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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2026
VOL. 110, ISSUE 11
SIU celebrates 75 years of Saluki pride
What to know before Election Day ANGELINA RAIMONDI Staff Reporter
Kids smile and laugh as one launches bubbles out of a bubble gun Oct. 17, 2026 at the Homecoming Parade in Carbondale, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual SEE MORE | PAGES 6-7
Sheriff candidates focus on rural patrols, staffing TAY ACREE Staff Reporter
Patrolling rural communities, maintaining staffing and responding to mental health crises are among the challenges shaping the race between Jackson County Sheriff Robert Burns and Republican challenger Jay Wittenborn. Burns, who has served as sheriff for about 20 years, is seeking another term to oversee an upcoming staff transition and continue programs developed under his leadership. Wittenborn, a retired Illinois State Police officer, wants to review staffing, increase patrol visibility and examine spending for potential savings. “There will be a transition in the sheriff’s office over the next few years, and I would like to be a part of that,” Burns said. “A number of our senior staff will be retiring, and we’ll be replacing them accordingly.” Wittenborn said he entered the race after years of encouragement from others. His background includes serving on a SWAT team and working as a crowd-control and active-shooter instructor before retiring from the state police in 2016. He said he would assess staffing throughout the sheriff’s office before determining where additional employees might be needed, with the available budget guiding those decisions. Rural patrol coverage is one area Wittenborn wants to examine. He said deputies should have a visible presence outside communities with their own police departments. Burns said some residents in outlying areas have complained that they do not see deputies. The sheriff’s
InsiDE
office tries to increase patrols and maintain coverage in each zone, he said, although incidents requiring several officers can pull deputies elsewhere. Burns said thefts and burglaries are also among the concerns he hears from residents in rural Jackson County. “So what we try to do is we try to identify hotspots, we try to increase patrols,” Burns said. He also acknowledged hearing complaints from residents who do not regularly see deputies in their communities. Burns said the office tries to maintain coverage in each patrol zone, although incidents requiring several officers can affect those assignments. Deputies also assist Carbondale police when additional law enforcement is needed, he said. The sheriff’s office also oversees the Jackson County Jail. Wittenborn said transporting people in custody to hospitals or medical appointments takes staff away from the jail, adding to the staffing demands. Burns said maintaining staffing is a continuing challenge, although he described the office’s recruitment and retention efforts as successful. He identified mental health needs as a challenge affecting both deputies responding to calls and employees working in the jail. Officers receive de-escalation training and a counselor provided through Centerstone works in the jail 40 hours a week, he said. The current sheriff would also like a mental health counselor to work alongside SHERIFF | 4
Election Day is just two weeks away, but it’s not too late to register and cast your vote. To vote in Illinois on Nov. 3, you must be a United States citizen, 18 years of age by Election Day and a resident of the precinct where you are voting at least 30 days prior to Election Day. While the deadline for regular voting registration has passed, southern Illinois members can still register to vote in person through grace-period registration. According to the Illinois State Board of Elections, if a voter who
registers to vote or changes their address during the grace period wishes to vote in the election during the grace period, they must do so in person at the same time they register. To register to vote, citizens are required to show two forms of identification with at least one showing their current address. “I would make sure you look over a sample ballot so you are familiar with who is on the ballot and how to vote,” Williamson County Clerk Amanda Barnes said. “Know ahead of time where your polling place is and make sure you are registered to vote.” VOTE | 3
New faces compete for circuit judge
Byrd, Gill contend for county Reed, Snyder look to replace Solverson clerk after retirement
Jamie Snyder Republican BRAYDEN GUY News Editor
Democrat Benjamin Reed and Republican Jamie Snyder are vying for the position of Jackson County resident circuit judge. Reed is campaigning on a 94% bar poll recommendation compared to the lack of responses for Snyder. Snyder is campaigning on his 24 years of experience. Snyder has been a licensed attorney for 24 years. He has served as an assistant prosecutor, assistant city attorney and as the city attorney of Carbondale since 2016. Snyder has described himself as a “soft Republican,” who recognizes the importance of social nets. Snyder said his support spans communities that are not traditional Republican. “The fact that I have bridged that and worked 19 years with what is considered the most progressive community in southern Illinois,” he said, referring to his time in Carbondale city government. “And I have done that without my having political opinions, my political positions impact those decisions.”
