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

Recent political rhetoric aside, the majority of immigrants living in the US. come here legally, and each has a compelling story to tell. Those are among the messages members of Bloomington-Normal's immigrant communities hope to convey at a conversation Thursday evening at Bloomington Public Library. East Indian, Mexican, Caribbean and Latin American immigrants will share their personal stories. Speaking on GLT's Sound Ideas, Marianne Taylor, who emigrated to Bloomington six years ago from the

Instead of letting old plastic shopping bags clog our landfill or flutter around on the whims of the wind, one local group is upcycling them to help folks in need.

New Bloomington Alderman Jamie Mathy says the city is not all that user friendly for small business startups. But, he says the city of no is starting to turn into the city of, how can we help you? Plus home is where the RV is, the final chapter of a ten month travel odyssey. And getting rid of a couple of garden pests.

North Street Records owner Jeff Wilson paused to contemplate the 50 year anniversary of The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album. "I can't believe all Beatles records are starting to be 50 years old," said Wilson sitting next to the turntable behind the counter in his store. "I guess it's like the world's classical music, especially Sgt. Pepper because it's so iconic."

The man who has spent the past month learning about past management of the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts says the 1,200 seat theater and basement-level meeting space sits empty far too often. "I get no pleasure out of an auditorium of 1,200 sitting there empty and knowing that 1,200 could have something in it and that 'something' could be producing revenue for the city," said Carl St. Clair, a former VenuWorks executive who was lured out of retirement with a four-month, $30,000

A march from Chicago to Springfield demanding a state budget. One of those marchers joins us, advocating a progressive income tax. The head of the Ecology Action Center lays out plans for a household hazardous waste collection event and business support for it. Plus, the Mayor of Bloomington stops by.

IWU Women's Basketball Coach Mia Smith looks at the intangibles of young talented basketball players. Her new gig is selecting players for the USA Basketball 16 and under national team. Plus, saying goodbye to a gentle man and WGLT colleague, and what's new (or rather old) in Springfield.

Once the excitement of adopting a new pet settles down, you have a big decision ahead of you: what to name your new friend.

Even veteran coaches can get nervous when jumping into a new endeavor. Adding to the apprehension for Illinois Wesleyan women’s basketball coach Mia Smith is jumping midstream into an at-large representative for selecting athletes and coaches for the national USA Basketball committee. She had no idea she was even being considered.

Longtime WGLT Morning Edition Host Jim Browne, 65, passed away Saturday morning around 6 a.m. in hospice at Advocate BroMenn. He died after a lengthy illness. Browne had a 45 year career in broadcasting at several radio stations including WGLT and WJBC in Bloomington Normal.

Downtown Bloomington is set to go steampunk with Cogs and Corsets: A Steampunk Happening, June 2 - 4.

A potential multi-sports complex on Bloomington-Normal's west side could top $50 million in public-private investment. In an interview for GLT's Sound Ideas , Katie Kim of the Kim Group, a developer working with landowner Dave Stark on a multi-use sports complex in Bloomington-Normal, said she continues to meet with stakeholders.

Bloomington police said they want to look at a next generation body camera product because the first one under review doesn't have enough battery life. Cameras are supposed to have eight hours of recording time. But, some batteries are lasting only three hours. Chief Brendan Heffner said the law is ambiguous because it's not clear whether ten hours refers to recording capacity or battery life. Sergeant Clayton Arnold is overseeing the pilot project of 12 officers using body cams. Sergeant Arnold

A piece of the proposed multi-sport complex on Bloomington Normal's west side could be another ice rink. GLT’s Charlie Schlenker talks with real-estate developer Katie Kim who’s promoting the sports complex. Laura Kennedy talks with circus people as the iconic Ringling Brothers Circus prepares its final show this weekend, and Jon Norton talks with an African American feminist from Peoria about her new book.

Four harmonizing saxophones in Woody Herman’s 1947 jazz band recorded a song called “Four Brothers” and changed Woody’s fortunes for decades to come. The record is on Don’s playlist for this week’s Radio Munson, along with Nicki Parrott (puh-ROT), Nat “King” Cole, Beth Hart, and pianist Freddy “Daddy” Slack plays “Beat Me Daddy Eight to the Bar."