A group of 11 Illinois State University students, a staff member and a WGLT reporter started off the new year by volunteering for 10 days in Río Cuarto, Alajuela. Reporter Emily Bollinger brings back this story.

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The great American poet Henry Wadworth Longfellow died in 1882, spurring Bloomington-Normal residents to form a club in his honor. The Longfellow Club enjoys a revered status as Bloomington-Normal’s oldest continuously running social club. They meet most months of the year for educational programs prepared by members, plus dessert, made by whomever is hosting that month.

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Former Bloomington Police Chief Brendan Heffner has retired after serving seven years as the U.S. Marshal for the Central District of Illinois. Heffner was appointed the post in 2018, after leading the Bloomington Police Department for five years.

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Like health clubs, book clubs tend to see a boost at the beginning of a new year. And folks angling to read more in 2026 have a lot of options for book clubs in Bloomington-Normal.

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A delay last year in finishing the external audit for McLean County government put grants at risk and further heightened periodic and recurring tensions between the county administration, other elected office holders and McLean County Auditor Michelle Anderson. There were complaints Anderson was not responsive and that her office had unreasonable delays in acting on routine matters. McLean County Board Chair Elizabeth Johnston said in a WGLT interview she thinks this year will go much better.

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This year, America’s most famous highway turns 100. The Route 66 milestone will be celebrated throughout the year — from Chicago to Los Angeles. Here in McLean County, where a stretch of the road winds from Chenoa to McLean, leaders want events and promotions to allow area residents to revel in their pride and connection to the nation’s Mother Road. But those leaders also want to harness the centennial fever into tourism dollars for the region.

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The Illinois State football team came up one point short in the national championship game in Nashville two weeks ago, but athletics director Jeri Beggs says the university came out a winner in many ways.

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Ridgeview’s Midday Madness event combined sports and student safety for two schools northeast of Bloomington-Normal. Ridgeview High School hosted Flanagan-Cornell for boys and girls basketball on Friday. Rather than play after school, the school in Colfax hosted its conference rival during the school day, giving middle and high school students from both schools a chance to learn an important lesson and have some fun.

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