The Meet the Newsroom series pulls back the curtain to introduce you to the team that makes WGLT possible. The series continues with WGLT correspondent Braden Fogerson, an Illinois State University alum who covers education across McLean County.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A nonprofit aims to help Illinois State University and other teaching colleges in Illinois address the teacher shortage by recruiting more educators from other professions. Grow Your Own Illinois hosted a recruiting event at ISU on Monday to find prospective educators for ISU and more than 20 colleges and universities across the state. The group's recruitment director, Herman Reeves, said the group is targeting those considering a career change and nontraditional students through its We See the Teacher In You campaign.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Voters living within Normal Township will have an extra question on their November ballots. At issue was a whether the state of Illinois should repeal its anti-BDS [boycott, divestment and sanctions] statute restricting state-funded institutions from refusing to engage with companies that "profit from or enable Israel's apartheid policies and human rights violations."

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the Bloomington-Normal community, there is a significant need for Spanish-speaking volunteer translators. Organizations such as Illinois State University’s Sigma Delta Pi (the National Spanish Honor Society) and Wesley United Methodist Church and community members who volunteer independently are helping fill this need for translating and interpreting.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following a lengthy transition period, Michelle Conger is embracing her new role as CEO of the OSF HealthCare system.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Expansion of news and media literacy instruction is coming to Normal Community and Normal West high schools. Unit 5 was accepted for the News Literacy District Fellowship to provide $30,000 in grant funding over the next three years, beginning in the fall.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers in Illinois are two years deep into a fight to raise the the estate tax exemption for family farm operations in the state. The current rate of $4 million has remained for well over a decade and farmers in Illinois are lobbying state lawmakers to increase it to $6 million. The Family Farm Preservation Act was originally introduced by State Rep. Sharon Chung, D-Bloomington, and State Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, in 2024.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unit 5 schools' superintendent said public feedback helped shape the district's plans to realign school enrollments. A committee of school board members and educators completed a multi-year process on Thursday when it presented a final recommendation to the school board. That recommendation avoids two of the most controversial options the district considered — closing Carlock Elementary northwest of Normal and repurposing Glenn Elementary south of the Illinois State University campus. The district's survey showed heavy opposition to the option that included relocating students from both schools.

Support the show: https://donate.nprstations.org/wglt/wglt-choose-donation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.