Latest news with #Galesburg
Forbes
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Make Bravery The Norm—Advice To Graduates (& Leaders) From JB Pritzker
Galesburg, IL June 8, 2025 Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivers commencement address We're at the end of graduation season, with its outpouring of advice dispensed from podiums across the country. My heart was full of joy and hope for my eldest daughter as she graduated from Knox College, a small liberal arts college in rural Illinois. But I'll admit, I anticipated the graduation speech by Governor J.B. Pritzker with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. For one thing, this is a tough world our kids are graduating into—with the unemployment rate for 20-24-year-olds at 8.2%—more than double the 3.4% unemployment rate for those 25 and over, significant economic uncertainty, and heightened geopolitical risk. What could anyone say to equip and encourage them on this occasion? And in any case, hasn't it all been said? I've heard my share of commencement addresses, and few of them have transcended the usual platitudes. In addition, I am naturally skeptical of very rich guys in positions of political leadership and I worried the Illinios governor and potential presidential hopeful might politicize the speech or make it more about his agenda than the graduates. But when he took the stage in front of these young people and their parents, the governor won me over as he offered some wisdom to the graduates that many of our leaders in business and government could also benefit from. As Gov. Pritzker warmed up, he started with some mild self-deprecation (appropriate, as he was standing where Abraham Lincoln took a stand against slavery in the Fifth Lincoln-Douglas Debate in 1858). He cracked a few jokes and offered some 'dad advice'—turn off the lights when you leave a room, put air in your tires, don't subscribe to too many streaming service subscriptions—very practical, and served up with a dose of humor. The crowd was with him. But then he moved into the heart of the address with three pieces of advice that should speak to us all: Show Up. A leader, grounded in values, shows up for people when it matters, and knows that in many cases what they say or do is less important than the support provided by just being there. The governor touted the importance of showing up for others—attending funerals and soccer games and award ceremonies. 'In a world where TikTok and Instagram tells you to be selfish with your schedule, I am telling you: Be generous with your time. Showing up is a unique and meaningful thing only you can do.' This advice may seem to contradict much advice (including my own) about setting boundaries. But Pritzker's advice is not fundamentally about time management. It is about presence—not about transactions or outcomes—and our commitment to the people in our lives. Doubt. In an increasingly complex world, we may feel the urge to cling to certainty, but certainty offers only a false security and is antithetical to innovation. Pritzker encouraged the graduates to cultivate doubt, because 'doubt makes us curious. Doubt keeps us humble. Doubt makes us seek when it would be so much easier to sit idle. Doubt prompts us to ask good questions. Questions like: am I looking at ALL the facts or just the ones I want to see?' As leaders, our experiences, mental models and the playbooks that we relied on in the past may not be equal to the task of scaling in a complex world. They require constant updating and iteration. Doubt invites leaders to be vigilant about confirmation and other biases, seek out divergent points of view, welcome challenges to assumptions, and be open to experiment. Be Brave. Finally, Gov. Pritzker exhorted the graduates to make courage the norm, not the exception. 'When we tell the stories of history, we often excuse the atrocities of our ancestors by suggesting that they were merely acting on what was popular at the time. Because we understand in our core, whether we want to admit it or not, how much easier it is to live a life that chases popularity rather than courage. Occasionally we are confronted with stories, like the founding of Knox College [established in 1837 by abolitionists committed to educating women and people of color]Pritzker urged the graduates to 'expect bravery' of themselves and their communities rather than accepting passivity that it rooted in fear. In this time of uncertainty and even chaos, it is tempting to double down on fear, to hesitate and wait to see which way the wind blows. Instead, it is not just our newly-minted graduates who we are called upon to show up with the curiosity and humility borne of doubt, and be brave. It is all of us.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
Nine people injured in riot at Galesburg juvenile detention center
A riot at the Mary Davis Detention Home in Galesburg on Wednesday led to nine people being injured. A group of juvenile residents became combative at 7:35 p.m., according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office. Local law enforcement were asked to assist detention home staff in controlling the situation. More: Peoria tattoo shop owner accused of sending explicit messages to minor Four staff members sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and five juveniles were also injured. All were treated at the home, with some transported to OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center. An internal investigation being conducted into the altercation. The sheriff's office says that there is no threat to the surrounding community, with the safety of staff and residents remaining their top priority. Additional charges could be added for those who either instigated or participated in the fight, according to the sheriff's office. An incident at the Mary Davis Home in March 2024 led to eight staff members being injured. Knox County and several local officials were sued by residents in U.S. District Court last June for what they claim were abusive practices, such as keeping them in solitary confinement despite warnings that it wasn't safe. The lawsuit remains pending. More: From safety to productivity, here are new technologies being used by Caterpillar This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Nine people injured in riot at Mary Davis Home in Galesburg
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man arrested on first-degree murder charges in Galesburg woman's killing