Mueller challenges Jacobs for Senate seat, Page 8
CALI ROY Staff Reporter
Benjamin Reed Democrat
Reed has been a licensed attorney for 14 years. He mostly practices family law and does work with the Land of Lincoln Legal Aid Service, which provides low-income individuals and seniors with legal representation they might not otherwise be able to afford. Circuit court judges hear cases typically in a specific docket assigned by the chief judge, but they do rotate which docket they work on. They also appoint associate judges who hear cases designated by the circuit court judges. Because judges are impartial in their process, Reed and Snyder did not answer any political questions that would indicate their ruling as judge. The position opened after Judge Christy Solverson announced her retirement on Jan. 30, 2026. Solverson, a Democrat, has endorsed Reed to fill the position, writing that she has “no doubt Ben will follow the law and treat all people with dignity and respect.” Snyder said he also looks up to the former judge. Snyder said in February he wished to continue the
persons in crisis program that Solverson started in Jackson County and that, as judge, he would try to get a mental health court for Jackson County. Snyder said these were still major goals of his campaign. “I can’t speak on Jamie’s credentials because there is nothing to go by. I look at the information, we’ve got no bar poll and as far as I know, not a single endorsement,” Reed said. Snyder confirmed in an Oct. 17 text message that his campaign stands on its own merits and because the retired judges are Democrats, it would be impractical to seek bipartisan endorsements. The merit of his campaign is not just the number of years. “The 24 years does make me a better candidate, but years are not the lone key factor,” he said. Snyder said the different types of cases he has worked on as city attorney distinguish him. “Every type of hearing, for the most part, I’ve had. That’s something my opponent can’t say. He is a family lawyer; he has family cases, and that is almost
JUDGE | 4
Jackson County voters will decide this November whether to keep familiar leadership in the County Clerk’s Office, or elect someone new. Incumbent Democrat Frank Byrd is seeking a third term, while his Republican opponent Doug Gill makes his first run for public office. The County Clerk is responsible for managing official birth, death and marriage certificates; issuing marriage licenses; recording property documents such as deeds, plats and surveys; calculating tax rates; and administering county elections and voting. The elected official is expected to ensure election security and maintain vital documents within their jurisdiction. Byrd, who has been the sitting Jackson County Clerk since 2019, said reelection is an opportunity to continue building on what he’s already accomplished during his previous terms. “Since taking office, I’ve worked to improve the way we serve our residents, especially when it comes to voting,” Byrd said. “There’s always room to do more, and I want the opportunity to keep improving. I care about this county, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done so far.” Byrd began his bid for County Clerk in 2018, after he was inspired to get into politics by his grandfather, Frank Byrd Sr., who was a precinct committeeperson. Being from Jackson County, Byrd said he wanted to get into politics to give back to CLERK | 4
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Alt.news 26:46 claims 1st place at Hangar 9 in 1st round of eliminations GUS BODE Campus Legend Last week at Hangar 9 and the Daily Egyptian’s RSO Karaoke Cup, Alt. news 26:46 climbed to first place in Group B with their performance of ABBA’s “Money, Money, Money,” passing reigning champions Joyful Noise Choir by one point overall. The race for the top two
spots in Group B remains close, with Alpha Gamma Delta in third at 117.6. Whether Alt.news maintains their score and retains first place remains to be seen. Two RSOs found themselves on the chopping block: LA IDEA and Percussion Arts Society, who did not show up for either of Group B’s performances. Group B will perform
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Purple People Eaters perfom “I Will Survive” for the Karaoke Cup Oct. 14, 2026 at Hanger 9 In Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
News | Page 3
Mike Bost and Julie Fortier vie for 12th district Congress seat ORION WOLF Deputy Editor
Illinois’s 12th congressional district will elect a new representative on Nov. 3. The district consists of 34 counties, from Effingham, O’Fallon, Mount Vernon and Carbondale down to Cairo. Republican Mike Bost from Murphysboro has held the seat since 2015, and this year he’s facing Julie Fortier, a Democrat from O’Fallon Fortier said that healthcare was the biggest problem in southern Illinois, while Bost said it was infrastructure. Both candidates shared their ideas in separate interviews with the Daily Egyptian. Julie Fortier spoke with the DE before her town hall in Jackson County on Sept. 13. After multiple attempts to meet in person or on Zoom, Bost’s campaign manager, Myles Nelson, scheduled an over-thephone interview on Oct. 1. Bost and Fortier talk priorities for southern Illinois “Healthcare is probably first and foremost,” Fortier said. She said the Big Beautiful Bill would cut Medicaid that rural hospitals rely on, therefore forcing southern Illinoisans to travel further for medical care. According to the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, the changes to Medicaid, as laid out in the Big Beautiful Bill, are set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2027. The changes will restrict who has access to Medicaid benefits through the Affordable Care Act. “If an ambulance has to take someone two hours away and a particular county only has one or two ambulances then, now, that ambulance is going to be used for two hours and it can’t be used for somebody else,” Fortier said. Bost said that the Big Beautiful Bill should actually bolster rural hospitals. Bost said there was $193 million waiting for the state of Illinois to distribute to hospitals. According to reporting from Capitol News Illinois, while the $193 million every year for the next five years will help, Jordan Powell, senior vice president of health policy and finance for the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, said the limits set forth by the bill will hit rural hospitals much harder than the stipend can account for. In order to qualify under new restrictions, a person must have 80 hours of work or community service, a monthly income of $580 or half-time enrollment at a higher education institution, such as college or a trade school. Instead of being evaluated
VOTE CONTINUED FROM 1
How can I vote? Eligible voters have more than one way to vote. To vote by mail, voters need to request a ballot from their local election authority and then return it accordingly based on the authority’s instruction. Options vary, but voters can typically return their ballots by mail or through an authorized drop box. Office drop box locations can be found on the Illinois State Board of Election’s website. All requests to file an application for a vote by mail ballot must be received by the election authority by Oct. 29. If a registered voter wants to request a vote-by-mail ballot in person at the office of the election authority, the last day to do so is Nov. 2. Roberta Borrin, vice president of the League of Women’s Voters of Illinois, said college students
annually, they will now be evaluated every six months for their Medicaid eligibility. Bost listed his own main priority as infrastructure. Bost said, “Southern Illinois is the most beautiful part of Illinois, there is no doubt. But the unique challenges are that we have several areas that are impoverished,” Bost said. He cited efforts to help the people of Alexander County and Cairo, “Because of the impoverishment, there’s everything from infrastructure problems, the list goes on and on.” He was also concerned with the funding that southern Illinois receives, and the fact that it doesn’t come directly from the federal government. “Federal dollars that come in are redistributed by the state. The state, unfortunately, because 2/3 of the voters, and therefore ⅔ of the state legislature, can see the Sears Tower on a clear day, we in southern Illinois are forgotten,” Bost said. A 2018 Paul Simon Public Policy Institute study at SIU found that southern Illinois receives significantly more funding than it pays in taxes, whereas Cook County receives slightly less than what it pays in taxes. “You have to have a legislator that understands and knows these 34 counties,” Bost said. Bost will not debate Bost has held several “mobile office hours” in several counties in September, including: Jefferson, Saline, Clark, Massac, Randolph, Clinton, Wabash, Monroe, Pulaski and Wayne. These were run by his staff to answer questions from the constituents. When asked if he would debate Fortier, he said, “When we get our message out, we’re getting our message out to our voters. We haven’t had a debate in this district, I think, in four or five terms. We have social media, we have things like that.” The 12th district debates used to be hosted by the Southern Illinoisian, WSIU, and Belleville News-Democrat. The last debate was in 2018. However, Bost has been holding telephone town halls since 2017, and has been met with public criticism for it. Protests took place in Murphysboro in 2025 because local groups and constituents said their voices were not being heard.. Bost said debates and town halls don’t get the message out effectively because of the small number of attendees. “I am available to the people.
