Ben Howell
Graduate AssistantBen Howell is a graduate assistant at WGLT. He joined the station in 2024.
Ben is a graduate student at Illinois State University in the communication program. He also completed his undergrad at ISU, graduating in 2025 with a bachelor’s in mass media. During that time, he held internships at WGLT and WZND, where he was news director and general manager.
After graduate school, Ben hopes to continue covering local news and telling audiences more about the stories and events within their community. Outside of the station, he is an avid fan of movies and video games, trying to collect as much physical media as he can.
Contact Ben at bjhowel@ilstu.edu.
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In the same vein as "No Kings" protests, the Bloomington-Normal rally of the national "May Day Strong" protest called for an end to attacks on laborers. The Illinois Federation of Teachers called special attention to addressing the lack of higher ed funding. -
McLean County property tax bills total $483.6 million from the 2025 assessment period. It's a 4% increase from last year. -
The East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging and the University of Illinois Extension are both leaders in the Bloomington-Normal Dementia-Friendly Task Force. The new group wants to set objectives for supporting those with dementia and their families through a survey which closes June 15. -
After 32 years at Central Catholic High School and 28 as head girls basketball coach, Debbie Coffman has decided to retire. She finished her career with an overall record of 632 to 204. -
Glen Nelson, vice president of finance and planning at Illinois State University, said the union and ISU continue to have three sticking points concerning back pay and future salary raises. ISU has said it has already offered the union its best and final deal. -
Since the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park was backed by the state about two years ago, quantum technology developers have been looking to grow the sector's workforce. "Quantum Across Illinois" is visiting the state's universities, including Illinois State, to recruit students and promote the initiative. -
Ben Hage will take his new position effective June 1. The Petrick Idea Center will open this fall semester at Illinois Wesleyan University. -
On day 17 of the AFSCME Local 1110 strike, union representatives presented the president of Illinois State University with nearly 7,000 petition signatures urging his negotiation of a fair deal. A state senator on campus said the strike is "putting pressure on us as legislators as well." -
In association with the Mid-Illinois Realtors Association, the City of Bloomington and Town of Normal will offer the fair to bring to residents a network of community organizations related to housing and wellness. -
Stan Gozur, newly elected president of the Unit 5 school board, said he is pleased with the outcome of the district's enrollment study that concluded that neither Carlock Elementary nor Glenn Elementary schools should be closed.
