CHICAGO (CBS) ― An estimated 125 people were shot and killed over the summer. That's nearly double the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq over the same time period.
In May, cbs2chicago.com began tracking city shootings and posting them on Google maps. Information compiled from our reporters, wire service reports and the Chicago Police Major Incidents log indicated that 125 people were shot and killed throughout the city between the start of Memorial Day weekend on May 26, and the end of Labor Day on Sept. 1.
According to the Defense Department, 65 U.S. soldiers were killed in combat in Iraq. About the same number were killed in Afghanistan over that same period.
MACOMB, IL -- With the high cost of gas, who wouldn't be interested in bio-diesel alternatives?
Crops for bio-diesel markets, along with numerous other alternative crops, will be featured at the Alternative Crops Field Day from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, July 17 at the Western Illinois University Agriculture Field Laboratory, located directly north of the Harry Mussatto Golf Course on Tower Road in Macomb. WIU Agriculture Department Professor Win Phippen will host.
According to Phippen, this year's Alternative Crops Field Day will focus on crops for cellulosic biomass, bio-diesel markets and other industrial applications. Western's latest research in crop rotation studies with winter annual crops -- Canola, Pennycress and Camelina -- to maximize production in Illinois will be discussed, as will University of Illinois research on tropical corn.
"We are also excited that at this year's field day we will demonstrate our new Milkweed processor. This piece of equipment is capable of separating milkweed pods into floss, seed and empty hulls and will help our efforts in developing potential new markets for Milkweed products," Phippen added.
As part of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's "Opportunity Returns" economic development plan, Western's alternative crops research program, led by Phippen, received a $30,000 state grant in 2004 to boost its Milkweed research. Phippen is the only researcher in the country working on Milkweed as a crop and has now been working nearly seven years creating a "domesticated" Milkweed plant as an alternative crop for Illinois producers.
The field day will include a guided tour of the demonstration plot, cuphea breeding plots, herbicide screening plots, milkweed research and production plots and much more.
The event is open free to the public; reservations are not required. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Phippen at 309/298-1251 or WB-Phippen@wiu.edu.
MACOMB, IL -- Based on the budget action taken by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Western Illinois University's general revenue budget was funded at the level passed by the Senate and the House. The FY09 general revenue budget for WIU, which goes into effect immediately, is $59.9 million, an increase of $1.6 million over the FY08 budget.
"While we are pleased that we have an increased general revenue budget for the new fiscal year, it is still our hope that a capital budget will be passed in the very near future that will allow for construction of the Quad Cities Riverfront Campus and the Performing Arts Center in Macomb, as well as help reduce our extensive deferred maintenance needs," said WIU President Al Goldfarb. "We also hope that the legislature and the governor might find ways to restore the student financial aid funds and higher education grants that promote student success, health education and diversity."
Goldfarb added that the increased funding will also help support a 3.5 percent salary increase for non-negotiated employees, effective July 1.
"We appreciate that the legislature and the governor kept our public universities in the forefront of the budget discussions," Goldfarb said. "We will now be in a position to begin budgeting for the University's new nursing and engineering degree programs, should they be approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education."
In addition to the University's general revenue budget, Western’s Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs will also receive $1 million for continued ethanol and value-added products research.
SMT Closes Season With "The Rocky Horror Show"; July 18-19; 24-26
July 10, 2008
MACOMB, IL - - Adults, get ready to let loose and be entertained at the sexy, Gothic 1970s rock concert musical "The Rocky Horror Show," the final production of Western Illinois University's 2008 Summer Music Theatre season.
Curtain time is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 18; midnight Saturday, July 19; and 7:30 p.m. nightly Thursday-Saturday, July 24-26 in Western's Hainline Theatre. Because of sexual situations and strong language, the show is not suitable for children.
"The show is a romping, campy, sensual, sexual excursion; a non-stop marathon of fun," said director Brad Dell, a member of the Iowa State University theatre department and a Western Illinois Master of Fine Arts (MFA) theatre directing alumnus (2005). "It's over-the-top, and sometimes the bottom, in every sense of the word; and the majority of the 16-member cast are incredibly talented Western Illinois musical theatre students and MFA students."
