Charlie Schlenker
Senior ReporterWGLT Senior Reporter Charlie Schlenker grew up in Rock Island, Illinois, and graduated from Augustana College. He has spent more than four decades in radio and has won numerous state and national awards for journalism. He lives in Normal with his family.
Contact Charlie at ceschle@ilstu.edu.
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Illinois State University donors set a record amount for giving in the budget year that ended July 1. ISU took in more than $52 million in private support. It is the sixth straight year of increased donations. -
As Central Illinois swelters in the summer heat, most people have someplace to go to cool off. Not so long ago, it wasn't like that. 1934 was the year air conditioning came to Bloomington-Normal. -
A resident of the Town of Normal has accused council member Kathleen Lorenz of yelling and swearing at town workers about town leadership during an early evening incident in Uptown. -
The Normal Town Council has adopted a new strategic plan for the next three years. Mayor Chris Koos talks about some of the details. -
The City of Bloomington will get help from the public service arm of a realtors organization to revitalize several west side neighborhoods. The Counselors of Real Estate Consulting Corps will send a team to survey a broad batch of community stakeholders and write a proposal. -
There will no doubt be apple pie on the menu at many July 4 celebrations this year. There is every year. This quintessential American fruit, however, has varying cultural weight in different regions of the country. That's according to folklorist Lucy Long, author of the new book, Sweet, Tart, & Golden — Apples in the Midwestern Imagination. -
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says a national housing bill is likely to become law even though President Trump is holding it hostage. The president last week canceled a signing ceremony for what's called the 21st Century Road to Housing Act until Congress acts on his voting security bill. -
U.S Sen. Dick Durbin said the struggle to improve dental care for low-income people is going the wrong way in Washington. During an appearance at Chestnut Health Systems in Bloomington, Durbin said that's particularly true for children. -
Agencies that provide homeless services in Bloomington-Normal are sounding an alarm over changing federal guidelines that may reduce funding for those programs. -
State Farm has slowed implementation of some controversial contract changes for its network of agents but retained its elimination of insurance benefits.
