Rich Egger

Rich Egger’s guests on Emphasis are Janice Welsch and J.Q. Adams, who are organizing the annual Dealing With Difference Institute at Western Illinois University.

The McDonough County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency will open flood damage assessment centers to help those whose property was damaged by April’s heavy rains and floods.

Details are included in this news release issued by ESDA:

The panelists discuss the changes coming to the two largest newspapers in Lee County.

Mississippi Valley Media says the Daily Gate City and the Daily Democrat will publish four days per week. A shopper-style paper with news mixed in will be published the fifth day. The changes go into effect May 6.

Nearly two months after receiving a hoax 911 call, Macomb police released a recording of the call. Police made the audio available in response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed last week by Tri States Public Radio.

The recording lasts less than two minutes.  In it, the caller asks the 911 dispatcher to send a squad car to 509 Murray. “This guy has a gun on us. He says we can’t leave.”

Macomb Second Ward Alderman-Elect Steve Wailand said one of the first issues he might tackle after taking office is to clarify the city’s election code.

Two months after Macomb’s general election, a judge has ruled Steve Wailand edged Kay Hill, 17 to 16, in the contest for second ward alderman.

*Friday update - The water conservation order has been lifted, and the precautionary boil order has also been lifted, as of Friday morning.*

A water pump unique to Macomb’s treatment plant failed, leading the city to ask residents to conserve water usage and to boil water used for food preparation and drinking.

“Each (reverse osmosis water) system is custom built for the municipality it’s designed for,” said Mayor Mike Inman. “The dynamics of this pump are designed solely for use with our system.”

The Shop Talk panelists talk about an appeals court ruling that Aereo does not violate copyright law. An article in Gigaom called it the biggest blow yet to the existing TV business.