Susan Schafer

A prominent McLean County Republican said he thinks Democrats took control of the county board because, right now, they're better at the process of politics than the Central Illinois GOP.

After 14 years on the county board's district largely serving south Bloomington, Susan Schafer will end her term this year after losing in Tuesday's election. She said her legacy is in health.

Democrat Sean Fagan is running for McLean County Board District 9 because he's seen some "game-playing" he doesn't like among members recently. He's challenging Republican incumbent Susan Schafer, a long-time board member and current Health Committee chair.

The newly formed Mental Health and Public Safety Fund Advisory Council — named after the fund Bloomington and Normal shared sales tax dollars create — had its first meeting on Monday, when members approved $1.5 million for new behavioral health initiatives in 2025.

Payment delays caused by McLean County Auditor Michelle Anderson forced the county to violate several grant agreements with area service providers, emails obtained by WGLT through a public records request show.

YWCA Stepping Stones in Bloomington outlined in its proposal that it will use the funds to hire a new counselor and continue paying for six months of a current staff member’s salary in the hope of bringing down a wait list that reached up to 65 people when the group recently lost annual federal funding it typically received.

McLean County Board Chair Catherine Metsker suspended meetings for the behavioral health advisory committee. She's given little detail about what that might mean for committee members or the public. Here's what WGLT knows so far.

A request for $100,000 in stopgap funding for YWCA McLean County's Stepping Stones has proved contentious, with multiple County Board meetings mired by discussing proper protocol and procedure. Despite this, two boards approved the proposal and the full County Board is set to vote on it Thursday.

McLean County's mental health initiatives are getting national attention. The National Association of Counties has tabbed McLean County and about a dozen other counties and cities to share ideas through the new Familiar Faces Initiative.

A McLean County Board member says the county and Bloomington-Normal hospitals are administering COVID-19 vaccines as fast as they can, but distribution…