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

The Bloomington City Council is considering establishing a citizen-led police oversight board to receive complaints about police and offer citizens an a review process.

The Bloomington City Council may vote on a civilian review board at their July 10 meeting, but action could also be delayed, according to a Bloomington Alderman.

Contamination in the single-stream recycling is threatening recycling as we know it. Education – including a new smart phone app – may be the key. Mike McCurdy talks with Michael Brown with the Ecology Action Center. You’ll also hear from Todd Shumaker with the Midwest Fiber, the company sorting recycling in central Illinois. GLT’s Jon Norton checks in with a husband and wife jazz group, headed to Jazz Upfront in Bloomington. Find out what Mardra and Reggie Thomas have been up to. And Ward 6

Community groups in the Twin Cities are advocating for a citizen-led review board to monitor and weigh in on the actions of the Bloomington Police Department. Bloomington Police Chief Brendan Heffner has resisted the call, saying citizens don't understand the intricacies of police work. But there are many citizen led review boards across the country, including in Illinois. Perhaps the oldest is in Lincoln, Nebraska. That state's capital city with a population of just over 270,000 has had some

As Bloomington considers a citizen review board for police, the Chief of a department that pioneered community policing says he is a big advocate for that kind of body. Jeffrey Bliemeister is the police chief of Lincoln, Nebraska. He talks with GLT’s Jon Norton. Judy Valente has the story of Congolese family and their immigration story. She talks with those in Bloomington-Normal who helped the family find a home. And Town of Normal City Manager Mark Peterson is in the studio talk about Uptown,

Like many Americans, Gretchen Snow was horrified at the photos of a drowned Syrian refugee child who washed up on the shores of Greece. Then there were the images of African families fleeing violence in their villages, walking on dirt roads, children in tow and their belongings on their backs. Snow decided she had to act. She was not alone.

The 26th Annual Champagne British Car Festival is highlighting the DeLorean -- the car that was transformed into a time machine in Back to the Future .

Today’s programming is made possible in part by GLT Day Sponsors Don and Karen Wettstein, reminding every parent and grandparent that not only is today a good day to listen to GLT, it is also a great day to hug your children and grandchildren!

Today’s programming is made possible in part by GLT Day Sponsor Bill LaBounty inviting you to join the McLean County Historical Society in celebrating its 125th anniversary and recognizing local senior citizens’ lifelong contributions to the community at the annual History Makers Gala, Thursday, June 15th in the Brown Ballroom at ISU’s Bone Student Center. Information and tickets at McHistory.dot.org .

Forty years ago this week, the lines began to form around the block for Star Wars —a film that went on to explode not just box office records, but make a profound impact on culture.

Throw some particles at an atom and what do you get? That's what Dr. Allison Harris wants to know.

Sometimes you just want to plant a huckleberry bush in your yard. And sometimes it's just a pain trying to actually find a huckleberry bush. Finding native plants can be a challenge.

Walking along Shady Hollow Trail at Comlara Park, Sherrie Snyder spots a small flowering plant in the underbrush that contains a series of delicate deep purple blossoms. She stoops to snap a photograph of it on her cell phone. "I'm going take a picture of this little guy, the dwarf larkspur," she says. It's all part of a citizen-science project called Flora of Comlara Park. She and other volunteers—you might call them plant Sherlocks—observe and photograph the current plant life so that

Destihl Brewery is banking on its sour ales for future growth as it opens its new facility in north Normal. But, formerly explosive double digit growth in craft beer slowed last year to six percent. Talking about beer taste trends with Destihl. Plus, plastic mats for the homeless, Sergeant Pepper hits 50, and immigration stories.

Editors note: This is the first of a series of interviews with newly elected council members in Bloomington and Normal. There are a "ton of details to work out," but a Bloomington Alderman is standing by campaign statements about a shared sales tax agreement between Bloomington and Normal.