Before the first Rivian electric pickup truck made for sale rolled off the line at the plant in Normal, company CEO RJ Scaringe spoke to the workers who made it happen. A Latino artist speaking in Normal lets the bureaucratic limbo of the immigration system come out in his works. Central Illinois' largest brewery has a gold medal performance. Destihl wins in the very competitive category of Hazy IPA at the Great American Beer Festival. Running for public office in Bloomington Normal hasn't always been a civilized affair. Once a state house race included an attempted whipping, stabbing, and shooting. He missed. It's the next episode of our feature McHistory.
WGLT Senior Reporter Charlie Schlenker has spent more than three award-winning decades in radio. He lives in Normal with his family.