New traffic signal technology could lower Normal Fire response times

The union representing firefighters in the Town of Normal has wrapped up its series of community education forums about a study that calls for expanded services and a bigger fire department. What happens now in the effort to add to the fire service in the town?

McLean County could seek reimbursement from clerk's office for budget overruns

The McLean County Board could decide to claw back more than $400,000 in budget overruns from County Clerk Kathy Michael's office. Last week, McLean County Board Executive Committee members took County Clerk Michael to task for going over her budget last fiscal year.

Historian to debunk myths of the American west in ISU talk

There are many myths about the American west. There’s the myth of bringing order out of a savage wasteland. The myth of the noble Caucasian cowboy. The myth of rugged individualists who wrested a living from the earth without help from anyone else. And the myth of women without agency who deferred …

Meet the Newsroom: Ben Howell

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 graduate assistant Ben Howe…

Recent closures leaves families on a 'Hunger Games'-style search for child care

A shortage of child care options has worsened in recent months following the closure of Kidsville, Bright Horizons and one of two Cadence Academy locations. WGLT's Lauren Warnecke reports.

McLean County Board chair praises performance of EDC

A couple of top Bloomington-Normal elected leaders say the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council needs to change and get better, or even turn some functions over to the municipalities, following the departure of CEO Patrick Hoban. But McLean County Board Chair Elizabeth Johnston disagrees…

Illinois lawmakers look to regulate data centers as local governments propose their own rules

Several local governments in Central Illinois are looking to create their own data center regulations as Illinois lawmakers have yet to take action regulating this emerging industry. Data centers are seen as key to fueling an AI revolution. Critics worry they could drain water and electricity suppl…

Normal Community High School celebrates tech teacher for being Teacher of the Year finalist

Students and staff at Normal Community High School feel that a regional Teacher of the Year award is well deserved for one of their own. Don Whitman’s philosophy of “hands-on, minds-on” has served him through 27 years of teaching STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] and technical…

Bloomington-Normal joins national YMCA to advocate on Capitol Hill

Leaders from the Bloomington-Normal YMCA recently attended national advocacy days in Washington, D.C., meeting with the offices of U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood, a Republican, and Eric Sorensen, a Democrat.

How Bloomington leaders will lobby lawmakers on their high-priority projects

Bloomington Mayor Dan Brady has expressed skepticism about the focus of the annual One Voice lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., to lobby lawmakers and agencies to fund community projects. In this interview with WGLT's Charlie Schlenker Brady says the city already has gone its own way, in part by se…