As 2024 comes to a close, here’s a look at the most-read stories that were published this year on WGLT.org. This list isn’t necessarily the most important or impactful stories of the year – just the ones that attracted the most attention from our online audience.
Bloomington pawn shops raided by Illinois attorney general’s office
Our No. 1 most-read story of the year is one for which we’re still waiting to learn more. WGLT learned in July that authorities raided at least two pawn shops in Bloomington. The Illinois attorney general's office has been tight-lipped about what they were investigating. As of mid-October, their investigation was ongoing.
State Farm pays $65 million to settle life insurance overcharge lawsuit
State Farm is Bloomington-Normal’s largest employer, so it’s not a surprise when stories about the company are well-read. This story from June was about checks going out in a $65 million settlement of a class action lawsuit against State Farm. Attorneys had accused State Farm in a federal court in Missouri of overcharging on policies. The settlement involves about 450,000 policy holders who bought universal life insurance from the company between 1986 and 1993.
Before murder-suicide, Matthew Moore faced few consequences for escalating behavior
WGLT reported extensively about the killing of Unit 5 teacher Amy Moore by her ex-husband in Normal. That reporting included this story about the progressive deterioration in the ex-husband's mental state and rising erratic behavior as the couple’s divorce proceedings progressed. WGLT also revealed the McLean County state’s attorney’s office four times declined to pursue charges against the ex-husband for violating orders of protection, despite the escalating behavior noted by police and Amy’s family.
One killed, one critically injured in shooting near ISU following big 'pop-up party'
One person was killed and another was critically injured in the September shooting near Illinois State University, in what police described as a violent end to an unsanctioned “pop-up party” during homecoming weekend. The incident led in part to the Normal Town Council approving a revised ordinance prohibiting nuisance gatherings and regulating park property. Months later, authorities arrested the alleged shooter in Chicago.
Central Illinois nursing home company faces foreclosure on 17 properties
This story from February is about Peoria-based Petersen Health Care, one of the country’s largest nursing home operators with locations in Bloomington and around Illinois. Seventeen facilities owned by Petersen were put into foreclosure proceedings after lenders allege a combined $51 million in debts went unpaid. The bankruptcy court approved sales of many of those properties in July. Those sales later closed.
State Farm removing EV charging stations from parking decks
This fall State Farm told its employees it was removing electric vehicle charging stations from its parking decks at Corporate and Corporate South headquarters in Bloomington, and at its hubs throughout the nation. The company said it was a safety move and that “fire risks were identified in the parking garages that cannot be mitigated at this time.”
Bloomington-Normal left wondering: So where are all those cicadas?
This spring and early summer were supposed to be a time to “come on feel the noise” of cicadas. Two broods of periodic cicadas — one on a 17-year cycle, the other on a 13-year period — were emerging at the same time. Some expected it to be deafening. But McLean County residents did NOT hear that pumped up volume so much. WGLT tried to find out why.
Bloomington makes overtures on Eastland Mall redevelopment
Eastland Mall has been mostly empty for awhile now, and its owner has not made any public moves toward redeveloping the site. In the fall, Bloomington City Manager Jeff Jurgens said it was time to raise the public profile of the issue of Eastland Mall improvement. He raised the idea of creating mixed use retail and housing structures on some of the vacant space. Vacant anchor stores such as the former Macy's, Bergner's, and Sears have been redeveloped into housing at decaying malls in other cities.
Lincoln’s 420 event will be the first cannabis-friendly festival in Central Illinois
WGLT does a lot of stories about upcoming events, and this one certainly resonated. A group of cannabis industry professionals organized Central Illinois' first cannabis friendly — and themed — festival at the Logan County Fairgrounds in Lincoln. Organizers said the area was overdue for a festival of our own.
Bloomington tells homeless people sleeping along Constitution Trail to relocate
Issues surrounding homelessness in McLean County became highly visible throughout 2024, with some excellent reporting from WGLT’s Melissa Ellin and others. This article – about a group of people living in tents along Constitution Trail – was published in July, and it’s just one chapter in an ongoing story about how the community treats the housing insecure.
