Sound Ideas - Full Episodes

Hear about the impact of a law that's supposed to reduce race based disparities in student discipline in Illinois Schools. It has not been all that successful. Illlinois State University Professor Charles Bell says his research shows the differences in discipline make absenteeism, drop out rates and educational attainment worse for blacks than whites. Plus, late summer is not too late to have your garden bloom. Patrick Murphy and Mike McCurdy tell you how in WGLT's gardening podcast Grow. Mary Cullen chats with new Economic Development Council CEO Patrick Hoban. And we have a report on books and barbers in West Bloomington.

Hear about food insecurity in rural central Illinois and in some parts of Peoria where insecurity is a third higher than the state average. Tim Shelley talks with Jill Garrison of OSF and others about how to fix food insecurity. Plus, Colleen Reynolds talks with the finalists for Bloomington Police Chief and what they believe are the pressing problems of law enforcement in the city. Mary Cullen reports on central Illinois Congressmen Darin LaHood and Rodney Davis's appearance before the Chamber of Commerce. And Jon Norton brings us the politically aware music of Josh Ritter.

Hear about one of the most thankless yet necessary jobs in human civilization. No one wants to see the coroner at the door. Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood and other coroners in the region talk with Eric Stock about the human part of their public office. Plus, Ryan Denham reports on the next piece of tech infrastructure needed for widespread adoption of electric vehicles, charging stations. Mary Cullen talks with a White House drug policy expert about rural addiction. And it's only the second day of class at Illinois State University. Already, three students have been disowned by their families for coming out as LGBTQ. That makes nine this year asking for help from a special fund.

A Bloomington-Normal college professor spent her summer interviewing children about the conditions at U.S. immigration facilities. Kathleen O'Gorman tells WGLT's Ryan Denham about her work with the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law. She says it's worse than you've heard. Plus  the Community Healthcare Clinic in Bloomington Normal is 25 years old. A lot has changed, but there's a lot new as well. Director Mike Romanogli says the new dental clinic is swamped with business, and they have a couple new partnerships...including one with the developer of a new healthcare app. And the Illinois Politics Roundtable hashes out the landscape.

Hear a music group that sometimes wants to sing and sometimes just wants to jam. WGLT's Jon Norton talks with Brian Burkhart of Groovement. Plus, State Senator Jason Barickman stops by to talk Rod Blagojevich, nativist rhetoric responses, and legislative accomplishments. And Laura Kennedy brings us a riot of color and lighthearted images brightening the Armstrong Gallery of the McLean County Arts Calendar.

Hear about the new season of the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. Assistant Performing Arts Manager Anne-Marie Dittman gives us the skinny on a new season of culture in the twin cities. Plus, GLT's Ryan Denham continues his reporting on the arrest and child molestation charges against Glenn School First Grade Teacher Jonathon Hovey in Unit 5. The annual beer fest and charitable fundraiser Bruegala hits a milestone. And there's a new policy for finals in Unit Five schools.

Listen for a new episode of McHistory hearkening back to 1939 when the largely female telephone switchboard workers protested plans to automate the operators. Find out what happened when the Bloomington Normal Wabash telephone company replaced manual switchboards. Plus, the upcoming household hazardous waste collection event in McLean County will have a new format. Ecology Action Center Director Michael Brown says it will be by appointment, not drive up. The West Bloomington Revitalization Project sets up its bed blitz to provide a good night's rest for low income kids. And Jon Norton brings us the legendary Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials.

Hear what it's like to get your rage on at a smash club in Bloomington Normal. Rage Room Owner David Kagel tells WGLT all about it. Plus, we'll talk with the young ham radio operator of the year in the United States. Dhruv Rebba is a high school student in Normal. And the Mayor of Bloomington stops by.

Hear about the American Passion Play in Bloomington and unlikely support from one part of the country. Passion Play Board head Lars LaBounty says the event will go on for its 97th year. Plus, Eric Stock reports on youth soccer groups fundraising efforts for a new home to replace the Prairie City Soccer League Complex south the Central Illinois Regional Airport.

