Sound Ideas - Full Episodes

With 50 shootings last year in Bloomington Normal kids are growing up used to it. Reverend Andrew Held talks about generational lack of empathy as a result. Plus appearances deceive and it's hard to look beyond them. A former Caterpillar Vice President has a new book that teaches us all to look up. And the Illinois Politics roundtable analyzes the sudden resignation of the Illinois Secretary of Agriculture, who has been connected to the Mike McLain email scandal.

Weeks after that email referencing a political loyalist covering up a rape in Champaign...it's still a wow moment in Illinois. Hear from State Senator Bill Brady. Plus, what Martin Luther King Junior means to today's youth. Hear about the trauma to children whose parents are in prison. A federal grant is supporting a program in Peoria schools to help at risk youth. And a new exhibit explores the beauty, mysteries, and dangers of space in Infinite Sky.

Bloomington Normal youth are feeling a bit salty about the benefit they DIDN'T see from the January increase in the minimum wage. Normal Community High School student Ari Whitlock talks about the growing gap caused by lobbyists for park districts. Plus, Bloomington Normal and Peoria are very different cities, but they might be similar in their realty markets. A political scientist scoffs at the idea a new Illinois law beefing up penalties for shootings in houses of worship will change the number of church shootings or make churches safer. The town of Normal is deep into budget planning.

The theme of ethics reform continues to percolate through Springfield, for instance whether lawmaker e-mails should be considered public. More on ethics from Governor JB Pritzker. Plus, the Publisher and Executive Editor of Crain's Chicago Business talks about the future of journalism. There's a talent pipeline from Decatur to Bloomington-Normal. Find out why. And baseball has the hot stove league in the winter. Gardeners have seed and plant catalogs...it's WGLT's gardening podcast Grow. 

Artist Melissa Oreksy combines plants and art, but not in landscape painting. Laura Kennedy has more about Oreski's exibit Growing Time. As marijuana becomes legal we look back at Prohibition as it began a century ago and the attitudes people held about alcohol. Some of the same feelings society has held about cannabis more recently. Plus, meet the new Unit 5 superintendent. And Jon Norton dives into the storytelling sensibilities of the band Them Coulee Boys.

WGLT correspondent Edith Brady-Lunny joins Charlie Schlenker to discuss a lawsuit filed against ISU over admissions at its lab schools. Colleen Reynolds reports from a crosscultural celebration at Wayman AME church in Bloomington. And learn about historical peak of mapmaking.

Healthcare mergers and acquisitions often mean job cuts. What about Carle hospital buying BroMenn in Normal? Hear more from BroMenn CEO Colleen Kannaday on Advocate's sale of BroMenn to Carle. Plus, the new McLean County Health Department Director lays out her priorities as funding shrinks. U.S. Represenative Cheri Bustos talks about empowering Medicare to get better drug prices from pharmaceutical companies. And Jon Norton dives into the legacy of Chicago Blues in both preserving tradition and leading innovation.

Many critics are all agog at the new movie version of the novel Little Women as a retelling of the classic for the modern era. But, one Louisa May Alcott Scholar says meh. ISU Professor Roberta Trites dishes about Meg, Jo, and all the rest of the Little Women. Plus, the number of shooting incidents rose significantly in Bloomington Normal last year. Ryan Denham reports on how cannabis expungement will work in McLean County. We continue the series Far From Home about housing Illinois special education students out of state. And sticking it out in a tough job you really love - from a Next to Normal Story Slam.

You'd think a Walmart on the edge of town would produce more tax revenue than a smaller store in an urban core. But it also costs a lot more for cities to provide services to those locations. Strong Towns author Charles Marohn Junior talks about sustainable urban development. Plus, a shocking email from a top Democratic political operative becomes public. Hear from a social worker at Grove elementary in Bloomington about meeting the social emotional needs of kids. A series on housing Illinois special education students out of state continues. And Mike McCurdy and Patrick Murphy give you gardening safety advice in GLT's podcast Grow.

Some things you can't recycle through Bloomington Normal city programs, but you can through Terracycling. Amie Keeton, Melanie Ziomek, and Janet Guaderrama have diverted more than 100,000 items from the landfill in two years. Plus, Normal Town Council member Kevin McCarthy drops by as Mayor Pro Tem. And you can meet Ray Lai. He's the new director of the McLean County Regional Planning Commission.

