WGLT's Sound Ideas - Full Episodes

The culture wars may never end, though the rolling boil right now might occasionally reduce to a simmer. A central Illinois historian says the takeaway is that the fights over masks and what is taught in schools hide real class divisions that are getting worse. McLean County is looking at endless COVID even as the winter numbers spike. The health department says Bloomington Normal should get used to testing and tracing long term. And the Mayor of Normal stops by to talk about pandemic relief money and the surge in COVID cases.

The McLean County Nursing Home has lost $3.5 million in three years in spite of efforts to narrow the gap and has had three directors in that time. Yet, the new head of the nursing home is optimistic things can turn around. A prominent lawyer involved in high profile race and police cases is now part of the effort by the family of ISU graduate students Jelani Day to find out what happened to him. And the Economic Development Council thinks the BN Advantage marketing campaign needs a reboot. Hear how to choose which of the many faces of Bloomington Normal will emerge as THE brand.

The new director of the Bloomington Election Commission says those who want to combine the commission with the county clerk should do a study to prove cost savings and address the reasons the commission was created in the first place to remove partisanship from the process. The President of Eureka College says the pandemic has been a forcing mechanism for higher education change already under way. Bloomington Normal has had many distinguished writers and poets over the decades. Meet Harold Sinclair in the next episode of our series McHistory. And a new book from scholars at ISU looks at how school dress codes sexualize young girls.

It's the fifth anniversary of Rivian in Bloomington Normal. From a vacant Mitsubishi plant headed for scrap Rivian has built a $3 billion modern auto plant making trucks, SUV's and cargo delivery vans for the future electric vehicle marketplace. Six years ago Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe came to town and saw something special, a forward looking community. Rivian and Bloomington Normal are helping each other and the company has raised and spent billions to get to the marketplace and embrace a future together.

A Bloomington police policy change has quickly and significantly reduced the racial disparity in traffic stops. The department has shifted more officers to high-crash areas instead of places that have a high demand for service. The death of an Illinois State University student hit by a vehicle in a campus area crosswalk is prompting action. The town of Normal will do a traffic engineering study at College and Kingsley. Eureka College students find out what makes an engaged citizen. And central Illinois researchers have discovered a new less expensive way to make jet fuel out of soybeans. Patent pending.

Not for profit agencies have added autism services in recent years in Bloomington Normal. Now for profits are coming too. Hear about The Place for Children with Autism. McLean County COVID cases keep rising. The singer songwriter group Stone and Snow can't always write about things in the moment. The new album is We Were Made For These Times. And find out what the music of the Go-Gos and pre-Shakespeare poetry is like on stage together.

On today's episode, you'll learn what it's like to be a 911 dispatcher in Bloomington. Their team just earned international recognition. Plus, an interview with Bloomington City Council member Donna Boelen about funding library expansion. And Lyndsay Jones interviews longtime activist Bruce Lang for World AIDS Day.

U.S. Representative Rodney Davis says he won't run for Governor, and will try to retain his congressional seat in a newly drawn district. Davis says he looks forward to a committee chairmanship if Republicans take the House next year. Sensors embedded in roadways can improve bad weather service and save money. Hear about a vision of SMART cities and how municipalities can decide which new techie tools to choose. And Inclusive Education Coalition Founder Aditi Sharma says her group is planning to buy new book titles for McLean County teachers to use in classroom diversity curriculum.

A Bloomington Normal woman who fought her way out of the hole of addiction is extending helping hands to others like her. Hear about an art exhibit that evokes a sense of place in central Illinois showing at Heartland Community College. Businesses have had a lot of projects delayed because of supply chain issues and inflationary cost increases, cities too, The O'Neil park project is one casualty. City Manager Tim Gleason has more. And a recent ISU graduate is campaigning for better fire protection in rental housing.

On today's episode, you'll hear from Dave Mouser, the next superintendent at District 87 in Bloomington. Plus, a Chestnut Health Systems expert helps you navigate conversational landmines on Thanksgiving. And we'll unpack what potential new owners of The Pantagraph could mean for local journalism.