Rich Egger

A look back at the top stories and features from the Tri States Public Radio news department from June 2012.  

Time ran out on plans to build Shamrock Acres, a large scale hog farm proposed for southeast McDonough  County. Tri States Public Radio reported the story on June 13, one week before anyone else.

Also during the month, the US Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act, the chairperson of the Lee County Board was defeated in the June 5 primary, and the Transit of Venus happened for the final time until 2117.

Work will begin Thursday, July 5 to build a bridge that will carry Route 136 traffic over the future Route 336. The project is the beginning of the Macomb Bypass.

Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider came to the area for the groundbreaking ceremony, which took place on a hot and humid afternoon in a grassy field just west of Macomb. Schneider was joined by politicians, labor leaders, city and county workers, and others.

Sixth Ward Alderman Tim Lobdell said he erred during an exchange with City Administrator Dean Torreson.  

The exchange during the June 18 City Council meeting concerned eight structures that are to be torn down as part of the city's Fix or Flatten program.

Torreson said he would ask contractors to submit a single bid for demolishing all eight. Lobdell contended that aldermen directed Torreson to seek bids on each individual structure. He said that direction was given the previous week during an executive session.

The panelists follow up on last week's discussion about the future of newspapers by talking about the future of public radio.

Minnesota Public Radio journalist Bob Collins questioned in a blog whether public radio is still willing to take risks. He wondered if a program such as A Prairie Home Companion would be given a chance if it were introduced today.

A University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign math professor will have to pay a $500 fine for refusing to take an on-line ethics test that’s mandatory for all state and university employees. 

In a settlement with the state’s ethics commission, Dr. Lou van den Dries agreed to complete the training in the future. 

As part of Heritage Days in Macomb, a model of the women's memorial statue was displayed near Chandler Park, not far from the location where it will be located.

“It gave me goose bumps when I first saw it. It's just a wonderful rendition of exactly what we were looking for,” said Tina Belz, co-chair of the McDonough County Social Service Memorial Committee of the Macomb Women's Club.