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GLT News of the Week

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Tim Johnson Q&A (mp3)
Air Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010
Run Time: 5:29
The recent re-constitution of the Future Gen experimental clean coal project orginally pegged for Mattoon has left a sour taste in the mouth of central Illinois Congressman Tim Johnson. The Urbana Republican says he doubts the near zero emissions plant will ever be built.

Metropolis Re-make (mp3)
Air Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010
Run Time: 5:19
A classic of the sci-fi genre has been reborn, thanks to the discovery of footage that has been missing for over eighty years. The Normal Theatre is showing the restored version of "Metropolis." Dawn Riordan, the theatre's manager, talks about the miraculous re-piecing of a classic film.

Miracle League (mp3)
Air Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2010
Run Time: 4:43
It's hard for children with disabilities to do the things that most people do. And that can be an isolating experience. WGLT's Charlie Schlenker has more on one group trying to help people like the Connolly family.

Lego Art (mp3)
Air Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010
Run Time: 4:43
A childhood passion has inspired a whimsical and thoughtful group of sculptures on display at Lakeview Museum in Peoria. WGLT's Laura Kennedy looks at "The Art of the Brick" The exhibit runs through Sept. 6th at Lakeview Museum.

Corruption Index (mp3)
Air Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2010
Run Time: 5:08
Illinois' last Republican Governor is in prison, his Democratic successor was impeached, kicked out of office, and is now standing trial for allegedly trying to sell a U-S Senate seat. So it shouldn't be surprising Oguzhan Dincer from Illinois State University is developing a corruption index.

Normal's Corn Crib Open for Business (mp3)
Air Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2010
Run Time: 4:50
For the first time in more than seventy years, regular season minor league baseball has returned to McLean County. The era of the Normal Cornbelters is underway with the first-ever professional game at the brand-new Corn Crib stadium on the town's northwest edge.

Ecology Action Center's Mike Brown (mp3)
Air Date: Thu, 20 May 2010
Run Time: 4:50
Another victim of the state budget crunch could be the environment. The Ecology Action Center has not received its license for hazardous waste collection for this spring, because of lack of state funding. Michael Brown, the Executive Director of the Ecology Action Center in Normal has some tips on how to reduce your use of chemicals that could get into the environment.

Community Service Ethic (mp3)
Air Date: Thu, 13 May 2010
Run Time: 5:27
A quiet community institution is stepping down from her position at a Bloomington insurer. WGLT's Charlie Schlenker talks with Deanna Frautschi, a woman who personifies the idea of community involvement.

Hoboes and Bindlestiffs (mp3)
Air Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2010
Run Time: 5:19
There are a lot of books about the American Railroads and the opening of the west--the engine of economic Progress. But there aren't as many about the people that brought the goods to harvest and gave the railroads something to carry back to the rest of the country. WGLT's Charlie Schlenker talks with the author of a book on that neglected part of history.

The Daily Show's Aasif Mandvi (mp3)
Air Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2010
Run Time: 5:26
A real actor who plays a fake newsman on "The Daily Show" is coming to Illinois State University to appear at the Indian Cultural Dinner next week. WGLT's Laura Kennedy speaks with Aasif Mandvi about the merging of entertainment and news.

National Home Builders Assoc. Economist Elliot Eisenberg (mp3)
Air Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2010
Run Time: 5:21
An economist with the National Home Builders Association says he doesn't think sales of newly-built homes will be rebounding anytime soon. Elliott Eisenberg made his remarks during a trip to Bloomington-Normal.

Libertarian Governor Candidate Lex Green of Bloomington (mp3)
Air Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010
Run Time: 5:40
There are a half dozen registered candidates for Governor of Illinois, and half of them come from McLean County. WGLT's Jim Browne talks with one of them.

Backyard Bird Count (mp3)
Air Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010
Run Time: 4:08
Bird watchers in central Illinois and across North America can step into the role of citizen scientist next weekend (2/12-15). GLT's Laura Kennedy has this story about the Great Backyard Bird Count.....

Final Election Sprint (mp3)
Air Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010
Run Time: 4:08
The final media blitz is on in the Governor’s races. WGLT’s Charlie Schlenker has more with ISU Political Scientist and GLT analyst Lane Crothers on what’s happening among the Democrats...

The Santaland Diaries (mp3)
Air Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009
Run Time: 4:08
'Tis the season to be jolly, and stressed, and short tempered, and doubting of your fellow man. It is, at least if you see the new Heartland Theater production of The Santaland Diaries.

U. S. Representative Debbie Halvorson (mp3)
Air Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009
Run Time: 5:13
When he addressed a joint session of Congress a month after his historic inauguration earlier this year, President Barack Obama set forth an ambitious time table for overhauling a health care system nearly a century without major reforms. With just six weeks remaining until the end of the year, U. S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson (D-IL, 11th) holds out hope a new health care law can be signed before 2010.

