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Congressman Darin LaHood says he'll focus on the economy in his next run for office in a district that has about half the places he has represented before. And even though he's in a very safe Republican District he's not too keen on how Democrats drew the boundaries. Universal pre-k might still make it into President Biden's infrastructure bill as it continues under negotiation. Find out what early childhood experts think of the notion. The exhaustive McLean County Board redistricting process is winding down and one of the work group heads says the words Democrat and Republican were never mentioned. Eight meetings and hearings might be just enough to do the job, But, can you really ever take politics out of the equation?

A new history of McLean County is coming. It's the first such comprehensive book in more than a hundred years. And it's the first to situate central Illinois residents amid broader global and national moments (other than the civil war). The history of Mclean County is more than just Abe Lincoln, Beer Nuts, and State Farm. There's this massacre of native Americans too which happened in 1730 when two French fur trading companies got into a competition and used different native tribes as proxies. Plus Historian Greg Koos chronicles labor, suffrage, and immigration in his new book Freedom, Land, And Community: a History of McLean County 1730-1900.

WGLT's The Leadoff is everything you need to know for Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. You'll hear the latest on what it will take to get children vaccinated against COVID-19. Plus, an interview with an ISU professor about the health of our food systems.

The FBI has said it doesn't have the power to take over the Jelani Day investigation from local authorities. That's not - quite - true. One scholar points to civil rights era murders as an exception. He also says the feds are really reluctant to do that! It used to be said no middle class no democracy. But as democracies have weakened in nations middle classes haven't kicked back much. ISU political scientist Ali Riaz says that's because in countries like Turkey, and Bangladesh, they have benefitted from the rise of the autocrats. And Arts Correspondent Lauren Warnecke dives into a rousing Rachmaninoff performance and the premiere of a new work by the Illinois Symphony Orchestra.

On today's episode, the Unit 5 referendum divides school board candidates, plus a preview of the Normal Town Council race.

WGLT's The Leadoff is everything you need to know to start your day for Thursday, April 6, 2023. You'll hear about a walkout over gun safety at Normal Community High School. Plus, a closer look at the Unit 5 school board race.

WGLT's The Leadoff is everything you need to know to start your day for Friday, April 7, 2023. You'll hear about Trail East and Trail West plans in Uptown Normal. Plus, how the expanded access to Narcan could impact McLean County.

WGLT's The Leadoff is everything you need to know for Monday, April 3, 2023. You'll hear from three Bloomington-Normal high school students about their plans to vote for the first time this week. Also, an interview with Carlock's mayor about the potential closure of her community's elementary school.

On today's episode, a preview of the municipal and school board elections; Carlock's mayor discusses the Unit 5 tax referendum and the potential closure of the village's grade school; plus Bloomington city manager Tim Gleason discusses homelessness, the city's vehicle use tax and naming rights for the downtown arena.

WGLT's The Leadoff is everything you need to know to start your day for Monday, April 10, 2023. You'll hear about a Bloomington church that needs to find a new home. Plus, a look at ag productivity trends in McLean County.