Tri States Public Radio

Groundbreaking set for park honoring Macomb’s first Black police officer A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for August 4 at the future site of William H. Thorpe Memorial Park.

Macomb is preparing to break ground on William H. Thorpe Memorial Park.

Money flowed and PACs attacked in local mayoral elections this year. Here’s what the candidates spent. Quarterly reports filed this week with the Illinois State Board of Elections show a couple of trends in local mayoral elections.

In Galesburg, former mayor John Pritchard's campaign spent more than $135,000 between Jan. 1 and March 31, which was 20 times more than incumbent Peter Schwartzman's campaign spent during the same time period to win the race.

Visas revoked for some WIU international students The university's current international student enrollment is 652.

Western Illinois University says visas for “a small number” of its international students have been revoked.

Prayer service to support Haitian, other immigrants in Monmouth The prayer service for immigrants and refugees will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, in the sanctuary of First Lutheran Church, 116 S. B St., in Monmouth.

As some immigrants and refugees living and working in Monmouth are being notified by the federal government that they need to leave the country, faith leaders will host a prayer service for them on Wednesday night.

Bird sanctuary opens to the public in Macomb The Wigwam Hollow Bird Sanctuary includes 200 acres of oak and hickory forests along with a five-acre restored prairie in the middle.

The Wigwam Hollow Bird Sanctuary, 1900 Wigwam Hollow Rd., includes 200 acres of oak and hickory forests along with a five-acre restored prairie in the middle.

‘The people have spoken and I’m so excited.’ Schwartzman wins second term In a consolidated election that saw the highest voter turnout in decades, Peter Schwartzman won a second term as Galesburg mayor.

Schwartzman received 2,831 votes to win 54 percent of the vote, defeating challenger and former mayor John Pritchard by 376 votes, according to unofficial election results.

WIU board approves presidential salary Board of Trustees Chair Carin Stutz praised the work done by WIU President Kristi Mindrup and her administrative team.

The Western Illinois University Board of Trustees gave unanimous approval to a starting salary of $320,000 for President Kristi Mindrup.

Macomb Food Cooperative looks to buy its own building The co-op board is now putting together a building campaign to raise the money.

Board member Alyson Sturgis said they’re also trying to raise the co-op’s profile in the community.

As TSPR reported previously, 11 allegations of sexual harassment against Idle dating back 20 years were reported to the city’s human resources department on March 4.

www.tspr.org/tspr-local-n...

Macomb’s proposed sports complex: ‘A game changer for our community’ A study says an indoor sports complex would generate millions of dollars in annual economic activity in the community.

Macomb city council members have a big decision to make. They’re considering whether to spend tens of millions of dollars to build an indoor sports complex.

Diving to the bottom of the ocean to document slave shipwrecks Tara Roberts, Explorer-in-Residence for National Geographic, came to Western Illinois University in Macomb to talk about her experiences.

Tara Roberts has chronicled the experience for National Geographic.

Pritchard: ‘At this point I have nothing to add’ A Galesburg mayoral candidate who was unable to participate in a forum last week due to illness says he’ll let his campaign materials “reverberate” and has not accepted a challenge from his opponent f...

A Galesburg mayoral candidate who was unable to participate in a forum last week due to illness says he’ll let his campaign materials “reverberate” for the time being and has not accepted a challenge from his opponent for a debate.

Supreme Court overturns murder conviction, death penalty for Galesburg native The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out the murder conviction for Richard E. Glossip, 62, saying the admission of false testimony at his Oklahoma murder trial violated his constitutional rights.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out the murder conviction for Richard E. Glossip, 62, saying the admission of false testimony at the trial violated his constitutional rights.

YouTube video by Tri States Public Radio Galesburg NAACP Candidate Forum 2025

We're live from the Galesburg Public Library for the NAACP Candidate Forum featuring candidates for Galesburg mayor, city council, and township supervisor.