I’ll do interviews, I’ll tell about what we’re doing and everything like that. But, no, we won’t be having a debate,” Bost said. Fortier said her campaign had reached out to Bost for every town hall they’ve done since August and has heard nothing back. She has held in-person town halls in Massac, Clinton, Jasper, Cumberland, Union, Jefferson, Wabash, Clay, Jackson, Franklin, Johnson, Alexander, Pulaski, Pope and White counties. She will have her final town hall in Gallatin County on Oct. 24. “I truly think that anybody who runs for any political office, whether it’s the White House all the way down to a city or county clerk, you need to go meet the people,” Fortier said. “You have to speak to the people because without that, you don’t know what’s affecting them.” “I think Washington, D.C., is its own bubble, I get that. But when you come home, you need to meet the people. You need to have town halls,” she said. Both candidates are veterans representing veterans Both Bost and Fortier have histories in the military. According to his campaign website, Bost was a Marine and was honorably discharged as a corporal after four years of service. He was also a Murphysboro firefighter. Fortier served in the Air Force and was a cancer research scientist. She has a doctorate in pathology, according to her campaign website. “If we cannot protect our veterans, we will not have veterans who are actually willing to serve with us; serve for us. And we need a military force,” she said. “We need a Department of Defense, and I think we need to make sure that we have people in Congress who stand up for them.” She said that the biggest problem facing southern Illinois veterans is the accessibility of Veterans Affairs services. On July 7, 2025, the VA announced it was planning to reduce the number of employees by 30,000 by the end of the year. “Since September, we have lost over 35,000 workers in the VA. So people have to wait longer to see doctors. People aren’t getting the care that they deserve after serving,” Fortier said. Bost has served on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs since 2021, with his term ending in January. “I’ve traveled around the nation working on veterans issues,” he said. Bost shared his plans for if he
gets re-elected. “When we get back after the election, hopefully, we’ll be able to move forward with that legislation, and that helps veterans, not only veteran spouses, also our most disabled veterans,” Bost said. Where Bost and Fortier get their funding Political Action Committees, or PACs, are organizations that raise or spend more than $1,000 to support a candidate aligned with their values. Bost has many PAC donations. Many of his donations come from agricultural PACs and unions. He also receives donations from Boeing and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. “Each one of those PACs is representing people,” he said. Fortier has campaigned on not taking PAC money from corporations, however, she does take PAC money from an organization called ACTBLUE. Bost said that a lot of Democrats also take PAC money from groups that are made specifically to support Democratic candidates. This is what ACTBLUE operates as. He takes similar donations from Republican-aligned PACs. “There are different kinds of PAC money so, I am not taking corporate PAC or AIPAC money. I am taking, for instance, if a Union has a PAC, I will take their money,” Fortier said. She also received money from RAYGUN, a Des Moines, Iowa based clothing company and O’Fallon Parks and Recreation. Bost said anybody who says they’re not taking money is because they’re not going to receive any. He said not taking PAC money is a mistake. “When I was early involved in politics, one time, I said ‘Oh no, I don’t think I’ll take PAC money,’ and I’m going to tell you that was a poor choice on my part,” Bost said. Fortier said that the cost of running is almost impossible to cover without some kind of help. “If you shun money from
everybody, you will not be able to run,” She said. “I have relied on primarily individual donors and it has been amazing in the turn-out. But you can’t keep asking the same people over and over again. That’s not really fair.” “I do think politics needs to be turned back over to the people, and that means getting the money from the people,” she said. Where the candidates stand on ICE Recently, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Houston was put on administrative leave by the Department of Homeland Security after he allegedly ran over an immigrant. “I do not believe in police brutality, nor do I think anyone that works at ICE does. They are a fine organization of law enforcement,” Bost said. Bost said that he is a supporter of ICE and will continue to be. “ I do believe we need immigration law enforcement …” Fortier said, “If you think about it, ICE has the ability to carry weapons across state lines, and yet their training isn’t anywhere near the level that we afford the FBI, that’s also allowed to do that or the marshals that are allowed to do that.” Fortier said there needs to be a reset and stricter training. “I think ICE needs to be disbanded and we need to start from scratch and we need to have very strict rules on training and people who are allowed to join ICE.” “We’re all immigrants. It’ll be fantastic. Please come, but do it legally,” Bost said. Candidates remain cautious about data centers “Right now, I would prefer if we had a moratorium on data centers until more information is gathered,” Fortier said, “I believe data centers should not have any kind of negative impact on the environment in which a data center is supposed to be built.” She said her main concerns about data centers are water, heat, and noise pollution. “The only time a data center
often struggle with choosing whether to vote with their home address or school address. Students who decide to use their home address can typically vote by mail. Students can contact the election authority for the county they intend to vote in to confirm their options. Early voting has also opened and is available in person until Nov. 2. The votes cast during early voting will not be counted until after the polls close on Election Day. Where and when can I vote? Early-voting locations and hours vary by county. Sites can be found on your county’s website or by calling the county clerk. In Carbondale, the Civic Center is open for early voting on Oct. 20, 21, 26 and 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The SIU Student Center will be open Oct. 28, 29 and 30 from 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. for early voters. The Jackson County Clerk’s Office in Murphysboro is currently open for early voting on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays. The office will also be open on Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to noon. The Williamson County Clerk’s Office in Marion is open for early voting on the following dates and times: • Oct. 22 and Oct. 26-29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Oct. 24 and Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to noon • Nov. 2 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Extended hours at the Williamson County Clerk’s Office are also available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 23 and 30. On Election Day, Nov. 3, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. How are votes counted? Elections are administered by the state’s 108 election authorities. These local authorities find
