A nonprofit that serves housing insecure youth and young people with family instability has opened a new Youth Education and Support Center on Bloomington’s west side.

The City of Bloomington has announced two forums have been scheduled to collect public input on a proposed cabin village to serve the unhoused. The forums are scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, May 2 and 7 p.m. Monday, May 5 at the Bloomington Public Library Community Room 1.

The City of Bloomington will spend more than $500,000 to buy additional powdered-activated carbon in an effort to eliminate ongoing odor and taste issues with the water supply.

Bloomington city officials are exploring more treatments to eliminate the odor and improve the taste of its water.

Participants said they felt an added urgency to participate in the annual Home Sweet Home Ministries fundraiser, given McLean County's recent rise in homelessness.

With budget negotiations around the corner, advocates from across Illinois have written a letter asking Gov. JB Pritzker to include an additional $100 million to the budget for homeless shelter services. That would mark more than a 30% increase over what the state currently spends on the unhoused.

McLean County’s Mental Health and Public Safety Fund Advisory Council is recommending around $1 million from the $1.5 million 2025 budget to go toward a non-congregate project for the unhoused population.

WGLT will debut a new multimedia project this month ‒ including WGLT’s first-ever video documentary ‒ chronicling what it’s like to be unhoused in Bloomington-Normal during the cold winter months.

Democratic Sen. Dave Koehler started his sixth term looking to advance legislation in agriculture and environment, but says the state budget causes some uncertainty.

The McLean County League of Women Voters hosted a forum to discuss efforts to address the housing shortage.