Metcalf picked up her third Tony on Sunday, adding to a stack of accolades gathered across her five decade career on stage and screen.

Just four days after a local benefactor pulled the plug after years of bearing the costs himself, the Balloons Over 66 Weekend Committee said late Friday that they’ve figured out how to keep the balloons flying another year.

Pontiac's Diaz Sign Art created a custom mural for Sprague's Super Service commemorating significant landmarks in the Town of Normal: the Normal Theater and Steak and Shake. It will be officially unveiled Friday, ahead of a 1950s-themed celebration as part of the Cruisin' through the Century Route 66 Centennial.

While not an exhaustive list, here's WGLT's recommendations for live music outside during Central Illinois' summer months.

The 100th birthday of Route 66 is not lost on businesses and attractions who depend on it. In Lexington, Towanda, Atlanta and Normal, proprietors acknowledge the importance of the nostalgia-driven love for the Mother Road is not just a moment in its history, but a movement they are a part of.

Paul Bouseman has been picked to lead the city-owned zoo. He previously worked in zoo management and parks and recreation in Evansville, Indiana.

John Burroughs, whose account of the Rendlesham Forest incident helped make it one of the world's most famous UFO cases, is bringing a UFO conference to Bloomington and will discuss his decades-long effort to obtain medical benefits for health challenges related to the event.

Seth Goodman said he can't keep organizing the hot air balloons that are the cornerstone of Lincoln's signature event. Goodman told WGLT he can't keep covering the $30,000 to $40,000 a year it takes to operate and insure the balloon flights.

Johnnie Owens and other Midwest musicians are working with Sam's Club to bring two days of music and fundraising to the grocery store's parking lot. The "Fundstival" will take place on June 5 and 6.

Oltmanns will replace Rhys Lovell, who stepped down after over a decade in the position.

Wheelz brings skating back to the area for the first time in three years, with an inaugural all-day event Sunday in Bloomington. After Skate N Place closed in 2023, the closest permanent rink is nearly an hour away.

Midwest Punk Fest organizer Jeremy Plue is reviving the regional festival after a four-year hiatus. He's also the "chief creative juggernaut" at Meltdown Creative Works and saw an opportunity to bring the festival back in the burgeoning venue.