polling places, train election judges and oversee Election Day activities. They also handle local voter registration programs, arrange for the printing of ballots and supervise the vote count at a local level. Before Election Day, Illinois follows strict procedures to ensure the accuracy of vote counts. All equipment must be tested and approved by an independent voting system testing laboratory and by the State Board of Elections’ team of election specialists. Election authorities must do a pre-test to ensure accuracy in detecting ballots that are overvoted, undervoted, or unable to be read by the system. A “public test” is held no less than five days before the election. The test is required to be open for representatives of the State Board, representatives of the political parties and the press. After a public test, if
completely without errors, all materials used during the test are sealed and remain sealed. On Election Day, election judges oversee voting. Election judges are citizen volunteers who are trained by the county governments to be allowed to work at polling places. Depending on the county, three to five election judges are present at every precinct polling location to ensure fairness; they are required to represent both Democratic and Republican parties. Authorized poll watchers may be present where they are required to observe election judges and inspect the equipment when not being used by voters. Poll watchers can be representatives of political parties, state nonpartisan civic organizations, candidates, organizations of citizens or opponents of ballot propositions. After polls close, election judges open the ballot box and count ballots to make sure the
Mike Bost Republican
Julie Fortier Democrat
brings jobs is when the facility is being built. After that time, very few jobs are actually brought into the community,” Fortier said. In a Capitol News Illinois article, it was reported that while many of the jobs from data centers would pay well, they also only existed during the construction of the data centers. Fortier said that the data centers took up too many resources and had too many negative effects on the community to justify at the moment. “For what?” She said, “Is it enough benefit for the community?” Bost suggested a system of “reverse metering” as well as an independent water system for data centers to feed off of. Reverse metering, typically used for solar panels, is when a surplus of energy is created and is sent back into the utility grid, creating energy for surrounding buildings. “They can use the system to generate what we need in these data centers but also do it in a way that is beneficial to the people around the area where they’re placing it.” There is an increased effort by AI companies to create data centers that generate their own power, but it comes at a large monetary cost. “We want AI to be available to help us but the question is, where do you put the line on what governs that?” Bost said. Fortier said that both sides of the aisle should start working together for the American people. She said that she views this as a nonpartisan issue and that Americans should be supported regardless of party, because all Americans are experiencing similar hardships. Bost said that people know what he thinks and he’s fine with that. He said he holds the Constitution above that. “I represent everybody, I represent all of us. Whether you’re a Dem, an independent, or a Republican. I am here for everybody,” Fortier said. “If I find out something’s not constitutional, I won’t be going down that path. I’m very prolife and that’s not changing,” He said. “I think I have to answer to someone greater than the voter, and that would be God.” Jackson County residents can cast their vote for Bost or Fortier at their respective polling places on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Deputy Editor Orion Wolf can be reached at owolf@dailyegyptian.com and on Instagram @orionwolf_
number is agreeable with the number of voters voting. Then, a bipartisan team of two judges return the paper ballots and all the other election materials to the election authority in a sealed container. There is a post-election test which is similar to the pretest and public test. The state board randomly selects 5% of precincts and early voting equipment to reorganize ballots to check for accuracy. The election results are not official until this full process is completed and can take up to three weeks. For more information on the process of the election, counting votes and Election Day results, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website at www. elections.il.gov. Staff Reporter Angelina Raimondi can be reached araimondi@dailyegyptian.com
Page 4 | News
JUDGE
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exclusively his entire practice.” Snyder said. He said he has had experience with multiple facets of municipal law and a class action lawsuit. Reed argued that his experience was broader, with a focus on family law where he represented the people, not the government. “My experience is much broader because I started off doing any kind of case that someone would hire me to do,” Reed said. “I’ve done criminal law, contract law, civil litigation, I did estate planning. I eventually just honed in on doing family law because I am really good at it.” Reed said his work as a family lawyer has allowed him to connect more on an individual level. “I’ve represented people and businesses and families. I haven’t just represented the government,” Reed said. “One of the key distinctions between me and the opposition is he’s represented the government, and that’s it,” Both candidates have represented individuals in court; Snyder has practiced longer, but
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Reed has been in contact with a wider range of clients and judges. Recommendations or popularity contest? Reed received an overall 94.44% recommendation and high scores across the board. Snyder did not receive enough responses for his bar poll results. According to previous reporting in the Daily Egyptian, the “bar poll” is the Judicial Advisory Poll, which is organized by the Illinois State Bar Association. The ISBA is a professional organization of over 28,000 lawyers, law students and nonlawyers qualified by their experience or work. Like most polls, the bar poll relies on the honesty of its respondents. Other attorneys in the ISBA respond to the polls. Respondents are advised only to answer if they have dealt with or observed the candidate during their legal service or work, or have had professional experience with the candidate, or have been on committees, boards, or in lectures with the candidate.
