Capitol News Illinois reporter Maggie Dougherty discusses Illinois' plans to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.

A youth substance misuse prevention program from the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health has partnered with the Illinois High School Association and IESA to expand outreach efforts.

Justices from the state's highest court say geographic disparities have affected access to public defenders, particularly in rural counties. A new law aimed at promoting equity across the state has two years to be fully implemented.

On today's episode, Illinois has a problem with many attorneys aging out and not enough to replace them, a new initiative aims to bring substance misuse prevention to youth sports, plus Illinois announces statewide initiatives to commemorate 250th anniversary of America.

Santa Claus is coming to town, with planned appearances all over Bloomington-Normal this month. Santa will appear in Uptown Station and at Eastland Mall. He has cookie plans and ice skating plans and several brunches scheduled with Bloomington-Normal kids. Through a partnership with Normal Parks and Recreation, Santa will place calls to households throughout the Bloomington-Normal area next week. In an exclusive interview with WGLT, Claus credited his dedicated team of elves with forging the connection.

The latest missive on the dispute between the City of Bloomington, Town of Normal, and McLean County over how the county government handles shared sales tax money includes a vigorous defense of previous allegations against the county and proffers a reciprocal olive branch. In a letter dated Nov. 26, the town and city enlarge on a previous McLean County government call to resume discussions rather than move forward in court.

The head of Scouting America in Central Illinois said his initial reaction to the decision by the Secretary of Defense to cut ties with the program formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America is disappointment.

On today's episode, a Scouts leader in central Illinois says he was disappointed and confused by a report that the Pentagon plans to sever ties with the Scouts, a key player in the mental health tax funding dispute says the town of Normal's concerns are nothing new, plus an exclusive interview with Santa Claus ahead of his multiple Bloomington-Normal visits and calls with kids.

Justices Elizabeth Rochford and Mary K. O'Brien said they were impressed by the state's only problem-solving court addressing child welfare cases. Their stop in McLean County was part of Rochford's effort to visit all 25 judicial circuits in Illinois.

The first national tour of Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol is underway and stops in Bloomington for two shows this weekend. The decorated multi-instrumentalist and songwriter wrote entirely new songs for an adaptation of the Dickensian tale, which moves the setting to a town in East Tennessee at the height of the Great Depression.

Heartland Community College signed 37 new apprentices to McLean County business partners during a signing ceremony held Wednesday. The program, in its fifth year, began in 2020.

On today's episode, the argument that private schools in Illinois have a competitive advantage in sports has resurfaced after last weekend's state football finals in Normal, two members of Illinois' highest court laud McLean County's newest problem-solving court, Heartland Community College highlights its apprentice program to support McLean County employers, and Ebenezer Scrooge is more than just a classic Christmas character as you'll see in a Bloomington show this weekend.

Debates over perceived advantages private schools have over public schools in Illinois High School Association [IHSA] athletics continued as the state football championships played out in Normal and DeKalb.

Samara Jane, winner of WGLT's inaugural Highway 309 Studio Sessions Contest, recently performed her award-winning song “Fine” and two others at the WGLT studios. In this lightly edited interview, the ISU senior speaks with WGLT's Jon Norton about winning the contest, why she chose music therapy as a major, and of course about her winning song.

If you want a sudsy taste of history, here's your chance: The McLean County Museum of History is partnering with microbrewer Casper Brewing Company in Bloomington to honor Bloomington-Normal's longest continuously operating (and now defunct) brewery.

The senior member of the Normal Town Council says there's something missing in debate over closing the College Avenue fire station when a new east side station opens in a couple months.

On today's episode, the Town of Normal disagrees with the firefighter union's assessment that the College Avenue needs to stay open; Casper Brewing Company has a new lager inspired by McLean County's beer-making past; and a sit down with Samara Jane, the winner of WGLT's inaugural Highway 309 Studio Sessions Contest.

WGLT has been tracking the cost of living in Bloomington-Normal since January, to find out whether President Trump's promise to "bring prices way down" has happened yet.

Every year starting in late October, the red Toys for Tots boxes start appearing in nearby businesses, institutions and restaurants in Bloomington-Normal. The 110 drop boxes remain fairly vacant until the holiday shopping season. Come December, Director Troy Ziegler and the McLean County Toys for Tots volunteers answer emails and phone calls to collect the now full boxes.

The structure of college classes will have to change in an AI world. That's according to Roy Magnuson, the director of the newly created Adaptive Edge Institute at Illinois State University. The institute studies new technologies and how they influence teaching. Right now, the hot tech-thing is Generative AI.

On today's episode, WGLT tracks prices on various goods and services in Bloomington-Normal, a new institute at ISU aims to help students the educators navigate the new world of AI, plus McLean County Toys for Tots has been providing Christmas joy to children for a quarter century.

The Bloomington-Normal Deaf Club is bringing holiday festivities to kids who often miss out on some of the fun the season can bring.

On today's episode, U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen discusses healthcare funding, executive power, socialism, the Epstein files and Ukraine; a running shoe store in Normal prepares for its final lap after 30 years in business and students at a sign language class in Normal get a surprise visit from a signing Santa. 

If you've run a 5K race or attended any run or walk in Bloomington-Normal in the last 30 years, you probably know Mitch Hobbs. Often Running, the running shoe and apparel store in Uptown Normal that Hobbs has managed since 1995, is closing soon. Hobbs said the store will likely close in the next few weeks once its remaining inventory is sold.

U.S. Rep Eric Sorensen advocated for an extension of Obamacare subsidies and other ways to reduce health care costs for consumers during a visit Tuesday to Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal.

