Ryan Denham, WGLT-FM (Normal, IL) Journalist Profile

Articles

Lax laws on realistic-looking fake guns leave room for tragic results

1 week ago | vpm.org | Ryan Denham

Toy guns are part of the childhood memories of many Americans. But there's a style of fake guns that police say are indistinguishable from the real ones. And that makes them dangerous.
Q&A with Rep. Chung on higher education funding, data centers, and all that didn't get done during spring session

3 weeks ago | nprillinois.org | Ryan Denham

Advocates hoped that this would be the year that lawmakers overhauled how higher education is funded in Illinois. Alas, it was not to be. The spring legislative session just ended without action on a new higher education funding formula. A recent version of the plan would add about $1.7 billion in state spending to higher ed over the next 10 to 15 years. It would distribute that new money using a needs-based formula, similar to one now used in K-12 education.
Reps. LaHood and Sorensen split on 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' vote

1 month ago | nprillinois.org | Ryan Denham

The two U.S. House members who represent Bloomington-Normal and Greater Peoria split their vote on a massive bill to enact the heart of President Trump's domestic agenda. Rep. Darin LaHood, a Republican from Peoria, voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Rep. Eric Sorensen, a Democrat from Moline, voted against it. The final vote early Thursday was 215-214. It now goes to the Senate, where lawmakers have already signaled reservations about key elements of the plan.
Rivian to get $16 million in state incentives for new supplier park in Normal

1 month ago | nprillinois.org | Ryan Denham

Rivian will get $16 million in state incentives plus more local tax breaks to help build a new supplier park just west of the electric automaker’s manufacturing plant in Normal, officials said Monday. The project is expected to fortify Rivian’s supply chain and create “hundreds of new jobs” once suppliers move in. Rivian has been working to develop the property west of Rivian Motorway for years. Monday’s announcement adds new details to the company’s plans, including the incentives offered.
ISU and faculty union reach tentative deal, averting strike

2 months ago | nprillinois.org | Ryan Denham

Illinois State University and its faculty union reached a tentative agreement Friday, averting a strike that could have begun at any moment. Terms of the deal were not released. The tentative agreement comes after nearly 50 negotiating sessions between ISU administrators and the United Faculty of ISU union. The union represents 650 tenured and tenure-track faculty and was negotiating its first contract after getting recognition.
How a strike by ISU's faculty would work - and what happens next

Mar 27, 2025 | nprillinois.org | Ryan Denham

If you’re wondering what it’s like when a university’s faculty goes on strike, talk to Mike Hart. He was the president of the Governor’s State University faculty union — and their lead negotiator — when they went on strike for five days in April 2023. Fresh off a heart operation at the time, Hart said it was a scary, stressful and bizarre time for the small campus just south of Chicago. “I didn’t sleep but maybe two hours a night the entire week, if that,” Hart told WGLT.
'We don’t want to hurt you': Video shows 10-minute standoff before Bloomington Police shot 15-year-old

Mar 26, 2025 | nprillinois.org | Ryan Denham

Newly released video shows Bloomington Police officers spent 10 minutes pleading with a 15-year-old to drop a gun before fatally shooting him when the confrontation escalated. The McLean County state's attorney says the officers were legally justified in using deadly force. Illinois State Police on Tuesday released video footage showing two angles of the Feb. 25 shooting that killed Cole Turner of Normal.
Road rage incident on Interstate 55 leads to driver being shot

Mar 11, 2025 | nprillinois.org | Ryan Denham

Authorities are looking for a suspect who shot another driver during a road rage incident that began on Interstate 55 northeast of Bloomington-Normal. Police call it an isolated incident. The incident happened around 9 p.m. Monday on northbound I-55 between Lexington and Chenoa, according to the Livingston County sheriff's office. After the initial incident, the suspect vehicle followed the victim’s vehicle on Old Route 66 in Livingston County, police said.
State Farm's financial results improve, as underwriting losses decline

Mar 3, 2025 | nprillinois.org | Ryan Denham

State Farm's financial results improved in 2024, though the Bloomington-based company still posted an underwriting loss of over $6 billion. State Farm released its annual financial results on Friday. State Farm says its core property-casualty business posted a $6.1 billion underwriting loss in 2024, much better than the $14.1 billion underwriting loss in 2023. That cut down operating losses from $8.5 billion last year to $111 million in 2024.
WGLT sets spring election events

Feb 18, 2025 | news.illinoisstate.edu | Ryan Denham

WGLT, Bloomington-Normal’s Public Media and part of the NPR Network, will host three events in one night ahead of the April 1 municipal election. A candidate open house and two mayoral forums will take place Tuesday, March 4, from 5-8 p.m. All events will take place at the Illinois State University Bone Student Center Brown Ballroom.