Bloomington and Nor Police say they're seeing more and more realistic looking fake guns, especially among juveniles. That's among the stories you heard this week on WGLT. I'm Ben Howell with News and Review. Bloomington police spokesperson Officer Bryce Jansen says they come across imitation guns frequently. There's many cases a year where

Bloomington and Nor Police say they're seeing more and more realistic looking fake guns, especially among juveniles. That's among the stories you heard this week on WGLT. I'm Ben Howell with News and Review. Bloomington police spokesperson Officer Bryce Jansen says they come across imitation guns frequently. There's many cases a year where

You know, a juvenile will have a realistic gun sitting on the backseat or in their backpack, something of that nature. The issue came to the forefront following the fatal police shooting of a 15 year old suspect in February. The teen was carrying a BB gun that's made to look identical to its bullet firing twin. Officers didn't know it was fake, and police say an uptick in what they call hybrid gangs is contributing to a spike in juvenile gun violence in Bloomington Normal. Normal police officer Brad Park is a department spokesperson.

You know, a juvenile will have a realistic gun sitting on the backseat or in their backpack, something of that nature. The issue came to the forefront following the fatal police shooting of a 15 year old suspect in February. The teen was carrying a BB gun that's made to look identical to its bullet firing twin. Officers didn't know it was fake, and police say an uptick in what they call hybrid gangs is contributing to a spike in juvenile gun violence in Bloomington Normal. Normal police officer Brad Park is a department spokesperson.

You know, what we see with these, with these younger um hybrid gangs is they're not quite as organized, but they still are, are causing a lot of issues.

You know, what we see with these, with these younger um hybrid gangs is they're not quite as organized, but they still are, are causing a lot of issues.

Both police departments run summer youth academies to fuel positive interactions with public safety officers.

Both police departments run summer youth academies to fuel positive interactions with public safety officers.

A central Illinois lawmaker says the state of Illinois would not be able to fund Medicaid if federal funding was cut. The US House has passed a budget plan to cut $700 billion from Medicaid over the next 10 years. Democratic state Senator Dave Keeler, who represents parts of Bloomington Normal, says the state would not be able to fund Medicaid without federal support. We can't make up what the federal government leaves as a whole. We, we, we just don't have.

A central Illinois lawmaker says the state of Illinois would not be able to fund Medicaid if federal funding was cut. The US House has passed a budget plan to cut $700 billion from Medicaid over the next 10 years. Democratic state Senator Dave Keeler, who represents parts of Bloomington Normal, says the state would not be able to fund Medicaid without federal support. We can't make up what the federal government leaves as a whole. We, we, we just don't have.

The money. This is a tough budget year. So what it's going to mean is that there's going to be thousands and thousands of Illinoiss that are not going to have healthcare that had healthcare. The bill also creates a requirement that people enrolling in Medicaid must be working 20 hours per week unless they have a disability, and Illinois lawmakers have passed a bill banning carbon capture near the Muhammed Aquifer, a primary water source for much of central Illinois.

The money. This is a tough budget year. So what it's going to mean is that there's going to be thousands and thousands of Illinoiss that are not going to have healthcare that had healthcare. The bill also creates a requirement that people enrolling in Medicaid must be working 20 hours per week unless they have a disability, and Illinois lawmakers have passed a bill banning carbon capture near the Muhammed Aquifer, a primary water source for much of central Illinois.

The new technology involves pumping liquefied carbon dioxide deep underground. Democratic state Representative Sharon Chung of Bloomington says the ban could provide peace of mind for the nearly a million people who drink from the aquifer if there was ever a leak. It's really important to protect our clean drinking water. Um, it's something that I've heard a lot from, from constituent groups, um, advocacy groups for, for quite some time now. The bill heads to Governor JB Pritzker's desk.

The new technology involves pumping liquefied carbon dioxide deep underground. Democratic state Representative Sharon Chung of Bloomington says the ban could provide peace of mind for the nearly a million people who drink from the aquifer if there was ever a leak. It's really important to protect our clean drinking water. Um, it's something that I've heard a lot from, from constituent groups, um, advocacy groups for, for quite some time now. The bill heads to Governor JB Pritzker's desk.

