WGLT-FM: Assorted stories from WGLT-FM : NPR

Country music is changing in just about every way. A more pop-friendly sound, sold out stadium tours, and a fresh batch of new talent is challenging tradition and moving the genre to new heights. Don't panic; the classic country style is still alive and well. During the singing competition craze of the early 2000s, NBC developed a show for its cable channel USA to capitalize on the success of shows like American Idol. Nashville Star ran from 2003-2008, and had a bit of a kick to it; performers

Check in with Mick Hannah, one of several Mitsubishi employees we’ve followed since the shutdown was announced a year ago this Sunday. Many scattered to new careers. Where Mick Hannah landed was no surprise to anyone, except himself. In the second of three interviews with ex-Mitsubishi workers, hear about Mick Hannah's new career at a bicycle shop. Hear from the ISU contingent at the GOP Convention in Cleveland. Plus, a preview of concert at the Corn Crib this weekend.

On the east side of Bloomington the former Asia location has a new restaurant. Charlie Schlenker talks about Amavarati on Hershey Road with Larry Carius who writes about the Bloomington Normal Restaurant Scene on Facebook.

A classic children's fairy tale, nuns imperiled by the Reign of Terror and a jolly Shakespearean character with big appetites make up the 2016 season from the Midwest Institute of Opera. It kicks off on Monday, July 25 at the Illinois State University Center for the Performing Arts.

The Mitsubishi automotive plant in Normal announced it was closing last July 24. For car assembler Mick Hannah, who had worked at the factory for 26 years, it was the start of "one of the worst periods of my life."

With all the talk of party unity, there still stands a stark disconnect between many planks in the 2012 Republican party platform, and the views of the party's 2016 presidential nominee, Donald Trump. During Sound Ideas, Illinois State University Professor of Politics and Government, Tom McClure talked about these differences. McClure is leading a contingent made up mostly of students attending the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

Professor Tom McClure and student Austin Bertschy check in from the ISU contingent at the GOP national convention in Cleveland, and Judy Valente talks with one of the Nuns on the Bus, that came through Bloomington last week, en route to the convention city. Colleen Reynolds previews this week’s Local Flavors event at Kelly’s Bakery in Bloomington. And Charlie Schlenker interviews McLean County Board chair John McIntyre.

The first anniversary of the announcement of the closure of the Mitsubishi Auto plant in Normal is this weekend. GLT is revisiting the several former workers we've followed since then.

Heartland Community College is getting ready for a new school year. But many things are not yet clear. In this conversation with GLT's Charlie Schlenker, Heartland President Rob Widmer said one of the unknowns, with only a month to go before school, is enrollment.

McLean County Board members have given a little heat to the building and zoning department over a lack of transparency involving a change to wind farm rules. And some board members are upset they didn't move up the food chain to chair committees in the wake of the latest shuffle of panel assignments.

The Local Flavors farm-to-table restaurant series continues tomorrow at Kelly’s Bakery and Café where the menu will feature roasted chicken salad on a pretzel roll, a roasted veggie pita, applesauce and sweet peach tea, all made with ingredients from Central Illinois farms. Owner Kelly Mathy says farms who supply her use practices associated with organic farming but ingredients are not certified as organic.