Student success, AI readiness among top priorities in ISU president's State of the University address

Illinois State University President Aondover Tarhule highlighted recent achievements and future plans for ISU in his fourth State of the University address Thursday. Tarhule laid out five leadership priorities for ISU, including its reputation and national prestige, student success, academic excell…

McLean County looks to fill radio frequency gaps with police, fire system update

The Emergency Telephone System Board in McLean County wants to update its unified emergency responder radio system. It will be expensive. The current Starcom system was developed in the years following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Interagency difficulty in communicating during and immediately after …

Art exhibit at University Galleries urges radical slowness in making and watching stop-motion films

University Galleries’ first solo exhibition of Chicago-based mixed-media artist Selina Trepp has entered its final weeks. The show, called Unprofessional Practices, primarily features two films created using stop-motion animation, plus paintings, handcrafted benches for viewing the films and a take…

What it was like to be interviewed by retiring WGLT journalist Charlie Schlenker

Politicians and newsmakers don’t always love it when journalists ask them tough, probing questions or point out the contradictions in their position on an issue. But Charlie Schlenker did it in a way that you just couldn’t help but respect. Schlenker will retire Sept. 30 after 42 years in journalis…

Gov. Pritzker opens up about his 80 lb. weight loss, use of GLP-1 — ‘I think it’s what I need to succeed’

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker delivered one of the most high-profile political speeches of his life two years ago at Chicago’s Democratic National Convention. But two years later, Pritzker, 61, said he’s astounded to see photographs and video of that moment. Pritzker is for the first time revealing pub…

McLean County superintendents say school sales tax has made a big impact

McLean County superintendents say revenue from the countywide sales tax is making a difference one year in. The County School Facilities Tax [CSFT] was passed by McLean County voters in April 2025, adding a 1% tax on goods like retail products, fuel and online purchases when it went into effect tha…

Q&A: Charlie Schlenker reflects on 40+ years in journalism

After nearly 30 years at WGLT, award-winning journalist Charlie Schlenker is retiring at the end of the month. To mark the occasion, we turned the tables on one of the best interviewers in the business and asked Charlie to reflect on his career. Charlie tells former WGLT morning host Jon Norton he …

Proposed McLean County budget includes body cams for jail guards

McLean County government is getting into the heart of its budget season. The proposed $150 million spending plan would be up 4.1% from the current fiscal year — an increase of $5.9 million. County plans indicate rising property values will allow the property tax rate to go down and homeowners whose…

High numbers of fire alarms discourage ISU students from evacuating

Illinois State University students are tuning out fire alarm evacuation orders and taping over smoke detectors in campus dorms due to frequent fire alarms, raising concerns about whether students will respond when there is a real emergency.

Catholic Diocese of Peoria expects 50,000 people to attend Fulton Sheen beatification

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, an El Paso native who attended high school in Peoria, is receiving attention from the worldwide Catholic church. Sheen, who was also ordained and served in Peoria, will be beatified at a Mass on Thursday in St. Louis.