The Barbaric Heart (mp3)
Air Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009
Run Time: 5:27
Writer and culture critic Curt White has a new take on the environment, technology, and capitalism. WGLT's Charlie Schlenker has more on White's latest book, The Barbaric Heart, largely addressed to environmentalists.

Thriller Dance (mp3)
Air Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009
Run Time: 6:00
Halloween has many traditions: trick-or-treating, scary costumes, bobbing for apples, and now you can add a dance from the late so-called King of Pop to that list. And it turns out to be a great way to work off all those fun sized candy bars.

The Corn Crib (mp3)
Air Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009
Run Time: 5:17
The name of the minor league baseball stadium under construction in north Normal has been selected. Sponsors and team organizers hope the moniker's mixed metaphor-ish meaning will wind up serving as a valuable educational tool.

Downtown Bloomington Strategy (mp3)
Air Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2009
Run Time: 5:32
So what are the chances for the new Downtown Strategy in Bloomington? Public officials are beginning to weigh in on the 30-year blueprint for revitalizing Bloomington’s historic downtown.

Esmark Executive Craig Bouchard (mp3)
Air Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009
Run Time: 5:45
Illinois State University alum Craig Bouchard (BS '75, MS '77) helped engineer the only hostile reverse merger ever seen on Wall Street. He is out with a new book about his experiences selling his company to foreign interests.

Globalization and American Pop Culture (mp3)
Air Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009
Run Time: 5:37
Global media and popular culture overlap national and political and legal boundaries. WGLT's Charlie Schlenker has more on the great sloshing pool of culture and its effects with Lane Crothers, an ISU author of a new book.

Freakonomics Author (mp3)
Air Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009
Run Time: 5:23
A self-described rogue economist says he doesn't have as much to say as one might think regarding the nation's economic meltdown. But, in this interview with WGLT's Charlie Schlenker, Steve Levitt does have a few things to offer.

Lincoln-Fell-Davis Statue (mp3)
Air Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009
Run Time: 4:41
The McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington will soon be home to another statue of Abraham Lincoln. But this statue, "Convergence of Purpose," will also feature twin city political giants Jesse Fell and David Davis. The two men are credited with convincing the lanky railsplitter to make a run for Presient under the banner of the newly formed Republican Party. WGLT's Jim Browne talks with the sculptor.

High Speed Rail Stakeholder's Meeting (mp3)
Air Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009
Run Time: 4:38
Illinois 11th District Representative Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) convened a meeting of Bloomington-Normal community stakeholders in an effort to strengthen the bid for as much as 3-billion dollars in stimulus money for high speed rail improvements along the Chicago to St. Louis corridor.

Love To Love You Bradys (mp3)
Air Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2009
Run Time: 5:24
One of the most beloved TV shows of the 1970's spawned one of the worst shows of that decade. This is the story about a book that exposes the over-the-top variety show featuring the Brady Bunch that appeared briefly in 1977 and recently was named as one of TV Guides' worst shows of all time. Laura Kennedy talks with the authors, Normal U-High and ISU grad Ted Nichelson and Susan Olsen, who played Cindy Brady in the sitcom and variety shows.

100 Black Men (mp3)
Air Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2009
Run Time: 5:10
It's not about black or white, it's about improving the community. That's according to the President of 100 Black Men of Central Illinois. Dale W. Avery says his organization is one of 116 chapters spawned from the National 100 Black Men formed in New York about 40 years ago. The idea was that 100 Black Men could change a community. WGLT's Jim Browne has more on the group.

ISU Historic Buildings (mp3)
Air Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009
Run Time: 5:33
A new book by a Bloomington Normal author takes a loving look at the buildings of Illinois State University, their history, and the people who shaped them. WGLT's Charlie Schlenker has more.

Girls Olympic Softball Dreams Quashed? (mp3)
Air Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009
Run Time: 4:08
Eight-eight teams are competing to be number one at this week's ASA Girls Twelve and Under National Fastpitch Softball Championship in Normal. Some have traveled from as far away as California and Texas. But, as WGLT's Barbara Harrington reports, their minds aren't just on this week's tournament.

Jazz Singer Kurt Elling (mp3)
Air Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009
Run Time: 3:19
Jazz singer Kurt Elling has earned his reputation, and many awards, with his idiosyncratic style. On his latest CD, "Dedicated to You," Elling pays tribute to a classic jazz album while still holding true to his modern stylistic ideals. He talks with GLT's Laura Kennedy

Welcome to Band Camp (mp3)
Air Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009
Run Time: 3:19
They've packed their toothbrushes, tennis shoes, and in some cases, tubas for summer camp. After a week of practice, tomorrow the Music for All Summer Symposium will wrap up with a final performance by the students. WGLT's Barbara Harrington has more