On a new episode of WGLT's McHistory series: It has been many decades since Downtown Bloomington was the premier destination for shoppers in the community. There was a time, though, when there were four large department stores downtown. One of them was My Store.

Andy Goveia was one of more than 550 K-12 teachers across the country to enter the contest held by KI Furniture.

Fall weather is hanging on in Bloomington-Normal, but there’s no denying that the holidays are here. WGLT's list of more than 40 seasonal shows, things to do and places to shop is not exhaustive but is aimed at filling your December calendars and hearts with the spirit of the season.

Illinois public universities have reached their highest enrollment levels in 10 years, according to the Illinois Board of Higher Education [IBHE] that reports nearly 190,000 students are enrolled across the state for the Fall 2025 semester. Illinois State University’s student body increased by 2.1%, an enrollment record for a fourth consecutive year. ISU announced the figures in September, including a 448-student increase, for a total of 21,994 students. Deputy Governor for Education Martin Torres said Gov. JB Pritzker’s state budgets have delivered the largest investment in higher education in a generation.

On today's episode, the governor's office discusses a 10-year high for Illinois' public universities, a junior high classroom in Normal is getting a makeover after winning a nationwide contest, the latest McHistory takes us back to the time when downtown Bloomington was the premier destination for shoppers and a preview of all the things to do during the holiday season in Bloomington-Normal.

Starved Rock State Park is home to bluffs, canyons and waterfalls among a number of trails. Tourists and visitors consider the wildlife and activities along the Illinois River to be wonderful for sightseeing and adventure. For Dave Glacinski, it is his home away from home. The Central Illinois native and Lexington resident volunteers at least once a week. In August, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources named Glacinski among the 2025 outstanding volunteers of the year, for his work at the state park about an hour north of Bloomington-Normal.

A big chunk of the counselors and social workers in McLean County just got trained in a rising therapy model that can help people overcome anxiety, depression, and PTSD. It's called Eye Movement and Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR.  

Parkside Junior High School seventh-grader Edder Diaz, who died in a fire earlier this month, was remembered fondly Saturday in a way his friends and family say the young athlete would have loved — with a smiling crowd cheering on runners.

On today's episode, the family of a seventh-grader who died after a fire finds hope after tragedy, McLean County invests in eye movement and memory therapy training for counselors and social workers, a Lexington man who goes to Starved Rock weekly to clear his mind is honored for his volunteerism, plus we pay tribute to a man whose Christmas decor brightened Bloomington-Normal for decades.

The Immigration Project hopes to expand its Rapid Response team and find more willing volunteers to help do it. The Rapid Response team that was created earlier this year is looking for volunteers who are willing to help during rumored ICE sightings, connect detained people to free legal services, provide social service support for impacted families, and help Bloomington-Normal community members know their rights.

In Illinois, the number of lockdowns has been on the rise. State prisons are now in lockdown almost twice as many days per year as they were during the pandemic.

Stefen Robinson, a musician who plays in Bloomington-Normal under the moniker Yea Big, has new music out—again. To Lower the Fever of Feeling is on top of a veritable pile of music released this year, and the first under Robinson's new indie label called Black Flag Bonsai Club.

University High School held a ceremony Friday celebrating its volleyball team for winning the IHSA Class 3A State Championship.

A community group in Bloomington-Normal is seeking public input as it looks for ways to reduce barriers to recovery services for people struggling with substance abuse and mental health disorders.

On today's episode, a community survey aims to reveal gaps in mental health and substance abuse treatment in McLean County; research shows education works to rehabilitate incarcerated people, but quality programs don’t exist at every Illinois prison; University High School celebrates a state championship; and a prolific local music-maker has a new album--again.

McLean County's three-year plan is the third of its kind, developed by an independent council of mental health stakeholders.

After a years-long fight to save the old water tower in McLean, work is now being done on the Depression-era relic that a community group hopes will help fuel a renaissance in the village of about 700 residents.

Bloomington-Normal needs more affordable housing. What if we told you there was a way to create a bunch of unsubsidized housing at about half the cost of a traditional single-family home? That solution is manufactured homes, aka mobile homes. But that option is rarely discussed as policymakers and developers try to address a housing shortage that’s driven up rents and home prices across Bloomington-Normal.

On today's episode, the last in WGLT's series on a mobile home operator's business practices, McLean County's new mental health plan more help for young adults and a McLean County village turns back time to boost traffic for the Route 66 centennial.

Home Sweet Home Ministries [HSHM] is getting ready to fill Bloomington’s first non-congregate shelter village, The Bridge, with residents in a few months.

Twin City mobile home park owner Oak Wood is a part of a larger trend of manufactured home (aka mobile home) communities being taken over by private equity. As individual owners have sold off this part of their portfolios, advocates for affordable housing have risen to meet the need.

A debate is emerging about the optimum size of the Town of Normal Fire Department and the positioning of fire stations. This comes with a study issued by the union representing firefighters.

On today's episode, firefighters in Normal say the town's plans to close its College Avenue station will leave an older population at greater risk due to longer emergency response times, the third in WGLT's series on a mobile home operator's business practices and how its Bloomington-Normal tenants can advocate for themselves, plus Bloomington's shelter village details its rules and who can stay there.

Huge compensation agreements for the CEOs of Rivian and Tesla may not be excessive even though they range from several billion to a trillion dollars. Ajay Samant, dean of Illinois State University's College of Business, said the recent $4.6 billion contract for Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has not raised too many eyebrows.

Students and staff at Bloomington High School agree the new cell phone policy is limiting distractions in the classroom.