Transcript: Talk Line with Steve Marco previews the April 1 election in the Sauk Valley with Shaw Local
Mar. 13—Read the transcript of the latest Talk-Line episode, previewing the April 1 election with Shaw Local's Charlene Bielema and Brandon Clark.
Like what you hear? Be sure to visit WIXN, part of Shaw Local Radio. We're also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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Pritzker's signature next step in Sterling's bid to land millions in Riverfront Reimagined investment
Jun. 5—STERLING — Sterling is one step closer to receiving a designation that could provide up to $50 million in tax incentives for economic development work the city already has started along its riverfront. ExpandAutoplay Image 1 of 5 Sterling is close to a designation that could provide a tax incentive on Riverfront Park. Construction is underway Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Alex T. Paschal) Sterling Mayor Diana Merdian told Shaw Local that although House Bill 1919, which the city's lobbyist, Matt Hughes of MRH Solutions, advocated for earlier this year, did not pass its third reading in the Illinois Senate, its language has been included as part of the state's omnibus budget package, House Bill 2755. The state's fiscal 2026 budget comprises three components: the state operating budget, a budget implementation bill and the revenue omnibus bill. The Illinois House and Senate on Saturday, May 31, approved all three bills just hours before the midnight deadline for the end of the spring session. The Illinois House approved HB 2755 with a vote of 71-43, followed by the Senate's approval with a vote of 31-25. The bill is now headed to Gov. JB Pritzker for approval. In a news release issued by Pritzker on Sunday, June 1, he indicated that he intends to sign the state budget before the fiscal year begins Tuesday, July 1. Once the state's budget is signed, Sterling officially will receive the River Edge Redevelopment Zone designation. "The passage of the fiscal 2026 balanced budget is a testament to Illinois' fiscal responsibility," Pritzker said. "Even in the face of [President Donald] Trump and congressional Republicans stalling the national economy, our state budget delivers for working families without raising their taxes while protecting the progress we are making for our long-term fiscal health. "I'm grateful to [House] Speaker [Chris] Welch, [Senate] President [Don] Harmon, the budget teams, and all the legislators and stakeholders who collaborated to shape and pass this legislation. I look forward to signing my seventh balanced budget in a row and continuing to build a stronger Illinois." According to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, once a city is designated, certain areas are allocated as a "River Edge Redevelopment Zone." The RERZ program provides investors and municipalities that are eligible with several tax incentives, including property tax abatements and sales tax exemptions. In Sterling's case, it would assist in redevelopment along the Rock River. Merdian said that without the designation and those tax incentives, the city's riverfront redevelopment work would be almost "impossible" to complete. "I have been working to secure this designation for nearly my entire term, and I know a lot of people did not think it would be possible," Merdian said. "It wasn't easy, but one of the things we do here is we work hard to do what's best for this community." Merdian said once Pritzker signs the bill, the city will need to fill out an application with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. "That is, we have to have a map, we have to have a public hearing," Merdian said. "We have to have the ordinance, or the information that stays up for so many days, and we have to have everything on the national registry." Hughes lobbied for both HB 1919 and Senate Bill 1309 as part of his strategy to help Sterling secure its designation. Merdian and Hughes recruited help from Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, and Sen. Michael Halpin, D-Rock Island, who filed the bills in January. In February, Hughes advised the Sterling City Council that both bills needed to advance out of committee by March 21 and pass both chambers by April 11. The city of Alton was later added to the legislation, following recommendations from West. Merdian told Sterling's Riverfront Reimagined Commission on April 2 that the bill had cleared both subcommittees and was likely to be wrapped into the state's budget package, "where similar bills go." Among the "nay" votes for HB 2755 were state Reps. Brad Fritts, R-Dixon; Tony McCombie, R-Savanna; and Amy Elik, R-Alton — all of whom co-sponsored HB 1919. State Sen. Li Arellano Jr., R-Dixon, who co-sponsored Senate Bill 1309 — Sterling's backup bill should HB 1919 fail — also voted against HB 2755. Shaw Local reached out to each of them for comment. "I was chief co-sponsor on HB 1919 because it directly affected a community in my district, Alton, which was added to the bill as another Redevelopment Zone community," Elik said when responding to Shaw Local's request for comment. "The bill that passed both chambers, which I voted against, HB 2755, eventually included language for Alton and Sterling, but also raised taxes by nearly $1 billion, and I have promised my