Hear from foreign policy expert Max Boot who says the Trump trade war has so far not hurt the U.S. economy enough to cause the administration to cry uncle. It's a special sound ideas broadcast of the Peoria Area World Affairs Council interview with Max Boot.

Hear a report on STDs. McLean County is doing alright for Chlamydia and Ghonorea, syphillis rates not so much. Mary Cullen talks with the state public health director. Plus, the pathways of desire aren't what they sound like. Think more along the lines of human game trails. Ryan Denham has the story. Breanna Grow brings us a Next to Normal Story Slam episode. And Laura Kennedy brings us Autism Friendly Contra Dancing.

State Farm, Rivian, AutonomouStuff central Illinois has a lot of big players in the automated mobility space. But are they working together? Illinois Autonomous Vehicles Association Executive Director Jerry Quandt talks to WGLT's Ryan Denham about getting everyone on the same page. Plus, Bloomington Council member Jenn Carillo takes the temperature of her ward on what to do with the State Farm building GLT's gardening podcasters Patrick Murphy and Mike McCurdy find out palm trees are not out of place in the humid Midwest.

Gloria Hursey didn't just work in public housing. She lived there. And now she's calling it a career after nearly 30 years. Hursey talks about the changing face of public housing during her career at the Bloomington Housing Authority. Plus, a new restaurant is opening soon in Bloomington Normal We'll talk with Bob Dobski, owner of Rob Dobs about the place of restaurants in society. And Charlie Schlenker talks with Dr. John Vozenilek,  the vice president and Chief Medical Officer of the Jump Trading and Simulating Center in Peoria about medical futurism.

WGLT's Charlie Schlenker talks to a Bloomington-Normal psychotherapist about how parents should address the recent sexual abuse allegations against a Unit 5 teacher. Eric Stock visits with the U.S. attorney for central Illinois who's working on proactive violent crime prevention. And Ryan Denham explores a 2017 murder case that's headed to trial next week.

The mother of murder victim Haileigh Eichhorn is still waiting; still hoping police will solve the case. Ryan Denham reports on the six year old murder near Stanford and a perhaps coincidental drowning death of a man about that time. Plus, a new health needs study of McLean County shows people are getting less healthy. Eric Stock reports. Laura Kennedy interviews author Jim Plath about his new book of important literary characters. And, the McLean County Relay For Life is trying to recoup from a rainout.

Hear whether Illinois farmers can count on Trump administration efforts to soften trade war effects with deals for new exports. American Farm Bureau economist Veronica Nigh speaks with Ryan Denham. American birth rates are falling. This is international Child Free Day celebrating those who choose to not parent. Dana Vollmer talks with a Bradley University Scholar about the reasons people make that decision. The Islamic Center of Bloomington Normal is partnering with the west market street council to help low income kids get ready for school.

Coming soon distracted human drivers will interact with autonomous vehicles. Ryan Denham gets State Farm's best guess on how that's going. Planning for the 2020 election cycle is already under way and it will be an expensive one to run. Colleen Reynolds talks with McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael. Hear from the Philly based pop punk band the Menzingers. They're not overtly political...overtly. Vocalist and guitarist Tom May talks with Jon Norton. And sometimes it's better not to handle a home gardening problem by yourself.

We like to think class distinctions are silly. But, if so why do people still have fun watching HMS Pinafore. Bob Mangialardi invites us to join in the silliness of Gilbert and Sullivan as the Prairie Fire Theater production gets under way later this week. Plus, Normal City Manager Pam Reece updates us on a variety of projects and potential initiatives from the Trail East Project to the Uptown Underpass, to road repair season. Eric Stock has more on the Italian Odyssey of the ISU Men's basketball team.

Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason is deep into interviews for a new police chief and he has a panel of community leaders right along with him. Eric Stock talks about the first year on the job for the Bloomington City Manager. Plus, Ryan Denham delves into the huge transition the state's child welfare agency is going through. He talks with Doris Houston, director of Illinois State University's Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies. Tim Shelley reports on gun stores going out of business because state police are not putting out licensing rules.

