There’s only been one third-party candidate who ever came close to winning the governor’s seat in Illinois, and that’s none other than McLean County’s own Frank H. Funk.

As the world grapples with the growth of artificial intelligence and changes to work in many fields, it may seem odd that we are only about a half century into the digital era. The first electronic library card catalogs were developing back then. Coincidentally, Milner Library at Illinois State University is 50 years old this month.

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.

McLean County and Central Illinois are gearing up for America 250 with a bunch of events, everything from a community drone show on July 2 to readings of the Declaration of Independence at Connie Link Amphitheater in Normal and in Downtown Bloomington. It's not the first national anniversary involving a big celebration. Let’s go back 50 years to hear what they did for the nation’s Bicentennial.

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.

On October 28, 1934, the airport that would become Central Illinois Regional Airport was dedicated. A crowd estimated at 60,000 came to see the airshow and speech from the governor.

For the first 100 years of Bloomington history, water was scarce. In 1929, the formation of Lake Bloomington began after periods of drought, contamination and scarcity of safe drinking water.

During the Great Depression the federal government tried to stimulate the economy by funding a variety of buildings and programs. Inside the 1936 WPA post office in Normal is a 1938 oil on canvas mural, a salute to the community, to human achievement, and to the importance of beauty in public spaces.

It has been many decades since Downtown Bloomington was the premier destination for shoppers in the community. There was a time, though, when there were four large department stores downtown.

There's a declaration of emergency over the number of unhoused people in Bloomington right now, and efforts to provide new housing and expanded space in shelters. In this episode of WGLT's series "McHistory," you'll learn that the issue is not new — though the response today is perhaps more humane than it was in other eras.