constituents I would not vote for a tax increase. "In the waning hours of session, we often see omnibus bills that include language from many other bills, and although I support the language in the much smaller and more concise HB 1919, I could not support the massive tax increases in the significantly larger HB 2755, which will hurt communities across my district and the state." Fritts provided Shaw Local with the following response: "It's simple. I voted against HB 2755 because it was not just granting the city of Sterling's River Edge designation, but it was the entire fiscal 2026 revenue package with multiple tax increases. I would have proudly voted yes if this designation was in its own bill, like the originally filed HB 1919. Because of this deceptive tactic utilized by the majority party, I stood united alongside my state senator, Li Arellano, and voted no without hesitation. "Let me be clear: I will not vote in favor of a tax increase on the hardworking men and women of my district, even if that means also voting no on a local project that was shoved into an over 1,000-page bill. The process of putting multiple bills into one has to stop. It's just bad governance, and the people of Illinois deserve better." McCombie, who is House minority leader, agreed with Fritts in her budget vote response. "Speaker Welch said the quiet part out loud: tax-and-spend Democrats are thriving in Illinois ... at the expense of Illinois families," she wrote. "Rather than pursuing meaningful structural reforms to secure our state's future, Democrats chose to prioritize politician pay raises, steal from the rainy-day fund, and funnel money into their own pork projects." Arellano issued his response Sunday. "Illinois Democrats have just rammed through the largest and most reckless budget in our state's history: over $55 billion in spending, passed with zero transparency, minimal debate and no regard for the taxpayers who are footing the bill," he wrote. "This isn't leadership. It's political corruption, plain and simple, snuck in during a midnight vote. "To make matters worse, they're hitting working families with nearly a billion dollars in new taxes. Democrats keep demanding more from you while delivering less. Less public safety. Fewer job opportunities. Less economic growth. "This budget is not just bloated, it's dishonest and irresponsible. It's a slap in the face to the very people who keep this state afloat. I voted no because I refuse to stand by while one-party rule continues to drain our state to prop up its political machine."
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Shaw Local Radio Podcast: Talk-Line with Steve Marco interviews Dan Langloss, Dixon City Manager
May 30—Listen to "Talk-Line: Dan Langloss Dixon City Manager" on Spreaker. The TALK-LINE interview for May 29 featured Dixon City Manager Dan Langloss presenting his annual "State of the City" look at various areas of the community. That includes the expansion of the South Dixon "Gateway Business District" and new businesses arriving shortly, work on housing expansion for the city, infrastructure work from both the state and city on roads, the "Project Rock" walking bridge work, and future leadership including a new police chief and finance director. Like what you hear? Be sure to visit WIXN, part of Shaw Local Radio. We're also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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Words of wit, wisdom and such: Commencement season arrives
BALTIMORE — Leadership comes down to five things. Or maybe three. This day is all about you, unless it's really about the family and friends who got you here. Live globally, but embrace the home and the hearth. It's commencement season, and this month, speakers sent the graduates of Maryland's colleges and universities off to the rest of their lives with these and other necessarily pithy words of wisdom, many of them blessedly brief. As at least two speakers noted, they were the only thing standing between the graduates and their hard-earned diplomas — and maybe an adult beverage. 'We always joke commencement speakers should think of themselves as the body at an Irish wake, you have to be there, but no one expects you to do much,' said Paul Orzulak, a former speechwriter for President Bill Clinton. The co-founder of the communications firm, West Wing Writers, Orzulak has written more than 100 commencement speeches, a task he enjoys for how it allows the newly graduated in the seats to see themselves in the accomplished person at the podium. But, he said, it's also a challenge in these TED Talk- and social media-pervasive times. 'People narrate their lives so much now,' he said. 'There's a sharper expectation for wit and humor.' This year's commencement speakers face a unique set of circumstances along with the usual pomp, with colleges targeted by the Trump administration on a range of issues, from cuts to federal funding to allegations of antisemitism linked to the pro-Palestinian protests that flared after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. 'If [the University of Maryland] is a guide, going in a more light-hearted direction is one answer to the complicated year colleges and universities have experienced,' Shawn J. Parry-Giles, professor and chair of the department of communication at the University of Maryland, College Park, said in an email. 