Unit 5 school board member discusses multiple factors under consideration in realignment plans

Consultants will present a final recommendation to the Unit 5 School Board next week on how best to balance class sizes. One Unit 5 board member who serves on the district's enrollment planning committee said there are several factors the board will consider in realigning its schools. School Board …

Bloomington Public Library will adopt strategic plan after increasing attendance

After finishing long planned renovations and restoring old programs after the pandemic, the Bloomington Public Library [BPL] shows no signs of slowing down its progress. Now, the library is undergoing a new strategic plan. Jeanne Hamilton, director of BPL, said the library is ready to start its nex…

Meet the Newsroom: Joe Deacon

You know the voices, and you know the stories. But behind every story on WGLT is a person who calls this community home just like you do. The Meet the Newsroom series pulls back the curtain to introduce you to the team that makes WGLT possible. The series continues with reporter Joe Deacon.

McLean County's restorative justice efforts highlighted in new book

A new book has a chapter on McLean County's use of restorative justice. Suzanne Montoya and Kevin Jones wrote about their efforts using listening circles to connect members of the community with differing views after a police officer shot and killed George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020.

Chiddix Junior High parents want answers. Unit 5 says it legally can’t say much

A number of Chiddix Junior High parents are frustrated by what little information the Unit 5 school district has shared about two teachers who have been removed from the classroom. The veteran teachers, Andrew Miller and Brandon Knapp, are the subject of separate police investigations.

Bloomington will tackle tough issue of sign code revisions

The City of Bloomington is stepping into what promises to be a thorny issue: rules about signs. City Manager Jeff Jurgens said the city hasn't revised its sign code since the 1970s.

How Redbird Flight equips college students with financial literacy

From ramen noodles for dinner tonight to retirement further down the road, college students face financial stress at the start of their adult lives like never before. Redbird Flight Plan, formerly Redbird FLI, is Illinois State University’s solution to teaching students skills to ease financial anx…

It's eagle nesting season in Illinois. One nesting pair calls a Illinois state park home

The bald eagle used to be a rare sight in Illinois. Now, there are more than 3,000 that spend the winter here. IPR's Jess Savage reports.

Historian Megan Kate Nelson Interview

There are many myths about the American west. There’s the myth of bringing order out of a savage wasteland. The myth of disordered and uncivilized native Americans. The myth of the noble Caucasian cowboy. The myth of rugged individualists who wrested a living from the earth without help from anyone…

McLean County Emergency Management Agency prepares for another storm season

March 2 - 6 is severe weather preparedness week in Illinois, just ahead of storm season for the state. March 20, the first day of Spring, marks one of the busiest seasons for weather and safety organizations. Cathy Beck is director of the McLean County Emergency Management Agency [EMA]. She underst…