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The city of Bloomington has some unpleasant choices ahead. The city council has five options to close a million dollar deficit but is a long way from clarity. Many of the lawmakers in Springfield weren't even born the last time there was a House Speaker NOT named Mike Madigan. Hear an assessment of the new House and Senate leadership performance in the spring session. State Senator Jason Barickman blames the Governor for an evictions moratorium that may cause a spike in evictions when it goes away in late summer. Barickman says the courts should have been trusted to deal with the issue during the pandemic. And Bloomington Normal's largest COVID testing site is closing. Find out who will pick up the load.

The latest trend in wind power is taller turbines with longer blades. That's important for people near two central Illinois wind farms under construction. And a new mental health concern has emerged in Bloomington Normal, re-entry anxiety. A lot of people are eying the sale of Illinois State University's 26 acre Shelbourne Apartments in Normal as a big opportunity. Normal City Manager Pam Reece says any new housing should probably not all be single family homes nor perhaps dense student housing. Plus, central Illinois scientists have found a way to convert wasted bread into a compound found in everything from food to pharmaceuticals, vitamin C.

Congressman Rodney Davis asks why many fellow House Republicans voted against a January 6th commission when they originally supported an investigation. Davis says Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also needs to answer why Capitol security was unprepared. Plus, Illinois State University will require COVID testing for unvaccinated students. President Larry Dietz has more. The new head of Mid Central Community Action forges ahead while honoring the legacy of the late Deb White who died of Covid. And McLean County Administrator Camille Rodriguez gives you the early look at how the county will place federal pandemic relief money.

Fruits of Labor is a new documentary from director Emily Cohen Ibañez. It follows a teenage farm worker Ashley Pavon as she navigates working long hours and tries to graduate from high school.

Deval Patrick passed on running for president this week, saying the campaign process is too "cruel." He's right — there are a lot of downsides to running for president.

Gen. John Campbell, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, is set to appear before a House panel on Tuesday for what's expected to be a contentious report about the progress of the war.

A group of House lawmakers are proposing legislation that would take the clemency process out of the Justice Department and create an independent clemency board.

WGLT's The Leadoff is everything you need to know to start your day for Monday, Feb. 27, 2023. You'll hear about where the hot Bloomington-Normal housing market is headed next. Plus, an interview with the up-and-coming restaurant owner Aaron Francis.

WGLT's The Leadoff is everything you need to know to start your day for Wednesday, May 24, 2023. You'll hear about Sen. Dick Durbin's visit to Bloomington. Plus, an interview with one of the developers working on an $18.5 million housing project near downtown Bloomington.

On today's episode, developers plan a major housing development near downtown Bloomington, Bloomington-Normal hospitals begin a new, faster treatment for stroke victims, plus the latest in WGLT's McLean County History Maker profiles.