'I anticipate some will try to avoid politicizing commencement this year,' she said. 'Right now, campuses are more likely hoping that graduation ceremonies can be a respite from such political controversies by placing the focus on providing a joyous space for families and friends to gather to celebrate their graduates.' UMD had the beloved and ever upbeat Muppet, Kermit the Frog, as its commencement speaker. While other colleges didn't go quite that cuddly a route, most speakers tended to lead with positive messages, even if they referred to the political backdrop of the times. The exception — as might be expected given the speaker and the setting — was Vice President JD Vance, who strongly criticized previous administrations while promoting the message of the current one at the U.S. Naval Academy graduation in Annapolis. Steven D. Cohen, a professor of business communications at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, said 'now more than ever' commencement speakers should use their platform to inspire, 'whether you're a frog or a celebrity or a politician.' READER POLL: Who gave the best commencement speech? Kermit the Frog, Dawn Moore, Wes Moore or JD Vance? Cohen, who also works as a communication coach and trainer, said the best speakers offer their audience a glimpse of themselves beyond the success that warranted them the commencement gig. 'When you open up, and show a piece of yourself, the failures you've had, the challenges,' he said, 'there's an authenticity there that you don't always see at that level.' Here are excerpts from some of the commencement speeches given by speakers in Maryland this month. At the University of Maryland Eastern Shore commencement on May 16, Moore spoke about how what matters is not what you plan to do but what you actually did. 'As young Black men and women, you will often be told your achievement alone will be enough. Being the first Black partner in the history of the firm will be enough… Being the first Black governor will be enough,' he said at the historically Black university. 'But those are all answers to what you will do and actually say very little about what you did do.' 'I don't want the answer to what I did in life being: 'He made history,'' the governor said. 'I want the answer to be: 'He made child poverty history.' I want the answer to be: 'He made food and housing insecurity history.' I want the answer to be: 'He made inequitable pay between men and women history.' 'That is the difference between a mindset of 'I will' and a mindset of 'I did.' And as governor, I've tried to act accordingly.' Thasunda Brown Duckett, president and CEO of financial services organization TIAA, spoke at Morgan State University in Baltimore on May 17. The third Black woman to head a Fortune 500 company, Brown Duckett noted her mother attended segregated school, as she offered lessons in leadership criteria, including what she said might be the most important: optimism. 'I know the world feels heavy right now, and many of our problems might seem insurmountable. But I assure you, friends, we live in a country that on its worst day still has innovation and renewal in its DNA,' she told attendees. Befitting her role as head of the trillion-dollar retirement services company, she also offered practical, financial advice: Contribute to your 401(k), especially if your employer matches contributions. 'If you don't remember one word that I have said today, I want all of you to remember the word compounding… A dollar saved today is worth more than a dollar saved tomorrow,' she said. '[Matching contributions,] that's free money. Don't leave coins on the table. Trust me. Your future self will say thank you.' Jonathan Karl, ABC News White House correspondent, spoke in Chestertown to Washington College graduates on May 18. He described keeping a photo of the young protester facing down a line of tanks in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989 as a reminder of how the media must bear witness to events that governments may try to erase or revise. 'There are people in positions of power and authority who pretend that Jan. 6 was peaceful, that we didn't witness a violent attempt to overturn a presidential election… There are people who would like to cover-up that truth just like the Chinese covered up the truth of Tiananmen Square… It's true that the students of Tiananmen Square tried to stand up for their own freedom and their country's freedom… It's true the Capitol came under attack again on Jan. 6… Don't believe those who tell you there is no real truth. That's a lie.' Maryland's first lady told graduates and guests at the University of Baltimore commencement on May 21 that she's learned 'big lessons about solving big problems:' Division is a barrier, collaboration is the path to success, and strengthening community elevates the work. 'That work is more important now than ever before. As a society, we have become increasingly divided — and I don't just mean politically — I mean physically. We send an email rather than meeting in person. We send a text rather than talking on the phone. … 'The greatest ideas in the world were developed in person,' she said. 