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With energy, humor and hip hop verse, Shakespeare's timeless masterpiece Romeo and Juliet moves to a new rhythm created by the Q Brothers Collective for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.

For the first time in a long time, Bloomington-Normal’s social service agencies have a reason to applaud state lawmakers.

Matthew Curry is in a groove. Oh he was in a groove three years ago opening for legendary names including The Doobie Brothers, Steve Miller, and Peter Frampton. It's just that that sort of exposure isn't supposed to happen right out of high school. "It almost happened a bit backwards," said Curry, referring to his career path. "I think most people start with the club circuit and build and build and then hope to be on some of the tours we had the honor to be on."

Impatiens downy mildew is a growing problem in gardens across America. Defoliation and flower dropping are two signs your plants are infected. Impatiens are an enormously popular bedding plant that love the shade, though there are sun tolerant varieties. What this sweet-looking plant can't stand is too much heat and humidity. That potent combination leaves the plant open to downy mildew. When the mildew first strikes, leaves curl under and turn light in color, blossoms drop and a fluffy white

The biggest threat to Amtrak passenger rail service is probably a proposal in Congress to eliminate long-distance routes, according to Normal’s mayor.

The mayor of Normal is praising a former Parks and Recreation director for his deep impact on the town.

When Shakespeare first wrote Cymbeline in 1623, it was well received. But by the 18th century, the play had fallen out of favor. Audiences found it difficult to pin down and classify, plus it was darkly comedic and just had a whole lot going on from curtain up to curtain down. But there's a new adaptation afoot at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival that puts the problems of the play in their place and sets the action under the big top.

The speaker of the Illinois House has scheduled a vote for Thursday to override the governor's veto of the budget package.

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to helm a bulldozer, your chance has arrived!

Democrats plan to mount a challenge next year to Republican McLean County Clerk Kathy Michael. Nikita Richards has announced she is running as a progressive.

A gay, married Catholic from the Springfield diocese is reacting to restrictions his bishop has placed on gay parishoners. Springfield church member John Freml ponders his future in the Catholic Church. Get a preview of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival's opening night. We observe the centennial of a street car strike in Bloomington – find out what this labor action is important. And Jon Norton talks with Sarah Shook. Her band The Disarmers are headed to central Illinois.

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival presents a music-filled version of A Midsummer Night's Dream this season that turns out to be a bit of a family affair.

John Freml grew up in a Catholic family and attended parochial schools. He is an active member at his parish in Springfield and says he loves the Catholic Mass.

A woman in her early 30's embracing honky-tonk? A music genre that peaked decades ago? Sarah Shook has answered the query many times. "I had a very strange upbringing as far a music goes," explained Shook via phone from her North Carolina home. "I was certainly not exposed to a lot of the pop music that was popular in my age group, then and now."

Bloomington is considering making Urbana's civilian police review board a model for a similar review board here. But has the Urbana board made a difference in that community? GLT's Judy Valente talks with Urbana's Deputy Police Chief Bryant Seraphin. Get a preview of B-N by the numbers presentation from the Economic Development Council and hear about the small business development center at Illinois Wesleyan University, following the closure of ISU’s center. And GLT’s Laura Kennedy walks you