Our small but mighty news team reported a wide range of stories in 2025.
We narrowed down our top ten local stories by evaluating the impact and importance to our audience, as well as the quality of the reporting.
Count it down with us!
10. Orpheum Theatre repairs
Galesburg’s Orpheum Theatre closed temporarily in 2025 after securing a $500,000 state appropriation to fix a wall surrounding the stage area. The theater’s executive director, Andrew Driscoll, said the wall had been moving for some time, and there were concerns that could affect the integrity of the roof.
The investment allowed the historic, 109-year-old venue to make the structural repairs — and reopen in time for the new season as attendance numbers at the Jewel of Galesburg are growing by the thousands.
2025 also saw another historic venue in the region — Keokuk’s Grand Theatre — celebrate its 100th anniversary.
9. Burlington budget crunch
City leaders asked voters in March whether to approve a 3% utility franchise fee on gas and electric bills to help close a growing budget gap caused by state property tax reforms and slow valuation growth.
Voters rejected the proposal, with about 53% voting no, leaving the city to move forward with significant cuts and continue searching for sustainable revenue solutions amid ongoing fiscal challenges.
Burlington Mayor Jon Billups emphasized the importance of local control, criticizing state property tax changes that negatively impacted smaller cities and reduced locally approved levies, and pledging more community engagement as the city adjusts to its fiscal challenges.
8. Keokuk Road of Honor
In June, city leaders and veterans in Keokuk dedicated a newly rebuilt section of South 18th Street as the Road of Honor, a ceremonial entrance to Keokuk National Cemetery — the only national cemetery in Iowa.
The project, years in the making, replaced a deteriorating gravel road with concrete pavement and sidewalks, improving safety and accessibility for funeral processions and visitors. Officials said the designation reflects the cemetery’s significance and honors the service members buried there.
7. Police department leadership
In Macomb, Chief Jeff Hamer announced his retirement to take a private-sector job. The city council unanimously approved the appointment of Todd Tedrow as interim chief.
In Galesburg, the city dismissed Russ Idle as police chief in March following an internal investigation into sexual harassment allegations, later naming Kevin Legate chief and facing a lawsuit from the former chief over pay and benefits.
6. Inside jails and prisons
Conditions inside correctional facilities remained under scrutiny as employees at Hill Correctional Center in Galesburg continued to raise concerns about drugs, violence, and understaffing a year after statewide demonstrations.
A federal judge ordered immediate reforms at the Mary Davis Juvenile Detention Home, blocking the use of solitary confinement for youth in custody at the facility.
In McDonough County, a jury found Timothy Smith guilty but mentally ill in the beating death of his cellmate, Darrell Hocker, in the McDonough County jail. A judge sentenced Smith to 50 years in prison.
5. Oglesby convicted in eye drops murder
“A tale of olden times.” That’s how Knox County State’s Attorney described the murder of Richard Young at the trial for Marcy Oglesby in June. Oglesby, 53, was convicted of poisoning Young with eye drops, then hiding his body in a storage unit across the street from the couple’s Maquon home.
Worby called it a financially motivated murder with a love triangle, presenting evidence that Oglesby was in an online relationship with a man from Nigeria at the time she began poisoning Young.
Judge Andrew Doyle sentenced Oglesby to 50 years in prison, and later denied post-trial motions for a new trial and to reconsider sentencing. Oglesby has since filed a notice of appeal.
4. Manufacturing highs and lows
Western Smokehouse Partners continued major growth in 2025, with expansions in Galesburg and Burlington.
The Galesburg City Council approved a $100,000 major project grant to support a $22 million expansion at the meat snack manufacturer’s West Main Street facility, creating 50 new jobs on top of hundreds of others in recent years. This year, the company also started production at Galesburg’s former Maytag factory.
The Burlington City Council approved $510,000 in TIF incentives for Western Smokehouse’s up to $18 million expansion at the former Dresser Rand factory, which is expected to add an additional 100 jobs there.
But in Burlington, manufacturing also saw a blow this year as CNH Industrial finalized plans to close its assembly plant by mid 2026, a decision affecting 200 employees.
2. Macomb economic development
In April, Macomb’s new Hobby Lobby and T.J. Maxx stores opened at Prairie Crossing, the redeveloped site of the former Kmart on East Jackson Street, as city and economic development leaders aim to fill retail gaps and keep sales tax revenue in the community amid population decline.
The city is also exploring the idea of building a $58 million sports complex to attract youth athletic tournaments, draw visitors, and generate additional sales tax revenue. Supporters say the project could be a “game-changer” for Macomb, while critics have called it a “risky proposition.”
The city council agreed to continue exploring the idea but has not decided whether to proceed with construction. The council did approve the creation of a Business Development District, which the city believes will spur economic development. If a sports complex is built, it would be located within the BDD.
1. The higher education landscape
Across the Midwest and much of the country, institutions of higher education continue to grapple with declining enrollment, changing demographics, rising costs, and skepticism about the value of a college degree. Public universities and private colleges are feeling the strain.
Western Illinois University says it’s looking ahead and striving for an enrollment turnaround, as the number of students dropped to around 5,300. This fall, the university saw a drop in international students.
Early in the year, WIU announced nearly 90 administrative furloughs. In May, previously announced layoffs took effect. That included laying off all of the university’s library faculty, who were later honored with a prestigious state award.
At the annual opening assembly in August, President Kristi Mindrup asked the campus community: “Are we ready to evolve?”
Thirty miles north of Macomb, that’s what Monmouth College is trying to do. The liberal arts college this year completed an academic program prioritization process. Monmouth is phasing out ten majors, primarily in the humanities, and enhancing other programs based on student interest and market demand.
“Schools that are not doing this work are trying to kick the can down the road. It's going to catch up to them,” President Patricia Draves told TSPR.
Tri States Public Radio produced these stories. TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.