Ballots are cast once per year for two weeks in July through email. The poll measures a candidate’s integrity, impartiality, temperament, legal ability, court management, sensitivity to diversity and bias and asks the respondents if they recommend the candidate. All of these can be answered with “Agree,” “Disagree,” or “No Opinion.” Candidates who receive 60% of “Yes” to the question: meets acceptable requirements for the office, are rated as recommended. Snyder said he believed Reed’s father, Gerald Reed, a retired attorney, and his father-in-law, Barry Ancell call friends to help Reed get bar poll responses. “That’s the thing with the bar poll. It is a popularity contest,” Snyder said. “Some of the people endorsing him, look at when they retired. They retired before he was even practicing law. How are you gonna endorse someone you’ve never had in court with you?” Snyder said. “That’s the advantage of being a second-generation attorney.” Snyder said that,
CLERK
CONTINUED FROM 1
the community he grew up in. Since his first term as County Clerk, Byrd said working as the county clerk has given him a better understanding of what residents need and how to run the office properly. His focus has been accessibility and safety. “One of the things I’ve focused on is making voting more accessible,” Byrd said. We’ve established two ballot retrieval boxes in two major cities to give voters more options when returning their ballots. I’ve also worked on getting grants to reimburse eligible expenses and help the county manage its costs. These are important parts of the job, and I want to keep finding ways to improve services while being mindful of taxpayer money.” Byrd has received several notable grants for Jackson County, including a $65,000 grant in 2025 to reimburse the county’s efforts in making voting booths more accessible, as well as a $90,000 grant in 2020 for election material reimbursement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Byrd said he believes in helping and treating all Jackson County residents fairly, not just his supporters Byrd said his office has also made notable efforts to protect Jackson County residents against fraud, rolling out free property and notary fraud protection services. He said his office maintains clean voter rolls. “We are diligent about keeping our voter rolls updated; we must have official documentation if someone passes, not a random phone call,” Byrd said. “We rely on IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health) and the Vital Records Department to give us names of people who have passed. If you
Doug Gill Republican
Frank Bryd Democrat
are a relative and want to sign a statement in my office concerning a family member, we will contact the IDPH.” While Byrd has already managed reelection once, he said he understands people may be critical of a third term. “I understand that some people may want a change, and I respect that,” Byrd said. “Voters have the right to decide who they believe is best for the job. I would just ask them to look at the work I’ve done, including the steps we’ve taken to make voting more accessible and the effort I’ve put into finding grants to help cover expenses.” In his bid for reelection, Byrd said he promises to remain dedicated to expanding voting accessibility and use a third term to bring in more grant funding. Gill said Jackson County is due for a change in representation. Gill, who originally grew up in Effingham, moved to Carbondale in 1995 to attend SIU’s School of Law, after more than a decade-long career serving in the U.S. Navy and Illinois National Guard. “I had determined I was either going to go to law school or seminary,” Gill said. “ After a long struggle of trying to decide which way to go, I ultimately decided my passion was politics, and hence, that’s the reason we’re here.” In 2001, Gill established Gill Law Firm in Carbondale, and since has been a practicing attorney and trial lawyer,
primarily dealing with personal injury cases. Despite his ultimate goal of someday running for office, Gill never pursued any government positions until now. Gill said he was approached by Daniel Bost and asked to run for County Clerk, which made him consider that now might be the right time to step in and make a change in the Jackson County Clerk’s Office. “I asked him, ‘Why me?’” Gill said. According to Gill, Bost contacted Darrel Dunham, a former professor at the SIU School of Law, and asked who he thought would be a good candidate for the position. Dunham said Gill would be his recommendation. Gill said he believes his qualifications for this position lie not only in his education, but also in his many years and experiences as a service member and trial lawyer. “My lived experiences, I think, make me very qualified for this job,” Gill said. “Anybody who knows me knows my worldview is being honest and telling the truth.” Gill said one of the most important aspects of his life is his faith, which serves as a pillar in both his personal and professional life. “If there’s one takeaway I want people to know that, first and foremost, I am a Christian, and I think that kind of gives people an idea as to my frame of mind,” Gill said. “As a Christian, I love God, I love people, and I’m not running to try to
because of his practice, 90% of his cases have been with people who represent themselves and that he regularly works with a small number of the same attorneys. When asked if Jackson County had a small bar poll, Reed said it depends on perspective. “I think that Jackson County’s bar is not large compared to Chicagoland, but Jackson County’s bar is large compared to the rural counties surrounding it,” Reed said. A $7,670 campaign vs. a $76,450 campaign Snyder has garnered $7,670 in total for campaign contributions, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections website. Snyder’s contributions are mostly smaller donations compared to Reed’s, but he has notably received $3,500 from the Jackson County Republican Central Committee and $5,000 from Carbondale nightclub Levels. Snyder said the donation from Levels would not create any conflicts of interest. “He (Levels owner) has a liquor license in Carbondale, so because of that donation I have taken zero input on
anything that happens at Levels,” Snyder said. “So if there is an investigation at Levels, I don’t know about it. My assistant handles that, the police department handles that. I have taken a step back.” Reed’s father has contributed $3,000 to his campaign, according to the ISBE website. He also has several donations from practicing and retired attorneys and from clients he has worked with, such as Knight Hawk Coal. In total, his campaign has raised $76,450 in campaign contributions, over $21,000 of which are still available, according to the latest D-2 quarterly report. Snyder criticized some of the contributions to Reed’s campaign. “My opponent has collected over $13,000 from attorneys alone. So, he is definitely the establishment person. I am not establishment, I owe no allegiance to any attorney or any political entity in order to do this job. I will come in without worrying about, ‘Do I owe this person a favor?’” “I’m looking to serve
the people of Jackson County. Not buy an office.” Snyder said. Reed said his campaign contributions are recognition of his good work and that he would address conflicts or bias. “A lot of the folks have donated; it’s because of the goodwill we have created by doing a good job for them over the years. If someone came in front of me that I thought I would have some sort of a conflict with, whether it’s because I know them personally or they donated money to my campaign, I would simply recuse myself from the case,” Reed said. Both candidates are eager to serve their community, but only one will be chosen in November to fill the shoes of judge. Residents of Jackson County can vote in person until Nov. 3, Election Day. Absentee ballot requests, or mailin ballots, are due on Oct. 29 online and Nov. 2 in person. Early voting also ends on Nov. 2.
