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WGLT's the Leadoff is everything you need to know for Tuesday, February 1. WCBU's Tim Shelly talks with a National Weather Service meteorologist about what to know ahead of this week's snow storm and COVID cases continue to fall in McLean County. Plus, if you thought the pandemic would steer people away from the restaurant business, you might be surprised to learn that hasn't been the case locally. Charlie Schlenker speaks with Larry Carius about how twice the number of new restaurants opened as existing ones closed.

Some of the new jobs in Bloomington Normal have come at the expense of other companies - and some employers simply can't find the workers they need. A Bloomington Normal labor management expert says the Great Resignation also plays a part in the net job loss in the twin cities last year. The U.S. Attorney for the central district of Illinois says only a small number of people are responsible for most gun violence...If not, there's always incarceration. And a Bloomington woman who got a kidney transplant tells African Americans during Black History month....Blacks are three times as likely as others to have kidney disease.

Schools are so short of substitute teachers they're now taking college students. It serves the colleges and the K-12 districts. And as central Illinois braces for a mid-week winter storm, learn about the surprisingly complex job of operating snow ploughs. Adding the U of I at Chicago to the Missouri Valley conference is about more than sports...And there are broadcast rights. Plus, despite pressures on the restaurant industry...high costs, labor shortages, you name it, it was a pretty good year for twin cities eateries.

The next Supreme Court justice nomination has implications far beyond court decisions. An Illinois State University Scholar says the appointment of a Black woman will help the court better reflect the nation. Plus, learn about an LGBTQ plus tabletop game night just ahead on WGLT's Sound Ideas. A lot of areas served by the Peace Corps are undergoing vast sociological, political and economic changes, but Bloomington Normal advocates say the service organization remains vital and relevant. And hear about the experimental new classical music of the Red Note Music Fest in Normal.

WGLT's The Leadoff is everything you need to know for Wednesday, February 2. You'll hear directly from an Illinois Department of Transportation regional director. Plus, Bloomington-Normal school leaders weigh-in on how they decide to go with a snow day versus an e-learning day.

WGLT's Maggie Strahan talks to state Sens. Jason Barickman and Dave Koehler about their takeaways from Gov. JB Pritzker's budget plan and State of the State address on Wednesday.

Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker says the state is better off financially than when he first took office. During his state of the state and budget message the Governor projected the state will end this fiscal year $1.7 billion dollars in the green after also ending last year with a surplus. And student reporter Maggie Strahan talks with State Senator Dave Koehler of Peoria to get the first take on the speech. Strahan also chats with Bloomington State Senator Jason Barickman. If you're on Facebook, chances are you or someone you know is a member of Illinois Storm Community. In an interview with Hannah Alani, Carlos Wyant describes what it's like to lead such an active Facebook group. And the new U.S. Attorney for the central district of Illinois says he will continue to make human trafficking a high priority. In this interview with correspondent Edith Brady Lunny, Harris says he wants to further develop the human trafficking task force using a $1.3 million-dollar federal grant.

WGLT's The Leadoff is everything you need to know for Monday, Jan. 31. An ISU professor weighs-in on why the Bloomington-Normal area was the only metro area in the state to see a new jobs loss in the past year and the Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner says the conference that ISU plays in might not done growing any time soon. Plus, ahead of a documentary screening on Tuesday, Charlie Schlenker speaks with Dane Myers, the Assistant Director of the Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development at ISU about why the Peace Corps is still more relevant than ever, 60 years after its founding.

WGLT's the Leadoff is everything you need to know for Thursday, February 3. McLean County didn't meet the highest recorded snowfall in a day yesterday -- we'll tell you when that record was set and how much snow fell at the time. And just because most people had a snow Wednesday doesn't mean everyone does: A social service provider tells us they don't have the day off. Plus, WBEZ statehouse reporter Alex Degman breaks down Gov. JB Pritkzer's budget address.

WGLT's The Leadoff is everything you need to know for Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. You'll hear about a Normal Town Council member's view on pedestrian safety along College Avenue. Plus, an interview with Normal Mayor Chris Koos.