The United Methodist Church in America is splitting up over LGLTQ issues. Reverend Kent King Nobles has one of the large United Methodist congregations in Bloomington Normal. Plus, learn how A bowl of persimmons and a long walk through Funks Grove led to a new book. And hear about how a Bloomington Normal woman arm twisted and pushed for the right to vote for women. This is the centennial year of the 19th amendment.

Veterinarians have a very high suicide rate, partly because of the compassion mindset they have for pets. Veterinarian Romanie Walter talks about the pressures of the job. Plus, an update on the progress of the long hoped-for Creativity Center in Bloomington. Jon Norton previews a musical remembrance of Zac Straw. And Laura Kennedy introduces us to a new production of Our Town.

As part of WGLT's holiday schedule we bring you more of the favorite and important stories of 2019. In this episode listen to pieces on red flag laws, rap music and gun violence in the twin cities, why there is a shortage of referees in youth sports, and how discount stores are winning the rural economy.

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As part of WGLT's holiday schedule we revisit some of the WGLT Newsroom's favorite stories of 2019. In this episode you can listen to an in depth report on the large gender imbalance on stage at twin cities musical venues, an episode of McHistory that tells you about a powerful woman who blazed a trail for women in Bloomington-Normal who write, Ryan Denham wrestling an entertaining story to the ground, WGLT's Culture Maven talking with Cheri Zeck about a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and an exploration of why Bloomington-Normal has two school districts and why they look like they do.

As part of WGLT's holiday schedule we revisit some of the most important stories of 2019. In this episode, we revisit stories of stolen guns, a split in the United Methodist Church, combatting segregation and economic disempowerment through housing policy, State Farm's decision to sell its landmark downtown headquarters building, enrollment challenges private colleges and universities face in central Illinois, and the progress of Rivian toward bringing new electric vehicles to market. 

As part of WGLT's holiday schedule we revisit some of the best stories of 2019. In this episode listen back to some of the great music groups we told you about during the year including Dan Hubbard, Stone and Snow, Rhett Miller of the Old 97s,  and Hot Sauce Universe. 

Sometimes there are bad surprises at the holidays, such as when adult children visit parents and find the pleasant phone calls with Mom and Dad have masked the aging process. An in depth report on care giving. Plus, Jon Norton previews Joe Stamm's musical show. And a visit to a marijuana production facility.

Guitar wunderkind Mathew Curry is trying to evolve his sound. Curry's new album is called Open Road. Plus, staying sober for the holidays presents challenges. Community Colleges in Central Illinois are talking with Rivian to create workforce training programs as Rivian prepares to hire hundreds of people. A quick look at disaster planning in the twin cities. And the John M Scott Commission has had an eye opening experience in opening up a grant process for health program funding.

District 87 school superintendent Barry Reilly says summary state action to limit disciplinary tools is a bad idea that will drive teachers away. Reilly says there's already a teacher shortage. Hear more on the seclusion ban. Plus, Eric Stock reports on the Bloomington City Council action to allow marijuana sales in town and to tax them. It's Art for the Holidays at the McLean County Arts Center. First jobs are educational in many senses of the word...in teaching responsibility, how tough it is to make it on a paycheck, in dealing with people. Correspondent Breanna Grow has a Next to Normal Story Slam episode. And Normal Town Council member Kathleen Lorenz stops by.

Sexism often drives women away from music. 30-year Punk-Rock bassist Rose Marshack says she STILL gets asked "if she's with the band" when entering clubs. Marshak says that doesn't happen to her male band-mates. An in depth investigation of women in twin cities music. Plus, Bloomington Schools Superintendent Barry Reilly stops by. The Illinois Politics Roundtable looks at marijuana conviction expungements and what Governor Pritzker has to do in the new year. And take an audio sleigh ride.

A lot of schools have adopted standards based grading in Bloomington Normal. Now that it's getting to Unit 5 high schools there's pushback. Senior Grace Nord and some teachers talk with Ryan Denham about new ways to assess how students are learning. You can check in on the Bloomington Normal economy. Gospel hit an aspiring musician like a thunderbolt. Jon Norton talks with the folkie group Harvest Sons. And Laura Kennedy jumps into the mind of Leonardi Da Vinci in a new exhibit. And Ryan Denham interviews a cat. Find out whether the cat is in a confiding mood.

