From the WGLT newsroom, I'm John Norton. Police and prosecutors say they've seen a concerning increase in juvenile gun incidents in Bloomington normal. That contributed to a 43% increase in shooting incidents in 2024 and an 18% jump in gun seizures. There have been 12 more shooting incidents so far this year.

From the WGLT newsroom, I'm John Norton. Police and prosecutors say they've seen a concerning increase in juvenile gun incidents in Bloomington normal. That contributed to a 43% increase in shooting incidents in 2024 and an 18% jump in gun seizures. There have been 12 more shooting incidents so far this year.

Normal police spokesperson Officer Brad Park says crime can be seasonal.

Normal police spokesperson Officer Brad Park says crime can be seasonal.

These

These

issues with these juveniles is they're very much more active when it's nicer weather out, when, you know, the sun's up a little bit later, you know, just being out and about.

issues with these juveniles is they're very much more active when it's nicer weather out, when, you know, the sun's up a little bit later, you know, just being out and about.

Both Normal and Bloomington police also run summer youth outreach programs.

Both Normal and Bloomington police also run summer youth outreach programs.

High speed rail from Chicago to Saint Louis would reach speeds of 200 miles an hour under a plan the Illinois Department of Transportation is exploring. Raymond Lai is executive director of the McLean County Regional Planning Commission. He says the state's feasibility study includes a survey to see if more passengers would use the service. It's going to cost a lot of money, uh, uh, a lot of work. Uh, it would take years before it happened, even if there's a strong.

High speed rail from Chicago to Saint Louis would reach speeds of 200 miles an hour under a plan the Illinois Department of Transportation is exploring. Raymond Lai is executive director of the McLean County Regional Planning Commission. He says the state's feasibility study includes a survey to see if more passengers would use the service. It's going to cost a lot of money, uh, uh, a lot of work. Uh, it would take years before it happened, even if there's a strong.

Uh, uh, needs in that identified. Lai says if the service was popular enough, it would branch out to other parts of the state, including Peoria and Decatur.

Uh, uh, needs in that identified. Lai says if the service was popular enough, it would branch out to other parts of the state, including Peoria and Decatur.

A homeless services coordinator in Bloomington Normal says a new giving website will better help the unhoused get the resources they need. Liam Wheeler leads the Central Illinois continuum of care. Wheeler says well-intentioned people sometimes give in ways that don't help. Just because you believe someone needs, um, another knitted scarf or someone needs a sleeping bag doesn't mean that that is the best.

A homeless services coordinator in Bloomington Normal says a new giving website will better help the unhoused get the resources they need. Liam Wheeler leads the Central Illinois continuum of care. Wheeler says well-intentioned people sometimes give in ways that don't help. Just because you believe someone needs, um, another knitted scarf or someone needs a sleeping bag doesn't mean that that is the best.

Resource to be giving them at that moment in time. Bloomington and Normal launched B and thesolutions.com to encourage people to give to nonprofits that provide homeless services and to discourage panhandling and a measure to restrict cell phone usage in Illinois classrooms continues to advance through the state legislature. School boards would need to develop their own policies restricting cell phone use during instructional time. The bill now awaits a vote in the Illinois House. I'm John Norton, WGLT News.

Resource to be giving them at that moment in time. Bloomington and Normal launched B and thesolutions.com to encourage people to give to nonprofits that provide homeless services and to discourage panhandling and a measure to restrict cell phone usage in Illinois classrooms continues to advance through the state legislature. School boards would need to develop their own policies restricting cell phone use during instructional time. The bill now awaits a vote in the Illinois House. I'm John Norton, WGLT News.