Budget

Town of Normal staff are signaling a potential need for significant rate increases in several programs including water and sewer, recycling, landscape waste and trash pickups. City Manager Pam Reece said a need for new sewage lift stations and cost recovery for hauling will require a council policy discussion.

The Normal Town Council on Monday heard a presentation on the proposed operating budget for the next five years.

Illinois State leaders are urging the campus to commit to change and remain flexible as the university implements a new budgeting process that could significantly re-allocate program funds.

During his State of the University address, the president of Illinois State University said "funding pressures remain high and very concerning."

The annual financial trends report for the Town of Normal shows a largely positive picture. The town says most of its leading indicators are healthy, though there are a couple things to watch.

Next year's budget proposal for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, amplifies previous worries with potential cuts to several key programs and projects. WGLT talks to three Central Illinois experts about the possible consequences.

Many new lawmakers come to government with big dreams but often find they have little power. This is how several first-time Central Illinois lawmakers learned how to enact change in their own ways.

Labor negotiations, spending cuts, creating a new model for budget planning, developing the new College of Engineering, and, oh yes, graduation this weekend — Illinois State University has a lot on its plate right now.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen calls Trump administration plans to zero out home heating and cooling help for "very low-income" people "cruel."

Residents concerned about potential cuts to federal Medicaid staged a protest Monday outside the office of Republican U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, who represents parts of Bloomington-Normal.