WGLT's Sound Ideas

On today's episode, the fourth installment of WGLT's housing series focuses on short term rentals, drone technology helps find lost pets in Bloomington-Normal, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s legal fate may hinge on several blockbuster secret recordings, and Doug Collins returns to ISU following his Basketball Hall of Fame induction. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's — actually a thermal imaging drone and it could be looking for your pet. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rent prices in Bloomington-Normal have skyrocketed, and the housing crunch is tighter than ever. In Normal, the town council recently turned a critical eye toward short-term rentals [STRs] like Airbnb, which some members think may deplete the area’s housing stock more rapidly. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The City of Bloomington is looking to create a long-range plan to address the maintenance needs and possible expansion of Miller Park. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mere mention of Jason Alsene’s name made Hakim Williams’ eyes light up. Moments earlier, Williams had helped the Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team dispatch rival Augustana, 82-52. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recurring theme at a forum Tuesday to discuss the ongoing Twin City housing crisis is that homeowners with favorable interest rates and high property values are less willing to sell their property, or accept new housing — two things that could help address the situation. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Housing is in short supply in Bloomington-Normal, leading some to look outside the Twin Cities for their slice of the American dream. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, the third installment of WGLT's housing series focuses on communities outside Bloomington-Normal, tiny homes are posed as one solution to the lack of affordable housing, Bloomington looks to modernize its flagship park, and the Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball team's biggest fan is really a part of the team. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LaHood on Executive Orders 250128 Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The bank was set to close. The federal government on Tuesday planned to stop issuing funding to nonprofits, local governments, small businesses, universities and other agencies across the country. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2022, the average rental rate per month for a non-student rental housing unit in Bloomington-Normal was $1,078, according to data from the McLean County Regional Planning Commission. By August 2024, that had increased to $1,414. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Bloomington-Normal nonprofits scramble after their federal funding is frozen, the second part of WGLT's housing series focuses on high rents; U.S. Rep Darin LaHood discusses the federal government's funding freeze. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Republican state Rep. Regan Deering, who represents parts of Bloomington, wasted no time wading into a fierce political debate in her first days after taking office. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bloomington-Normal in 2024 spent more time talking about building housing than actually building housing. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If Bloomington-Normal is ever going to steer itself out of this housing shortage, developers like Rathnakumar Ramachandran and Rajkumar Thirupparkadal are going to be behind the wheel. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, the first part of weeklong series on Bloomington-Normal's housing shortage, two Bloomington developers have turned home construction into a side hustle, services providers broaden their efforts to count the unhoused in rural areas in central Illinois, plus a Republican lawmaker who represents parts of McLean County outlines her goals for the spring session. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the coldest night each year, volunteers across the United States brave frigid temperatures in search of people living in them. Known as the Point in Time [PIT] count, it’s both a federal data collection opportunity on homelessness and a way to help a community’s often most vulnerable members. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heading into the second half of their debut season, the Bloomington Bison have put themselves in position for a potential playoff berth. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mindy Smith and John Bowen play the lead characters in Heartland Theatre Company's production of Alias Grace. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man who initially refused to testify in a McLean County murder case got an unprecedented prison sentence in a case advocates and experts say is “weird.” Alexander Gayles, of Chicago, is serving 10 years for failing to appear in response to a subpoena last spring. Gayles believes the court did not take seriously his fear of testifying. Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.