Meet the candidates for Galesburg mayor Incumbent Peter Schwartzman is seeking a second term in the April 1 consolidated election. He’s facing former mayor John Pritchard, who previously served two terms in the role.

It’s a rematch of sorts in the race for Galesburg mayor.

Incumbent Peter Schwartzman is seeking a second term in the April 1 consolidated election. He’s facing former mayor John Pritchard, who previously served two terms in the role.

“I've always been interested in this idea of suspending time in music where you can't tap your foot to the music and you can't necessarily tell what the meter is or if there is one." — Ashlee Mack

Birds, Brunch, & Beverages: ‘A great group of people to spend the day with’ Around four dozen people boarded a charter bus in western Illinois for a day-long excursion in southeast Iowa.

Around four dozen people boarded a charter bus in western Illinois on a seasonably chilly winter morning for a day-long excursion in southeast Iowa.

Anew WIU strives for a thriving university Organizers describe Anew WIU as a collaborative and forward-thinking effort to reimagine the future of Western Illinois University.

The Anew WIU initiative is reviewing the data and ideas collected during its first public meeting.

Smithfield, police not aware of ICE presence in Monmouth Police Chief Joe Switzer said there is no truth to the claims, to his knowledge.

As rumors swirl that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were spotted in Monmouth, local law enforcement and the corporate office of Smithfield Foods say they’re not aware of any local raids or ICE presence.

Supporting the arts in rural areas – SEISO closing in on matching grant The Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra is close to matching the largest challenge grant in its 75-year history.

The Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra is close to matching the largest challenge grant in its 75-year history.

WIU announces nearly 90 administrative furloughs The administration said the furloughs will save the university nearly $500,000.

Western Illinois University is implementing a furlough program for administrative employees who are not part of a bargaining unit.

Law enforcement investigating homicide in Colchester McDonough County Sheriff Nick Petitgout is hoping for help from the public as they investigate the death of Cheyenna Decker.

An autopsy on Wednesday determined a Colchester woman died from a gunshot wound.

Internal review absolves Macomb police officer in fatal shooting The police department’s internal affairs board and deadly force review board have both issued their findings in the case.

Two internal review panels have absolved a Macomb police lieutenant in last year’s fatal shooting of two people, including a four-year old boy.

‘It’s a stepping stone:’ People’s March an incentive to speak up, get involved People’s Marches are planned for Saturday, Jan. 18, in Washington D.C. and across the country, including in Burlington and Galesburg.

People’s Marches are planned for Saturday, Jan. 18, in Washington D.C. and across the country, including in Burlington and Galesburg.

Galesburg awarded $25M grant for Business Park rail installation The federal grant is nearly half of a $54 million investment in the Business Park, a city-owned 330-acre site southeast of Galesburg that’s adjacent to Interstate 74 and BNSF’s Peoria Subdivision rail...

The city of Galesburg is getting a $25 million federal transportation grant to install rail track and switching at the Business Park as part of the construction of a large, containerized agricultural terminal on site.

Macomb hospital's pharmacy on verge of opening The MDH Community Pharmacy will be open seven days a week, and will employ four pharmacists and four technicians.

The MDH Community Pharmacy will be open seven days a week, and will employ four pharmacists and four technicians.

Macomb solar farm moves forward despite opposition Pivot Energy plans to build the facility on 28 acres along 1000th Street.

Though the property is just outside city limits, the city has zoning authority for 1.5 miles beyond its borders, and the site falls within that jurisdiction.

Welcome to Forgottonia – Our Voices - Welcome to Forgottonia This is the first in our series of occasional episodes called “Our Voices.” These are stories about people who have perspectives we think you will want to hear. This episode features: ·        The ow...

New episode of Welcome to Forgottonia is now available!

No change in mindset for WIU president now that she’s no longer ‘interim’ President Kristi Mindrup said the administration will continue working on WIU’s finances and bringing people together for strategic planning.

“We’ll continue to keep doing the good work that we’re doing to try to stabilize Western Illinois University,” Mindrup told TSPR after the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to remove the word “interim” from her title.