'The greatest businesses in the world were built with people creating together. Community is our lifeblood. It's the only hope we have as a state to secure our future.' Sonja Santelises, the outgoing CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, looked to the future at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. 'What in the world do I do now? Asking that question today feels even more consequential in light of the current state of the world — and this is coming from an urban school superintendent, so you know when I say it's a little turbulent, it's really rocky,' she said. 'Many of us believe this is also a unique time for a different type of leader to emerge… Right now, you are the engine for that type of new leader… True leadership is not a position, but it is a way of moving in the world that seeks to solve problems on behalf of others and motivating others to do the same. 'Don't just lead in your field, lead in life… You actually don't have to give up on the fullness of life. I never wanted to only have one aspect of myself, and you should not settle for that either… Make sure you take care of your relationships. Make sure you take care of these pieces that are you. Love hard, love deeply and make sure [you know]... that if you are going to raise children and have a family, you are doing one of the most important things in our world that we could have done. Sal Kahn, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, the free online educational platform, spoke at Johns Hopkins University about AI and how rapidly it was changing life compared to previous advances. 'Whether you find this thrilling or terrifying or both, your feelings are valid. But make no mistake, this is the most epic of backdrops to your story. AI and other transformative technologies are neither good nor evil. They amplify human intent. Fire can warm or destroy. A knife can harm or create. Likewise, AI can amplify the negative intent of criminals and autocrats or the positive intent of artists, researchers, policymakers and educators. Whether the singularity leads us to dystopia or utopia is not a coin doss. It depends on what you people with creativity, intellect, integrity and positive intent choose to do with it.' Kermit 'spoke' at the University of Maryland, College Park. A snippet: 'Life is not a solo act. It's a big, messy, delightful ensemble piece… It's important to stay connected to your loved ones, stay connected to your friends and most important of all, stay close to your dreams, no matter how big, no matter how impossible they seem. The truth is, dreams are how we figure out where we want to go, and life is how we get there.' At Bowie State University's commencement, U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks harkened back to the bravery and endurace of the activist turned South African president, Nelson Mandela, whose fight for justice kept him going through 27 years in prison. 'Mandela's story endures throughout history because he endured,' she said. 'He never let the conditions of the world around him determine what he believed in. 'Now, you might look around at the current state of the world and wonder if I know what I'm talking about,' Alsobrooks said. ' My response to that is to just live a little longer. Hold on for a little while. The callous and self-centered personalities may seem popular now. But not forever. 'Even in his letters to his adversaries detailing his unwavering demands for justice, Mandela remained dignified,' she said. 'The fire in him burned, but it didn't turn him bitter or spiteful… And that's your charge — to stand on principle, and resist letting the circumstances of the moment push you off your game.' Krish Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge, the refugee resettlement agency, spoke at Goucher College of her own family leaving Sri Lanka to escape civil war and immigrating to the U.S., where her father found work in the city school system. 'You see, back then, American leadership meant offering refuge and opportunity to families like mine. Sadly, that promise is being tested these days — and I often wonder, had my family tried to come today, would we be welcomed?' Noting Goucher was the first college to require every student to study abroad, she lauded their 'global spirit.' 'You come from 43 states and 47 different nations — a living mosaic of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences. And in an age where some voices try to stoke fear of difference or draw lines between 'us' and 'them,' you offer a powerful counterexample. Your value lies in your curiosity, your empathy, your courage to challenge the status quo, and your willingness to build bridges where others would build walls. And that global perspective has never been more urgently needed.' 'The Trump administration has reversed course, no more undefined missions, no more open-ended conflicts,' Vice President J.D. Vance said at the Naval Academy. 'We're returning to a strategy grounded in realism and protecting our core national interests. Now this doesn't mean that we ignore threats, but it means that we approach them with discipline, and that when we send you to war, we do it with a very specific set of goals in mind… That's how military power should be used, decisively with a clear objective. We ought to be cautious in deciding to throw a punch, but when we throw a punch, we throw a punch hard, and we do it decisively, and that's exactly what we may ask you to do.'