dictate anybody how to live, or anything like that, and what they should and shouldn’t do, that’s their freedom to choose. But at the same time, like I said, I think that people should know that I’m gonna try to do the right thing.” One issue Gill hopes to address is fraud. While Gill has not produced any evidence of Byrd’s office ignoring fraud or unlawful voter rolls, Gill said he isn’t satisfied with the level of transparency from the current administration. “The guy that does the death certificates, marriage licenses, birth certificates, all the property records; You should be able to keep clean voter rolls,” Gill said. “Elections should be very transparent. The process should be very transparent, and I think I can bring all of that to this job … I’m not saying my opponent is inefficient. I’m not saying he has committed fraud. But if there’s fraud there, anywhere, that needs to be exposed.” While there is no evidence to suggest that Byrd’s office has engaged in ignoring fraud or improperly managed voter rolls, Gill believes he can bring a larger level of transparency to the clerk’s office. Alongside Gill’s pledge to run an honest and transparent office, he said he wants to save Jackson County residents money wherever possible. “A big issue in Jackson County right now is property taxes,” Gill said. “Now, as the County Clerk, you have very little to do with that. I know that’s one thing my opponent keeps saying. However, one of the biggest expenses is the Jackson County Sheriff ’s Office and the Clerk’s Office. You’ve also got the Circuit Clerk’s Office, running the courthouse, all that other stuff. But, looking at how the office is operated, doing it efficiently and trying to save the taxpayer money
is something I could bring to the table.” While Gill pledges to run the County Clerk’s Office with integrity and efficiency, he said he trusts in his faith no matter the election’s outcome. “Jackson County will get a full-time clerk out of me,” Gill said. “I think they’ll get somebody who’s uniquely qualified, and I think I bring a lot to the
table, and I look forward to serving the people of Jackson County. Election day is Nov. 3, 2026. Early voting is currently available. For more information regarding voting options and election day operations, visit https:// jacksoncounty-il.gov/.
Jay Wittenborn Republican
SHERIFF CONTINUED FROM 1
law enforcement on calls in the community, although funding would be a consideration. “If we could have a mental health counselor that worked with law enforcement to address some of these issues that we deal with on a daily basis, I think it would be helpful,” Burns said. Burns highlighted the sheriff’s school resource officer program, which he said has four fulltime officers serving five school districts, as an accomplishment developed over multiple terms. Wittenborn said he would consider expanding the program if staffing and funding allowed. Equipment and spending are also priorities for Wittenborn. He said deputies need reliable vehicles and radio communications, particularly when responding across rural and hilly areas. Wittenborn said he would review budget allocations to identify potential savings while keeping deputies properly equipped. He did not specify what expenses he would cut, saying he would first need to examine the budget.
News Editor Brayden Guy can be reached at bguy@dailyegyptian.com
Staff Reporter Cali Roy can be reached at croy@dailyegyptian.com
Robert “Bob” Burns Democrat
“Running a law enforcement agency, being the police is really expensive, so it’s going to cost a lot of money no matter what,” Wittenborn said. Burns pointed to improved equipment, additional training, a canine program and a crime scene program among the office’s accomplishments. He said having crime scene personnel available helps shorten the response time for processing evidence. When asked what specific improvements residents could expect in the first year of another term, Burns said changes would depend partly on legislation and its requirements for law enforcement. Wittenborn said he would judge his own performance partly by whether he could reduce costs while ensuring deputies have the equipment they need. “I would hope at the end of the day that we could possibly save the taxpayers some money,” Wittenborn said. Staff Reporter Tay Acree can reached at tacree@dailyegyptian.com and on Instagram @through.tays.lens_
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
News | Page 5
William “Bill” Archer Republican, District 4
Daniel Bost Republican, District 2
Brandon Brown Democrat, District 7
Tonya Knust Republican, District 1
Dayton Loyd Republican, District 5
Levi A. Mahan Republican, District 3
Deb Mileur Democrat, District 5
Faith Miller Democrat, District 4
Julie Peterson Democrat, District 5
Daniel R. Presley Democrat, District 6
Peggy Wilken Democrat, District 3
Carla Sue Womack Democrat, District 2
Jackson County voters to decide on 4 contested county board races MARIAH FLETCHER Staff Reporter
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, Jackson County voters will head to the polls and cast their votes for county board seats. There are 14 members elected from 7 districts. District maps can be found on the Jackson County website, https://www.jacksoncounty-il.gov/. Board members represent the interests of their community. They are responsible for fiscal management of county operations and implementing policies. They also communicate with and oversee public safety services, and attend and hold public committee meetings. Each of the seven Jackson County districts have two representatives, which are elected for staggered terms. This term, Districts 1, 6 and 7 are uncontested. Tonya Knust, a Republican, is running for District 1. Daniel Presley, a Democrat, is running for District 6. Brandon Brown, a Democrat, is running for District 7. For District 5, there is one uncontested race with Democrat Julie Peterson. Democrat Debra Mileur and Republican Dayton Loyd are also competing in the district to serve an unexpired, twoyear term, which was previously held by the late John Rendleman. District 2: Daniel Bost, Republican; Carla Womack, Democrat Daniel Bost is the sitting board member for District 2. He did not respond to several requests for comment. Womack is a Southern Illinois University graduate who taught special education for 33 years at a school district in Rockford, Illinois. She is involved with the Egyptian Area Agency on Aging and the Illinois Education Association Retired group. “I’ve prided myself through my years of teaching in being able to compromise. I tend to try to be in the middle,” Womack said. In the 2024 tax year, Jackson County residents spent $57.68 million on school districts, which is 63.7% of all county property taxes. “I know that property taxes are a huge issue. I know it is a double-edged sword; our schools depend on property taxes. I certainly want to support the public schools by taxes,” Womack said. “I like the firefighters and police to be paid, and the teachers and schools to have a safe environment.” Womack said she wants to learn more about the issues Jackson County faces, and that she would like to “make decisions for the betterment of the community.” Public transportation is important to Womack, as she lives in the rural areas of the county. She said public transportation is “nonexistent” in some
