Santa Claus is coming to town, with planned appearances all over Bloomington-Normal this month. Santa will appear in Uptown Station and at Eastland Mall. He has cookie plans and ice skating plans and several brunches scheduled with Bloomington-Normal kids. Through a partnership with Normal Parks and Recreation, Santa will place calls to households throughout the Bloomington-Normal area next week. In an exclusive interview with WGLT, Claus credited his dedicated team of elves with forging the connection.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest missive on the dispute between the City of Bloomington, Town of Normal, and McLean County over how the county government handles shared sales tax money includes a vigorous defense of previous allegations against the county and proffers a reciprocal olive branch. In a letter dated Nov. 26, the town and city enlarge on a previous McLean County government call to resume discussions rather than move forward in court.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The head of Scouting America in Central Illinois said his initial reaction to the decision by the Secretary of Defense to cut ties with the program formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America is disappointment.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, a Scouts leader in central Illinois says he was disappointed and confused by a report that the Pentagon plans to sever ties with the Scouts, a key player in the mental health tax funding dispute says the town of Normal's concerns are nothing new, plus an exclusive interview with Santa Claus ahead of his multiple Bloomington-Normal visits and calls with kids.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justices Elizabeth Rochford and Mary K. O'Brien said they were impressed by the state's only problem-solving court addressing child welfare cases. Their stop in McLean County was part of Rochford's effort to visit all 25 judicial circuits in Illinois.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first national tour of Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol is underway and stops in Bloomington for two shows this weekend. The decorated multi-instrumentalist and songwriter wrote entirely new songs for an adaptation of the Dickensian tale, which moves the setting to a town in East Tennessee at the height of the Great Depression.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heartland Community College signed 37 new apprentices to McLean County business partners during a signing ceremony held Wednesday. The program, in its fifth year, began in 2020.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, the argument that private schools in Illinois have a competitive advantage in sports has resurfaced after last weekend's state football finals in Normal, two members of Illinois' highest court laud McLean County's newest problem-solving court, Heartland Community College highlights its apprentice program to support McLean County employers, and Ebenezer Scrooge is more than just a classic Christmas character as you'll see in a Bloomington show this weekend.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Debates over perceived advantages private schools have over public schools in Illinois High School Association [IHSA] athletics continued as the state football championships played out in Normal and DeKalb.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samara Jane, winner of WGLT's inaugural Highway 309 Studio Sessions Contest, recently performed her award-winning song “Fine” and two others at the WGLT studios. In this lightly edited interview, the ISU senior speaks with WGLT's Jon Norton about winning the contest, why she chose music therapy as a major, and of course about her winning song.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.