Cole Loiacano
InternCole Loiacano is a student reporter at WGLT. He joined the station in August 2025.
Cole is a sophomore at Illinois State University who grew up in Antioch, Illinois. He is double majoring in journalism and public relations. Additionally, Cole volunteers at The Vidette and gives tours of Illinois State's campus.
He hopes to continue working towards his goals of becoming a field journalist after graduation.
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Tourism in Illinois has a $88 billion impact on the state's economy. Not only does it generate money, but it also provides tax relief, jobs and municipal revenue. VisitBN has now secured nearly $500K through three State of Illinois grant programs for fiscal year 2027 to invest in McLean County's tourism industry. -
According to a report from the National Waste & Recycling Association, more than 5,000 fires are estimated to occur annually in recycling facilities nationwide due to improper battery disposal. Now, the Ecology Action Center in McLean County is promoting a free battery recycling program. -
K-9 officer Shadow is retiring after more than eight years with the McLean County Sheriff's Office. He will spend his golden years with Deputy Josh Albee, his handler since 2022. -
Associate Judge Sarah Duffy has been picked to fill a vacancy in the 11th Judicial Circuit created by Judge Casey Costigan's retirement. Duffy is running unopposed to retain the seat in the November election. -
The Head Start program is a federally funded U.S. program that provides free early childhood education, health, nutrition and family support services to low-income children and their families. After more than six decades, it is again under threat as proposed changes focus on shifting the program to individual states. -
October is LGBTQ+ History Month. To celebrate, Prairie Pride Coalition is bringing a traveling exhibit which highlights 125 queer icons in an interactive digital display. -
The singer/songwriter from Metamora has a new EP called More Than Just Bones, part of his deepening collaboration with Charles Wesley Godwin of Pittsburgh-based band The Allegheny High. -
Bloomington-Normal was home to the oldest and longest continuously running underground newspaper in United States history. The paper, called Post Amerikan, ran from 1972-2004 and is now the subject of a feature length documentary screening Friday at the Normal Theater. -
The system is similar to notifications set up in Bloomington and Normal, with some overlap, used to share pertinent information county-wide or by quadrant. The county can now send push notifications to automatically alert cell phones in a targeted area of weather and public safety emergencies. -
Caleb Lawson, from Downs, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated DUI causing death and leaving the scene of an accident involving a death.