areas of Jackson County. She said one of the factors that prohibited her students from working was transportation. District 3: Levi Mahan, Republican; Peggy Wilken, Democrat The sitting board member for District 3 is Tamiko Mueller. Mueller is running for the Illinois State Senate 59th District. Mahan, a 2017 SIU grad, is a church deacon, on the board of a local homeschool co-op and is the history teacher for the co-op. Mahan also works in Carbondale servicing and repairing sewing and quilting machines. Mahan fell in love with the “beauty” of southern Illinois and the people while attending SIU, even though he grew up in Missouri. As the youngest candidate running for Jackson County Board, Mahan said he will bring a “fresh perspective” to the board. “I represent a new generation,” he said. “I have a desire to bring back government accountability that I believe has been lacking.” Mahan said that, after speaking with voters, his main priority is tax relief. “Our county had lost 11% of its population in the last decade based off the U.S. census numbers. In my opinion, that creates a domino effect where we continue to lose businesses and residents, but we are increasingly putting higher tax levies on them,” Mahan said. Mahan said he is a “self-starter and a fast learner,” with his education and work experience. “I think the pertinent thing is that I am willing and able to learn and fight for the people of Jackson County to fix whatever problems arise,” Mahan said. Wilken grew up in central Illinois on a farm, then came to SIU to study horticulture after attending Danville Junior College. Wilken worked at SIU’s horticulture research center for 17 years while receiving her PhD. She also was in a volunteer program for Jackson County Emergency Medical Services. “As a teacher, I was taught to be patient and care for people. EMS has taught me how to behave in an emergency, and how to care for a lot of people from different areas around the world,” Wilken said. Wilken said she has been door knocking and asking people what they would like to see changed in Jackson County, which she called her “shut up and listen tour.” She said some of the issues people in her district are concerned about are taxes, zoning and after-school programs for local children. “They are in school for 8 hours a
day; when they get out they want to go crazy, of course,” Wilken said. “What I want to do is funnel that energy into something more positive.” District 4: Faith Miller, Democrat; William “Bill” Archer, Republican The sitting board members for District 4 are Christine Snyder and Faith Miller. Miller, who is seeking reelection, was in touch with the DE but did not comment before the print deadline. Archer is an SIU graduate and Army veteran. He worked for the Military Assistance Training Academy and worked for generals in Afghanistan. Archer described himself as a “fighter.” He said this quality would be important to the Jackson County Board. Archer said his campaign is focusing on taxes. “Not every problem gets the same hammer. But when they all end up in this black hole where there is no response or participation, that has to be fixed,” Archer said. “Everyone that is running is great, but I will put my research (on property taxes) up against anyone else’s.” Archer said he would like to see the Jackson County Board improve outreach — regardless of the political affiliation of the members. “Everyone always gets wrapped up on ‘Pritzker is bad,’ or ‘the orange man is bad,’ but Jackson County is rotting. We have so many opportunities here but if all we care about are people who are never going to come to meetings… that’s not participatory of the government,” Archer said. District 5: Julie Peterson, Democrat; Debra Mileur, Democrat; Dayton Loyd, Republican In District 5, Julie Peterson, a Democrat, is running uncontested. Debra Mileur and Dayton Loyd are competing to serve an unexpired, twoyear term. Mileur, the incumbent, was appointed to fill the seat in August after John Rendleman, longtime board member, died. Peterson is a Jackson County resident and a SIU graduate. She is currently a clinical supervisor for students in the Teacher Education Program at SIU and a retired history teacher from Carbondale High School. Peterson is a member of the board of directors for the Illinois Council for the Social Studies, a member of the executive committee for the Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission and chair of the Southern Illinois Metropolitan Planning Organization. Peterson has served on the Jackson County Board since 2010. During that time, Peterson said she has been involved in “significant changes,” including consolidating committees
into fewer restructured committees. “I favored hiring a county administrator so that we would have guidance to deal with challenges we face in an increasingly complex world. I believe my experience is a significant reason to support my re-election to the board,” Peterson wrote. Peterson said one of the most important issues facing Jackson County is the support for young families to remain in the area. She said finding the correct financial path, solving the building space problem and having better state representation would help with this issue. “My priorities remain to be well informed as we all work together for the best interests of the county, and to support our hard-working office holders and department heads,” Peterson wrote. “As far as changes to county services are concerned, I don’t see any need for change at this time. Everyone is trying to hold the line on spending while maintaining essential services.” Mileur is a sitting Jackson County Board member who is from Jackson County. She worked for Rendleman before being elected, and she had worked with lawyers in different positions throughout her career. Mileur also worked in law enforcement in investigations. Mileur said she is running on “accountability.” “We are stewards of the taxpayers’ money, and it’s our job to make sure that is spent in the most efficient way possible. That is my priority,” Mileur said. Mileur said that the key issues in Jackson County right now are the property taxes. “I know that people are just so upset about taxes, and some people just don’t know how the taxes work. I encourage them to educate themselves to see how taxes are figured and make sure that they are getting all the exemptions that they can,” Mileur said. Mileur said she is ready to do the work again and listen to the people of Jackson County. Loyd is a retired military member with multiple combat tours, was on the Illinois Joint Staff as director of Intel and Security, led the Illinois Counter Drug Program and the military side of the State of Terrorism Intelligence Center in Springfield. He was also a Deputy Director of Intelligence for the G8 Summit and has done non-profit work. Loyd said Jackson County is struggling because of the loss of local businesses. Between March 2023 to March 2024, Illinois lost 34,914 establishments; small businesses accounted for 33,376 of these closures, according to the 2025 Small Business