The multi resident complex recycling ordinance is going into effect in Normal in just a few days. GLT's Ryan Denham checks into whether Mayor Chris Koos of Normal is right. It's harder to tell than you might think. Plus, the Governor of Puerto Rico has resigned after massive protests. ISU's head of Latin American Studies unpacks that movement. And Laura Kennedy brings us grand opera on the prairie.

WGLT's Ryan Denham talks to an Illinois Corn Growers Association scientist about a new Farmer Data Cooperative initiative involving NASA. Another episode of McHistory looks back at a trailblazer in the General Assembly. And Adam Fox from the Normal Theater talks about the influence of 1979's "Alien" ahead of this weekend's screenings.

New U.S. Citizen Mauricio Sadicoff of Bloomington says there's a lot of bureaucracy in becoming a citizen. He even had to leave a legal job once because of hoop jumping. More than a hundred central Illinois residents became citizens last week. Plus, some teenagers who feel out of place in the regular school environment turn to Youth Build of McLean County. GLT Correspondent Willis Kern is not a blowhard, but he reports on some people who are blowing hard to keep lung capacity healthy with Harmonica Therapy. The Mayor of Bloomington stops by.

President Trump is showing signs of making the election about immigration. Congressional Candidate Betsy Dirksen Londrigan says it's healthcare. Ryan Denham has the interview. Plus, Willis kern reports on the history of bicycles. River communities in Illinois are getting studies back after spring flooding showing why flood walls failed. IPR reports on problem gambling. And the Illinois Politics Roundtable chews over new federal restrictions on public health funding designed to limit abortions, and the response from Governor JB Pritzker.

The State Farm building in downtown Bloomington will be torn down. Commercial Realtor Greg Yount says there are opportunities for that downtown location. An in depth report on the startling development coming up. Plus, Great Caesar's Ghost. Laura Kennedy presents a modern political take on Shakespeare's classic. John Norton has something from Baaad Boyz ahead of their concert. And a thoughtful discussion about the disappearance of a mural in the community (No, not THAT mural) and what murals say about us as a society.

WGLT's Mary Cullen reports on the newly named Normal Citizen of the Year, Dodie Dunson. Correspondent Steve Fast chats with musician Denise LaGrassa ahead of her weekend show in Uptown Normal. And learn all about Bloomington's connection to the "Wizard of Oz."

Eight man football teams are becoming more common in Illinois, to save the sport in small schools, homecoming rituals, and all that goes with football. Illinois High School Association Executive Director Craig Anderson says 8-man football in Illinois only began two years ago.  Plus, ISU basketball great Jaci McCormick shares her post college story and the road that lead her to a tribal court in Washington state. And Normal Town Council member Stan Nord is ruffling feathers. We'll have a report.

Connect Transit is doing better than many other bus systems. Connect Transit Manager Isaac Thorne says gas prices have a lot to do with recent ridership trends.  Mary Cullen has an episode of McHistory dealing with Bloomington Normal favorite son Presidential Candidate Adlai Stevenson. And, the Mayor of Normal stops by. 

Poverty and child poverty continue to drag at the state of Illinois even in an expanding economy... because the social service support network remains badly eroded. The Heartland Alliance Social Impact Research Center tells Eric Stock what that means in central Illinois. Plus, the Challenger Learning Center celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. And a look at poverty and child poverty in Bloomington Normal.

Back in the 70s Russell "Huck" Willis didn't think much of snowmobiles. Too cold. Then someone gave his son one. 150 plus snowmobiles later, welcome to the Willis Snowmobile museum in Hopedale, Illinois. Plus, Adam Kinzinger was a very very young Mclean County Board member. Then he was a very young Congressman. Now the U.S. Representative might be on the way to becoming a U.S. Senator. Ryan Denham has more. Meet the new head of the Bloomington Normal EDC, Patrick Hoban. Jon Norton has the music of Illinois Rail. And Laura Kennedy brings us the Inside Out Arts Fair. 

WGLT's Eric Stock reports on the rise of discount stores in rural Illinois, and their impact on the rest of the economy. And Mike and Murph bring you another episode of WGLT's Grow.