A Galesburg man was arrested Wednesday on first-degree murder charges for allegedly killing a 49-year-old woman in April. Gerald Fry, Jr., 56, was charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Tricia Nichols, 49, of Galesburg on April 15 in the 100 block of North Prairie Street. According to the Galesburg Police Department, they responded to the scene after receiving a report of an unresponsive woman. When they arrived, Nichols was found and pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Knox County Coroner's Office, Nichols was killed by manual strangulation and blunt force traumatic injuries. More: Growing love, growing home: Decade after son's brain injury, Illinois family adds space An investigation led to a warrant issued for Fry, who was arrested at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Fry is currently being held in the Knox County Jail awaiting an initial hearing on the murder charges. The investigation into Nichols' death remains ongoing. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Galesburg police at (309) 343-9151 or Crime Stoppers at (309) 344-0044. Tips can also be sent via the p3 mobile app or on the Galesburg Police Department's Facebook page. More: Pekin woman identified as person killed in Downtown Peoria shooting This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Galesburg man arrested on murder charges in woman's killing
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Obama Aide Slams Jake Tapper for Resurrecting Hunter Biden Scandal: ‘All Of Us Knew'
It's almost June 2025 and Hunter Biden's scandal is back in the news, thanks in large part to CNN's Jake Tapper and his book 'Original Sin' — and former Obama aide Johanna Maska isn't having it. At least that's what Maska told fellow panelists in Friday's episode of 'Piers Morgan Uncensored.' The Biden story isn't new to anyone, she said, and 'Hunter was corrupt! All of us knew! Hunter was corrupt.' Instead of regurgitating a story that dominated news cycles throughout 2023 and 2024, she continued, Tapper should have focused on the Trump administration. 'I also want us talking about issues that are not some made-up Jake Tapper scandal,' Maska told Chuck Todd. 'I mean, Chuck, we traveled around the world with Jake Tapper and you, and I know that you guys care a lot about the story, but you also care about access. And Jake Tapper has done this multiple times where he has done whatever he can to get access. So now he's kissing up to the right-wing media because he wants access in the Trump White House.' While agreed that focusing on corruption in politics is important, Maska insisted Tapper just missed the mark. 'We are missing all of the stories that actually affect people,' she explained. 'Corruption, absolutely cover it, but also the 1,000 plus page bill that the House Republicans just passed, that will actually affect people in Galesburg, Illinois. And that's what's going to matter this next election. My point is, Chuck, we had an election and we lost.' In an interview with Bill Maher Friday night Tapper admitted he believes Dr. Jill Biden, President Biden, and Hunter Biden share the blame for the administration's downfall and the president's alleged mental decline. 'He had moments where he was non-functioning but he understood what was going on. We saw him earlier today: He can speak and talk. If he was here right now, he could talk for 10 to 15 minutes, he'd be fine,' he said. Watch the episode of 'Piers Morgan Uncensored' in the video above. The post Former Obama Aide Slams Jake Tapper for Resurrecting Hunter Biden Scandal: 'All Of Us Knew' | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Galesburg receives $1.2 million from EPA to address brownfields
GALESBURG, Ill. (WMBD) — A federal agency has awarded the city of Galesburg more than $1.2 million to address environmental impacts. The money comes from the Environmental Protection Agency in the form of two grants, the Assessment Grant worth $500,000 and the Cleanup Grant worth more than $713,000, Steve Gugliotta, the city's director of community development, said. 'These funds will help address the environmental impacts of historically contaminated properties, paving the way for community revitalization and economic development. The city has been notified of the awards and is now working to submit all required documentation,' he said. The two grants will be used for a few different projects, with the bulk of the cleanup grant going to remediate the old Knox Laundry site, he said. The facility, which used to sit at 57 North Kellogg Street and 332 East Ferris Street, opened in 1898 as a retail laundry store which was expanded into a multi-story dry-cleaning facility, he said. Between 2006 and 2007, the court ordered the demolition of the building after it had been vacated and condemned because of its deteriorating condition. 'Terminating the business operations and removing former structures has stopped the potential for any continuing releases of contamination into our environment,' he said. 'But until the site is fully remediated, the potential for redevelopment is very limited.' The money will help the city address remaining contamination, more specifically areas where soil has been 'impacted above saturation limits,' Gugliotta said. The Assessment Grant will be used to evaluate two different sites that have been labeled as a brownfield. 'A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant,' the EPA's website said. The first of these two brownfields is the former Broadview Hotel located at 29 Public Square, which throughout its time was home to many businesses, including a filling station which dates back to 1927, he said. The second was the former Tucker's Printing Company, located on North Cherry Street, which was recently demolished after it had a second fire in 2024, he said. The site has housed industrial buildings in the past that Gugliotta says have led to environmental concerns. With any money from these grants, they may have left over sites that will be selected by a Brownfields Inventory, which was put together in 2023 by Kansas State University's Technical Assistance to Brownfield program, as well as consultants at Terracon, he said. He said they are anticipating the project to run from Oct. 1, 2025, until Sept. 30, 2029, although that is just an estimate, and the projects may not take that much time. 'We are honored by the EPA's selection and grateful for their support in helping us turn theseunderutilized properties into assets for the community,' Gugliotta said. 'These grants will help improve environmental safety, promote redevelopment, and attract future investment to our city.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
