Illinois Stewardship Alliance dreams of a day Illinois can feed itself...Right now Illinois imports more than 90-percent of its food. And...is Normal still in the running for that new Samsung battery plant? Big changes in the EV industry complicate the answer.

Suburban sprawl is very expensive to cities and towns. It's far more cost effective to have cities go up instead of out. Bloomington wants to offer incentives for infill and rebuilding instead of more of the same old edge-of-town subdivisions. Three Afghani men evacuated when that country fell to the Taliban are relocating to Bloomington...Hear about the Afghan Welcome Home Project of Central Illinois. And there's a new resource guide for those with autism in Bloomington Normal and those who want to learn about the condition.

On today's episode, you'll hear from a charge nurse in the ICU at Carle BroMenn Medical Center about what this moment of COVID has been like for her and her peers. Also, an interview with Normal City Manager Pam Reece. And a conversation about what happens to all the stuff we leave behind ... and who'd want to buy it.

On today's episode, a Carle Health pediatrician talks about how omicron is impacting children — and what it's important to get them vaccinated. Also, you'll hear interviews with Unit 5 superintendent Kristen Weikle and Normal City Manager Pam Reece.

On today's episode, Eric Stock reports on the experiences of two renters from Normal who are going through the eviction process. Plus, Lyndsay Jones interviews someone who knows a lot about the history of public health crises in McLean County. Lauren Warnecke has a new episode of Datebook. And an interview with the CEO of Pekin-based Reditus Labs.

On today's episode, Sarah Nardi reports on the unique connection between healthcare worker and the people they care for, during this COVID surge. Lyndsay Jones reports on plans to add a public safety department at Heartland Community College. Student reporter Jordan Mead interviews an ISU professor about her new book tracking COVID's impact on the college experience. And Jon Norton previews a Friday show at the Castle Theatre.