Multitalented senior Micah Spayer (Peoria) is "Sweet Transvestite" Frankenfurter. Frank's creation, Rocky Horror, is played by Anderson Lamp, a University of Iowa theatre major. Western seniors Kyle Motsinger (St. David, IL) and Jillian Kate Weingart (Crystal Lake, IL) - Miss Macomb 2007 - are Brad and Janet, who go to the "Frankenstein Place" in search of a telephone because of a flat tire, where they meet Riff Raff, portrayed by Alex Noble of Greensburg, PA; Columbia, played by sophomore Anna Zerwer (E. Peoria, IL); Magenta, played by junior Lily A. Blouin (Anchorage, AK), who also is the Usherette; Eddie, portrayed by junior Erin Glasnovich (Rio, IL); and Dr. Scott, played by second-year MFA student Brian LeTraunik (Chicago). The narrator is Jason Connor, assistant professor and head of humanities in Western's department of theatre and dance, who also received his MFA in acting at WIU (1998).
Musical direction is by Sharon Nott, an instructor and accompanist in the theatre and dance department; and technical direction is by Michael A. Klippert of Western's theatre department. Designers for the production are WIU Professor Tim Kupka for scene and lighting and MFA students Ann Dunn and Jessica Snyder for costumes. Choreographer is Karla Kash, the head of musical theatre at Drake University and a member of the Actor's Equity Association and The Society of American Fight Directors.
Individual show tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors age 62 and older and $7 for WIU students admitted to Western before Summer 2006. Students admitted to WIU in Summer 2006 or later have paid an arts fee and will get in free of charge. For tickets, contact the box office at 309/298-2900 from noon-5 p.m. weekdays or order online at http://wiuartstickets.com.
Take your ticket stub to Rocky's Bar and Grill, 1420 W. Jackson St., Macomb, from July 18 through Aug. 14 and receive a half-price appetizer.
For more information, call Western's Department of Theatre and Dance at 309/298-1543, or visit www.wiu.edu/summermusictheatre.
MACOMB, IL -- Entries are now being accepted for the 37th Annual Western Illinois University Bull Testing Program. According to Ken Nimrick and Bruce Engnell, co-directors of the program, entries for the 112-day test are open to any breed and are due Sunday, Aug. 31; however, bulls must be weaned and started on a pre-conditioning program no later than Friday, Aug. 22.
"The WIU Bull Test offers breeders the opportunity to compare their bulls against bulls from other breeders when fed and managed in the same environment," Engnell said. "It also provides them the opportunity to get data on their bull's feed efficiency -- how many pounds of feed a bull must eat to put on a pound of body weight.
"Things are changing in the beef industry. High energy, land and feed costs are altering the way we will do business in the future," Nimrick added. "Feed efficiency has always been important, but we have tended to focus on out put (weaning weights, yearling weights, ADG) in our beef selection programs in the past. High cost inputs are altering the equation."
Engnell noted that balanced rations and good management can affect feed efficiency and cost of production; however, studies show that approximately 40 percent of the differences in feed efficiency are accounted for by genetics. Reduced feed usage means higher profits from a producer's next calf crop, he added.
"A bull requiring only one pound less feed per pound of gain than another bull will transmit approximately 40 percent of that advantage or 0.4 pound less feed per pound of gain to his offspring compared to the other bull," Engnell explained. "With ration costs approaching $220 per ton and each animal gaining 800 pounds from weaning to harvest, the result is a savings in feed cost of $35.20 per animal. If that bull sires 100 calves over his lifetime he will put $3,520 more in your bank account compared to the other bull."
According to Nimrick, few on-farm testing situations can gather this type of data, and it is extremely important for the breeders' economics. In addition to average daily gain and feed efficiency, the WIU Bull Test Program provides information on weight per day of age, scrotal circumference, pelvic area, ribeye area, fat depth and marbling.
"The bulls are also indexed, so the breeder gets a rather substantial amount of information in a situation that provides an unbiased comparison," Nimrick pointed out. "We've made some changes in the testing program, and hope that breeders, old and new, will find the test to be an invaluable part of their performance program."
In addition to the testing program, bulls will have ultrasonic data gathered to be included in their breed's EPD program. At the conclusion of the test, a sale of the top bulls will be held March 20, 2009.
"The days of having cattle 'just for fun' are gone," Engnell said. "Today's cattle producer is extremely conscious of the 'bottom line' and the bulls can make that 'bottom line' appear a lot brighter."
For more information on the program, contact either Nimrick at 309/298-1288 or Engnell at 309/298- 2613 (days) or 309/298-1276 (nights). For an entry packet contact the WIU agriculture department at 309/298-1080. Entry forms for this year's test, along with information on last year's program, can also be found at www.wiu.edu/bulltest.
