Tri States Public Radio

12/22/2025

“They’re new buses. They’re kept clean. They look nice," said Superintendent Patrick Twomey.

Superintendent Patrick Twomey believes the change has worked out well, and he said it’s helping build community pride.

12/22/2025

“We’re talking about the breakup of predictable climatological patterns, and the increasing unreliability of a farmer’s almanac,” said Everett Hamner, who participated in the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

A Western Illinois University professor participated in the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, held in November in Belém, Brazil.

12/22/2025

Winter holiday festivals have become a regular way to grow revenue for America’s smallest towns. And with more people shopping online, those events are key to pulling people away from their screens and into stores.

12/22/2025

12/19/2025

41-year-old John O’Leary of Chicago was arrested on multiple felony charges, including promoting commercial s*xual exploitation of a child, indecent solicitation of a child, traveling to meet a minor, grooming, and possession of m**h.

The operation focused on identifying people seeking to engage in commercial s*x acts.

12/19/2025

OSF HealthCare says the Trump administration’s higher price tag to bring skilled foreign workers into the United States will cost it up to $7 million a year.

Health care systems nationwide are bracing for how the Trump administration's price increase to a visa program used to hire skilled foreign workers will negatively affect their ability hire clinicians. OSF HealthCare is among several Bloomington-Normal employers who hire H-1B visa holders.

12/19/2025

⚡ Illinois’ electric grids may soon face power shortages and further price increases as fossil fuel plants go offline and data centers fueling the rise of artificial intelligence demand ever-increasing amounts of power.

📊 That’s the conclusion of a new report by three state agencies that foreshadows an upcoming state grid planning process — and a potential legislative fight over how lawmakers will regulate power-hungry data centers, if at all.

⬇️ Read more

State-driven resource planning process will begin in 2026

12/19/2025

Between loss of markets and low prices caused by tariffs and high costs, a lot of farmers are under water this year, despite a bumper crop, if they can even find someone to sell to.

There are big warning signs in agriculture right now. And many experts are warning an aid package announced by the Trump administration is not likely to go very far or come soon enough

12/19/2025

🦅 This month, it’s falcons vs. crows in downtown Galesburg 🐦‍⬛
❄️ Winter crow roosts have long plagued downtown. This year, the city is trying falconry to deter the crows, and their droppings.
🦅 Seven falcons are flying daytime patrols through Jan. 6
🔍 What’s the science behind the plan?
👇 Read more

Seven falcons and their handlers started working in downtown Galesburg earlier this month and will continue until Jan. 6, with the falcons flying during daytime hours.

12/18/2025

Public defender David Hansen this week filed a notice of appeal for a Knox County woman convicted of murdering the former police chief of Maquon by poisoning him with eye drops.

Marcy Oglesby is appealing her conviction, her sentence, and the denial of post-trial motions for a new trial and to reconsider sentencing.

12/18/2025

Illinois Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders cautioned members of the State Board of Education Wednesday not to get their hopes up for any big increase in K-12 school funding next year.

12/17/2025

“Fraud is a big word. Fraud is a bad word. And once you say words like that, it's hard to take these things back. An allegation of fraud really irks me. I've been doing this for a lot of years. I would not risk my job for two or three signatures or one signature. It's not worth it to do that.” — Knox County Clerk Scott Erickson

The Knox County electoral board has made its rulings in the objections to the nominating petitions for incumbent Republican Clerk Scott Erickson and Republican treasurer candidate Jerrie Ann Walters.