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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A bill introduced in the Illinois legislature would allow teachers to challenge notices of remedy, actions that go against school policy but can be fixed. Opponents have raised concern that this could erase documentation of patterns of abuse by teachers. -
The Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District has approved spending $7.7 million to upgrade the City of Bloomington's Sunnyside Park on the west side to a sustainable park. -
Data centers may have a big geographical footprint, but they don't necessarily use a lot of water compared to other industrial facilities. WGLT gathered some data to help put data center water use in context, based on what's been approved in Joliet between here and Chicago. -
The website for McLean County Government just got a lot easier to use for people with disabilities. County board chair Elizabeth Johnston said a new module can read PDF documents aloud, and even interpret technical drawings like plans to change the design of an intersection. -
The long-dreaded enrollment cliff for colleges and universities is here. “I think there's still a path to success for us, but we'll have to be nimble,” said ISU admissions chief Jeff Mavros. -
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the U.S. war with Iran has sent energy prices way up. Something similar happened back in 1973 during the OPEC oil embargo. Find out more in this episode of McHistory.
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U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood said he favors an approach to dealing with the looming Social Security insolvency that takes at least some of the political gamesmanship out of the issue. -
After 20 years of trying, the Route 66 Bike/Pedestrian Path will cross the railroad tracks at Chenoa. The Illinois Commerce Commission signed off on the plan on May 7. Trail advocates hope the work can finish by fall. -
The Central Illinois Regional Airport is giving a big thank-you to Congressman Darin LaHood for coming through with $1.5 million in grant money. -
It takes more than Facebook comments and email blasts to get results when advocating for change in local government. WGLT talked to those who've done it successfully to create this Local Democracy Playbook — a resource for you to follow in their footsteps.
