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The Heartland Theatre Company is centering the voices of people of color. It's diverse storytelling out of the box. Plus, the national conversation about paying for healthcare and what kind to pay for continues. Check in with a Bloomington-Normal health executive about how that's going. A community can get a lot of insight by seeing itself reflected in the eyes of an outsider. Eleanor Roosevelt was one such outsider for Bloomington-Normal in 1937. Hear more in our latest episode of the WGLT series McHistory. And the new EP from soul-folk trio 'Sarah & the Underground' released on Father's Day was originally a gift for family.

Nationally ranked disc golfers come to central Illinois for a big tourney. For the record, fon't call it frisbee golf or even worse FROLF. The Illinois Arts Station is close to opening its new home in Normal. At certain long term care facilities in Bloomington Normal less than a quarter of the staff have taken the Coronavirus vaccine. Dive into why that is. Plus, a big long term care facility operator backtracks on its requirement that staff get vaccinated. Heritage Health would love it if the government took the question of mandates out of company hands.

It may not be an impossible dream, but a McLean County man is certainly dreaming a very difficult dream, restoring an old railroad sleeper car to become a business. And there's a new book on backyard prairies. Up to 50 percent of court cases have at least one side representing themselves. A new grant for courts in McLean and neighboring counties will help offer road maps to the courts for those without a lawyer. And, Amazon will build a distribution center near Pekin. Yes, it's hundreds of jobs, but the pay rate makes a difference.

The City Manager of Normal tries to ease council nerves that the $24 million underpass project will cost more. And the present furor over critical race theory aside, it's not a new thing for politics to shape the material taught in social studies classes. Liberation Colorized is an online journal launched to give students a voice during a particularly turbulent time in Bloomington Normal politics. These young people are not just listening to adults, they're telling. And a famed McLean County dairy family gets a memorial in a new book.

The drenching downpours of Sunday brought anguished howls of 'not again!' from some Bloomington Normal residents who haven't fully cleaned up from sewage backups and flooded basements in June. And restoration company backlogs mean there's not much help available . The Regional Superintendent looks at how and who will enforce the mask mandate in schools. A very smart dog learned to take the train to go all over central Illinois in the early part of the last century. Rags was a dog of uncertain pedigree and affable character. Hear the story of a long ago dog's journey into Bloomington, Springfield, and other towns in the latest episode of McHistory. And learn about the entwined history of chocolate and racism from an ISU Fulbright scholar.

On today's episode, regional schools superintendent Mark Jontry talks about another unusual back-to-school period. A leader with the Back 2 School Alliance talks about this year's school supply giveaway. Carle Health's CEO explains their new vaccine requirement. And a new book explores the musical genre of Americana.

Just because people CAN go out for arts events after they are vaccinated might not mean they WILL. The notion of accessibility is shifting for arts patrons who worry about breakthrough infections or a need for boosters. Plus, retiring ISU President Larry Dietz joins us for a goodbye interview. Metronet has closed the digital divide in Bloomington Normal a bit and built out its urban infrastructure. Bedroom communities are next. The Mayor of Normal says the long discussed underpass project in Uptown will likely finally appear in next year's town budget.

The Bloomington Normal tourism picture is getting better, but better is a relative term. Yet, major events and meetings are going back on fall calendars. Hear from the McLean County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Plus, crypto currencies and digital art based on blockchain technology are moving into the mainstream. They even had a Saturday night Live Skit, and they're also being developed in central Illinois. Digital artists make NFTs. Illinois Wesleyan University has won back to back national golf championships, yet two years apart.

New housing starts in Normal are mostly happening near the edges of town. Plus, they'll be singing 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame' at the Corn Crib in Normal this summer. Central Illinois scholars and artists consider the pros and cons of crypto-currency. Finally, the cost of child care is growing, but workers in that sector aren't seeing much of that.

There's a shortage of bicycles in Bloomington Normal. Stores can't keep mid-range bikes in stock for more than an hour. From aluminum shortages and other supply chain issues to vastly increased demand, it's touch and go for bicycle shop owners right now. Plus, expansion of pediatric services by Marcfirst could help school districts and reduce service needs for children with autism when they grow up. There has been a lot of news about labor shortages in the region. Eric Stock reports on who's hiring. The new Illinois State University Athletics Director plans for a fall season that won't have crowd size limits. And yes, there will be tailgating.