As the Central Illinois Regional Airport juggles a number of current capital projects, it is getting ready for the next big upgrade. Airport director Carl Olsen says that will be a $24 million rehabilitation of the east-west runway. That pavement was last rehabbed in 1998.

As the Central Illinois Regional Airport juggles a number of current capital projects, it is getting ready for the next big upgrade. Airport director Carl Olsen says that will be a $24 million rehabilitation of the east-west runway. That pavement was last rehabbed in 1998.

And with the increased use by heavy large aircraft, annual wear and tear is beyond what we can do with regular maintenance and upkeep. Olson says funding for the project will come from federal and state aviation infrastructure spending plus local capital money that comes from mainly passenger ticket fees.

And with the increased use by heavy large aircraft, annual wear and tear is beyond what we can do with regular maintenance and upkeep. Olson says funding for the project will come from federal and state aviation infrastructure spending plus local capital money that comes from mainly passenger ticket fees.

About 10 people are living in a tent encampment near AutoZone in normal. They will be dispersed on June 1st to make way for a major sewer construction project. One of the encampment residents is unhoused veteran Louis Ray Starr. He's not happy about being forced to leave. It shouldn't exist. I want to put it in, I want an injunction against it. The nonprofit Home Sweet Home Ministry says they will continue to provide services to the people removed wherever they may end up.

About 10 people are living in a tent encampment near AutoZone in normal. They will be dispersed on June 1st to make way for a major sewer construction project. One of the encampment residents is unhoused veteran Louis Ray Starr. He's not happy about being forced to leave. It shouldn't exist. I want to put it in, I want an injunction against it. The nonprofit Home Sweet Home Ministry says they will continue to provide services to the people removed wherever they may end up.

A new website that coordinates charitable giving to help the unhoused in Bloomington Normal is a good start. That's according to Liam Wheeler, who coordinates homeless services among 11 counties through the Central Illinois continuum of care. By bolstering um the efforts of the organizations that are already partnering in that community, that are already serving that population, we can better help those clients navigate what services they need.

A new website that coordinates charitable giving to help the unhoused in Bloomington Normal is a good start. That's according to Liam Wheeler, who coordinates homeless services among 11 counties through the Central Illinois continuum of care. By bolstering um the efforts of the organizations that are already partnering in that community, that are already serving that population, we can better help those clients navigate what services they need.

Um, what supports they will need in order to be successful in housing. The website BNtsolution.com includes donation links to seven community organizations.

Um, what supports they will need in order to be successful in housing. The website BNtsolution.com includes donation links to seven community organizations.

The Illinois Board of Higher Education says it is evaluating a program to help create diverse faculty at Illinois universities as the federal administration continues to attack DEI programs. Illinois State University social work faculty member Stacey Wiggins got her PhD with the help of a diversifying faculty in Illinois fellowship. She says it helps attract and keep students from non-traditional.

The Illinois Board of Higher Education says it is evaluating a program to help create diverse faculty at Illinois universities as the federal administration continues to attack DEI programs. Illinois State University social work faculty member Stacey Wiggins got her PhD with the help of a diversifying faculty in Illinois fellowship. She says it helps attract and keep students from non-traditional.

backgrounds.

backgrounds.

So if you don't look out for this group, where is higher ed going to go? Because we already know there's going to be a dip, there's going to be a decline, OK, for the traditional age.

So if you don't look out for this group, where is higher ed going to go? Because we already know there's going to be a dip, there's going to be a decline, OK, for the traditional age.

ISU president Andeve Tarhue says the program has helped the university grow its own diverse faculty. You can find more on all these stories at WGLT.org. I'm Ben Howell.

ISU president Andeve Tarhue says the program has helped the university grow its own diverse faculty. You can find more on all these stories at WGLT.org. I'm Ben Howell.