Michele Sullivan says she knows in the first fifteen seconds of meeting a person if they are going to be a problem, if they won't look at her. Sullivan says she can still wait a half hour in stores before someone will help her. Sullivan has dwarfism. She talks about a 30-year career at Caterpillar and her new book. Plus, Mary Cullen gives you a gruesome tale of wolves on the prairie in an episode of McHistory. We have a holiday song edition of our gardening podcast GROW. And a new biography of a well regarded former Illinois Congressman.

Bloomington is one of just 6 cities nationwide picked for a new initiative to improve the connection between health and housing. Bloomington city planner Katie Simpson talks to WGLT's Ryan Denham about the National League of Cities Healthy Housing City Leaders’ Forum. Plus, Eric Stock reports on the start of apprenticeship and technical ed classes for women at Dreams Are Possible in Bloomington. Take a listen to the racial legacy of route 66. The Illinois Politics Roundtable susses out what the Chicago Mayor's agenda might mean for the rest of Illinois next year. And Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner stops by.

WGLT's Mary Cullen reports on a dispute between Connect Transit and Illinois State University. Eric Stock covers a recent State of BN event hosted by the McLean County Chamber of Commerce. And Laura Kennedy interviews a photographer whose latest work stars the David Davis Mansion gardens.

Learn how a central Illinois meteor crater two and a half miles wide came out of a big bump in outer space. Charles Monson is with the State Geological Survey. Plus, the McLean County Board Finance Committee gets a legal opinion on who sets financial accounting policy the board or the county auditor. Dame Judy Dench talks Shakespeare and Lady Macbeth. And a bit of Hogwarts is happening at a Bloomington elementary school.

One of Rivian's new investors hopes to help the company with more than just money. Cox Automotive mobility group president Joe George talks about the give and take of the company's 350 million dollar stake in Rivian. Plus, Eric Stock reports Bloomington police are seeing the same increases reported nationally in on line child sexual violence crimes. Many Minor League baseball teams are taking a hit as Major League teams drop affiliations. Hear about some of them in Illinois. A remembrance for a long time central Illinois broadcaster who has passed on. And the Mayor of Normal stops by.

As Unit Five ponders how to fix its ongoing bus problems it might look to a bigger district, Elgin for an example which transports more children more miles with a better on time record than Unit 5. Jeff Prowell manages the Elgin School district transportation system. Plus, Mary Cullen tells you about Bloomington Normal's only lynching, in an episode of McHistory. An auto services company that has invested heavily in Rivian tells why. And the Illinois Politics Roundtable tries to untangle a web of lobbyists to understand a federal investigation in Springfield and Chicago.

WGLT's Culture Maven Shari Zeck examines the enduring warmth and appeal of Mr Rogers. He listened to kids and spoke directly to them. Shari Zeck and Laura Kennedy look at the new Mr. Rogers movie starring Tom Hanks. Plus, what Christmas Tree should come into YOUR house. WGLT Podcasters Patrick Murphy and Mike McCurdy help you decide on GROW. And we have stories about a camp for diabetic children, a comparison of Illinois and Missouri medical marijuana laws, and you can hear music and charity come together as the holiday season kicks off with Jon Norton.

Some people don't give a lot of Thanks at Thanksgiving because too much togetherness brings holiday stress. ISU Student Rachel Lawrence says her mom usually keeps her dad in check, but this one time he got into a fight with other family members.  Eric Stock reports on how to avoid dinner table controversy. Plus, the Bloomington Library scales back expansion plans. hear how society can help helping people re-enter and structure life after prison. And musician Dan Hubbard talks about getting ready to walk away from a life in music and why he rethought that in a conversation with Jon Norton.

Rivian and Tesla both have electric trucks coming next year. EV watcher and Journalist Shaun Mitchell says the esthetic reviews favor Rivian. Plus, ISU's Gamma Phi Circus heads to New York for the Macy's Thanksgiving parade. Breanna Grow gives us a special paranormal message from a Next to Normal Story Slam. State Senator Jason Barickman figures the odds on passage of mandatory school consolidation. And Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner stops by.