WGLT's Sound Ideas

The looming end of a contract for a program that supports students with hearing or vision needs at Illinois State University’s lab schools has put their services’ future in doubt and caused anxiety for the students’ families.Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A program in collaboration between Bloomington District 87 and Heartland Community College help junior high students learn skills from nursing professionals. Students attend the Junior Health Science Academy in Heartland’s nursing lab immediately after school once a week over the course of a month. The program is designed by and held in collaboration with the Black Nurses Association of Central Illinois, with two dozen students attending.Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A local healthcare leader is sounding the alarm about planned changes to work requirements for Medicaid slated to take place in January. Following Tuesday's midterm election win, Gov. JB Pritzker is joining him, calling on the next Congress "to deliver urgent relief to Illinoisans" who may be in danger of losing that medical safety net.Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new state law placing stricter definitions and rules on micromobility devices will likely take time to adjust to in Bloomington-Normal, according to law enforcement and hobbyists in the Twin Cities.Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra [ISO] will bring a visually inspired performance to the stage this month, featuring world-renowned pianist Jeremy Denk in his Bloomington-Normal debut, plus a U.S. premiere by composer Bernd Richard Deutsch and Mussorgsky's celebrated Pictures at an Exhibition. Pictures in Motion is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21 in the newly renovated concert hall at Illinois State University's Center for the Performing Arts.Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The front of the sweatshirt reads simply, “Hockey is for Everyone.” Lauralai Zink wears it proudly, and believes the words with all her heart. The 17-year-old doesn’t play the game, but lives and breathes it. She eagerly shares her passion and now, courtesy of the National Hockey League, will have the opportunity to do so on a national stage. A Normal West High School senior, Zink has been selected to serve among 27 NHL Power Players, a program in which a board of young hockey fans advise the league on hockey-related topics important to their generation. The goal is to attract more youth to the game.Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayor Chris Koos said he expects the Town of Normal will have new zoning rules in place by the end of the year to help address the housing shortage, though proposals are not likely to significantly expand the housing supply.Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A larger-than-life opera is taking shape in Normal. MIOpera will be back on stage Saturday after a hosting a series of concerts that featured Black stories and voices earlier this year. For its next show, Semele by 17th century German-British composer George Frideric Handel, the Twin Cities-based opera company is collaborating with the Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana [BACH] for the first time.Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Illinois political leaders say they learned a lesson from Tuesday night’s results in the 2026 midterm election: voters are speaking for change.Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time in 44 years, a Democrat will hold countywide elected office in McLean County. Democrat Joshua Crockett defeated incumbent Republican Kathy Michael on Tuesday as she sought a fifth term as McLean County clerk. With all but a handful of precincts left to count, McLean County Democratic Party Chair Patrick Cortesi declared victory at around 9:30 p.m. with Crockett ultimately edging out Michael by a 12-point margin. Crockett was leading with 56% of the vote with 100% of precincts reporting unofficial results.Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.