Rich Egger

Representatives from eight proposed businesses pitched their plans during the Downtown Macomb Retail Business Competition. Only one winner was chosen, but some of the other business plans could still come to fruition.

The Poynter Institute reports Federal Communications Commission Chair Ajit Pai questioned whether Sinclair Broadcast Group's deal to purchase Tribune Media involved a "possible sham transaction."

The plain white back door to the Western Illinois Museum's back room becomes a time portal twice a month, transporting visitors to a Prohibition-era speakeasy. And just like the illegal drinking establishments of the Roaring '20s, you can't get in if you don’t know the password.

Hundreds of people turned out Wednesday morning for a ceremony to mark the opening of the East Main Street underpass.  It will allow emergency vehicles and other drivers to get around that part of town without being stopped by trains.

Shop Talk panelist Jasmine Crighton came across a photo on social media of a TV reporter posing with a politician she had just interviewed. The reporter's comments accompanying the photo gushed about the politician's success and nice personality.

Western Illinois University has seen a sharp drop in student enrollment in recent years, which means less money coming in through tuition and fees.  That, combined with decreases in state financial support – especially during the two-year state budget impasse – hurt the university's finances, leading to layoffs, furloughs, and an early retirement program.

Illinois Public Radio reported a college professor who performed his own audit of how local governments in Illinois handle Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests found the results were better than expected.   

Project Rebound is a non-profit organization that looks for single family homes in Galesburg that can be bought, renovated, and then sold for $60,000 or less with no down payment.  It strives to help people who are working stable jobs and have good credit but who don't make enough money to save for a down payment. 

Leaders at Western Illinois University said they will unveil details about the school's realignment plans on July 16.  They said everything is being evaluated so it's too soon to discuss what might be included in the plans.

The blog Spark News reported the marketing manager for the radio program module EarthDate appeared to willfully misrepresent the number of stations carrying the program.  Casey Walker told the blog he does mass-mailings of promotional CDs to stations and if a station does not respond to the mailing, he assumes the station is carrying the program.

The Illinois Top 200 Project celebrates the state's bicentennial by allowing residents to vote on their favorites in a variety of categories. And the results show two of the state's top authors are from this region.

Rob Rogers was fired by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette after the newspaper rejected a number of his cartoons that were critical of Donald Trump's presidential policies.  Snopes reported Rogers' firing wasn't based on one single cartoon and that several of his cartoons were spiked this year after a new editorial director joined the paper.

The Knox Prairie Community Kitchen (KPCK) provides free community dinners twice a month in Galesburg.  The dinners will continue but beginning in July 2018 they will be held at a new location: the First Baptist Church of Galesburg at 169 South Cherry Street.

The Higher Education Working Group started meeting last fall to identify ways to reform higher education in Illinois.  And the group continues to meet even after lawmakers adjourned their 2018 legislative session.

Shop Talk panelist Jasmine Crighton said she recently raised concerns on Macomb News Now's Facebook page when the station failed to identify the source of a story it shared.  Instead of addressing Crighton's concerns, the station deleted her comment and then contacted her, explaining it didn't want to cause a stir.  Crighton feels the station should have publicly responded to her query instead of trying to sweep her concerns under the rug.

The state of Illinois has a budget in place for next fiscal year, which will help public colleges and universities with their planning.  But the president of Western Illinois University said the state appropriation of $47.2 million for WIU falls short of what his school needs.

The headline for an article in Columbia Journalism Review sums up a concern in journalism: "Digital journalism’s disappearing public record, and what to do about it."

Western Illinois University President Jack Thomas is completing his seventh year at the helm, yet he has never signed a contract with the school.  Instead the Board of Trustees has always signed a Letter of Employment with him. (see editor's note below for update)

Nieman Lab reported the FCC's spectrum auction last year drove billions of dollars to hundreds of broadcasters across the country. The windfall of cash came from wireless carriers seeking infrastructure for more powerful networks.  

A new exhibit at Knox College pays tribute to the school's 98 alumni and one faculty member who died during military service in World Wars One and Two, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Macomb started Memorial Day weekend by unveiling a bronze sign at Oakwood Cemetery.   The marker was installed to celebrate the burial ground's designation as a state historic site.  It summarizes Oakwood's founding and history.

The three-year pact covers 34 fulltime faculty members at Spoon River College's campuses in Canton, Macomb, Rushville, and Havana.  SRC President Curt Oldfield praised the interest-based bargaining approach used during the negotiations.

The city said the EAB infestation was found on the 300 block of North Johnson Street, and that the Illinois Department of Agriculture has confirmed it.

The committee formed to help shape the future of West Prairie School District 103 has completed its report.   Now it is up to the Board of Education to decide how to proceed.

The Shop Talk panelists take a break from discussing the challenges facing journalism to focus on the benefits of belonging to professional development groups that focus on news reporting.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDHP) said disease cases from tick and mosquito bites in the state increased 58% from 2005 to 2016.  Director Nirav Shah said simple precautions can help stymie the biting insects.