Rich Egger

Students are not the only ones preparing to bid adieu to Western Illinois University.

Pam Bowman, Director of Human Resources, said the university averages 77 retirements per year. But she said approximately 142 employees are retiring before the end of June this year.

“Approximately 77 Civil Service, 20 administrators, and 45 faculty,” Bowman said.

While some are stepping aside because of their age or years of service, others chose to leave because of concerns over their retirement payout.

Many college students use their time outside the classroom to hang out with friends, play video games, or participate in extracurricular activities. A senior at Western Illinois University devotes a portion of his time to military funerals.

Jordon Maag is a member of the Illinois Army National Guard's 233rd Military Police Unit in Springfield. A couple years ago a friend in the guard suggested he volunteer for the Military Funeral Honors Program.

He found it to be a valuable service.

Longtime state employees in Illinois would no longer be able get free health insurance  when they retire under legislation (SB 1313) approved by the Illinois House on May 9.

The  vote is part of a push to cut pension benefits for government retirees.  The governor, House speaker and other politicians want to save money  by cutting pensions, health care and other costs.

The old will meet the new in downtown Rushville when wireless Internet service is installed for Central Park.

“I'm not saying Rushville will be overrun by people needing that service, but it is a convenience and it's another element to attract people downtown,” said Mayor Scott Thompson.

Thompson said the service will be installed by Cass Communications, probably next month. The city has a one-year contract with the company, which will be paid just $150 per month.

“For all intents and purposes, we're their beta site,” Thompson said. “This is a first for them.”

The panelists talk about an article on the CareerCast website, which said newspaper reporter and broadcaster are two of the worst jobs of 2012.

The article said, “As the digital world continues to take over and provide on-demand  information, the need for print newspapers and daily newscasts is diminishing. To be sure, both jobs once seemed glamorous, but on-the-job stress, declining job opportunities and income levels are what landed them on our Worst Jobs list.”

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

During the month, NTN Bower announced a major expansion project in Macomb, Southeastern Community College's president announced her retirement, and Spoon River College announced the name of its next president.

Fort Madison city council members chose one of their own to serve as the city's next mayor, and Burlington's new city manager started work.

Rich Egger's guests are Jan Welsch and J. Q. Adams, who are organizers of the annual Dealing With Difference Institute at Western Illinois University.

The two-day conference begins at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, May 15 with a presentation by Dr Pedro Noguera, who is one of two keynote speakers at this year's DWDI.

Noguera is the Peter L. Agnew Professor of Education and a faculty member in New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Development as well as the Department of Sociology.

An astronomer who grew up in Macomb is one of the researchers looking to unlock the mystery that is dark matter.

“I think people should care about dark matter insofar as they care about the universe in which they live,” Matthew Walker said.

Dark matter cannot be seen, yet scientists estimate it accounts for roughly 80% of the matter in the universe.  

“What we have here on earth is great and unique and important, but it's clearly not all that there is,” Walker said.

Retired state and public university employees in Illinois will have to pitch in for their health insurance under a measure approved by an Illinois House committee.

Free health insurance is a benefit given to retirees who worked long careers in Illinois government. Legislators who serve as little as four years also get free health care when they retire.