Lauren Warnecke
Deputy News DirectorLauren Warnecke is the Deputy News Director at WGLT. She joined the station as a correspondent in 2020 with a focus on arts and culture and became a full-time staff member in 2023. She became Deputy News Director in 2025.
You can reach Lauren at lewarne@ilstu.edu and 309-438-7869.
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Youth at the only juvenile prison in Central Illinois say its bright atmosphere and green space make a big difference in setting them on a more positive path. -
Authorities on Sunday identified the Bloomington man killed when a van collided with his electric scooter. -
Leaf turning appears to be slightly behind schedule this year, with peak fall colors coming as soon as next week. Other predictions say it could take a little longer than that — but don't wait until November. -
Mark Fellheimer served as chief judge overseeing the courts in five counties at the height of the pandemic. Retiring Chief Judge Costigan says Fellheimer was anxious to lead the courts during a more "normal" time. -
Court records show the two men who accused a former assistant police chief of various rights violations during a June traffic stop are negotiating a settlement with the city. -
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. -
The summer tour had announced a break and rebooked its date at Grossinger Motors Arena. City officials say the Oct. 9 show is now also canceled. -
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. -
McLean County Circuit Judge Casey Costigan is retiring Oct. 16 after 20 years on the bench. He said court transparency has increased during that time, and so has the ability of judges to divert certain litigants to problem-solving courts. -
Bloomington city manager Jeff Jurgens declined to answer questions about former Assistant Police Chief Paul Williams' excessive overtime while he was a police lieutenant. Jurgens said he couldn't speak to fiscal years in which he was not city manager.