Profile from the Office of Advocacy. “I love it here because I can drive to any restaurant in 20 minutes and meet with someone I know,” Loyd said. “There’s a lot of potential for the region, but I think we are struggling right now.” Loyd said a strong county board is what it will take to “energize” southern Illinois. “Everyone thinks they are a strong leader until they get into the nuts and bolts of it, then they start falling apart. Being a leader is hard; it is painful. Unfortunately, you have to make decisions that not everyone is going to be happy with, and you have to stick with them,” Loyd said. Loyd described the current state of the Jackson County Board as a “train wreck.” “I think all county services need to come to a full stop until we get an outside agency to come and audit every single line item and figure out where all this money is going,” Loyd said. Loyd said Jackson County is among the highest property taxes in the entire nation. “We’re beating out counties in California, New York, oddly enough, all the counties in Chicago,” Loyd said. “There is no reason for it. We aren’t getting anything for our money here. Where is all this money going?” Jackson County ranks 24th out of the 102 counties in Illinois for property taxes. Homeowners pay a median of $2,526/year in property taxes on a home value of $137,300. Cook County ranks 33rd out of Illinois counties. On average, Illinois homeowners pay more in property taxes relative to property value than New York State residents. The median income in New York is $75,910, while Illinois is $78,020. The income tax paid on median household income in New York is $13,227, while Illinois is $13,677. California has an average property tax rate of 0.73%, while Illinois has 2.08%. Loyd said that he would also like to see more mental health and disability services in the area. “I think that the same thing contributes to the homeless problem here, the root problems of homeless is usually a healthcare crisis of some sort. I think we can solve a lot of root problems around here by providing those types of services,” Loyd said. “I am proud of being in southern Illinois. I see the problems; I want to help to get it fixed,” Loyd said. “We get a lot of people who are talkers, but very few are doers, and I think I am on the doer side of the equation.” Staff Reporter Mariah Fletcher can be reached at mfletcher@dailyegyptian.com and on Instagram @mariahonrecord
Page 6 | Entertainment and culture
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
SIU celebrates homecoming
Tony Wilkins wears his custom made Saluki costume. Wilkins made it in 1998 when he graduated. SIU tailgate at Saluki Stadium Oct. 17, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin
Kyle performs on the Carbondale strip in front of students and attendees Oct. 16, 2026 in Carbonda room to celebrate the 2026 SIU Homecoming. In addition to several stages, the bar-lined street was
The Sigma Kappa and Sigma Chi float parades down the Strip Oct. 17, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual
Cit Lali does a keg stand for over a minute at the SIU tailgate at Saluki Stadium Oct. 17, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin
Joshua Newkirk (28) signs Hank’s t-shirt after the homecoming game against ISU Oct. 17, 2026 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual
Kylan Green, left, and Darnell Jenkins, right, stand and point at 2026 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @c
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Entertainment and culture | Page 7
g with week of festivities
2025 SIU Homecoming Queen Makenzie Gaines smiles as she walks through the SIU tailgate at Saluki Stadium Oct. 17, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin
ale, Illinois For the third year in a row, the city and SIU closed a section of S. Illinois Ave to have s filled with vendor booths, food trucks and beer stands. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin
Spin Doctors perform on the Carbondale strip in front of attendees, alumni and students Oct. 16, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin
t each other after winning Homecoming Royalty Oct. 17, cookmeavisual
Lead guitarist for Spin Doctors Eric Schenkman plays for audience at the Carbondale Strip Shutdown Oct. 16, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin
Page 8 | News
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Incumbent Republican Paul Jacobs, Democrat Tamiko Mueller vie for 59th state senate seat MACK BIESK Staff Reporter Illinois’ 59th district state senate is being challenged by a Democrat for the first time since 2018, as Democratic nominee Tamiko Mueller looks to defeat incumbent Paul Jacobs, a Republican who was appointed this past June by the Illinois General Assembly after Dale Fowler, R, left office. Mueller, 51, is a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve. She has over 25 years of service in the U.S. Army and served two different tours, stationed in Kuwait and Egypt. She has served on the Jackson County board since 2013 and owns a realty company in Murphysboro. According to her campaign website, she started a non-profit for homeless veterans. Mueller discussed a liberal platform of bringing in money from tourism and stimulating the local economy with the Daily Egyptian. Jacobs, 78, has an optometry career of 47 years and was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives in 2020 before being appointed state senator. Jacobs served in the U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1971. Jacobs also owned a flight school at Southern Illinois Airport and cofounded Von Jakob Vineyard with his wife, later adding a brewery to his operations before selling them. He described a conservative platform of cutting taxes and deregulating industries to the DE, believing his policies will bring in more jobs and bolster the southern Illinois economy. On the Jackson County Board, Mueller said she was excited about their bike lane development and was proud of her work opening the new Jackson County Animal Control. Mueller says that her work in non-profits has been beneficial, and organized a fall cleanup of the 59th district running through Nov. 3. In the Illinois House of Representatives, Jacobs said he was happy with the passage of a bill he worked with recycling companies on to prevent catalytic converter theft. Jacobs also cosponsored a law focused on utility payment transparency, worked on prices of TA trailer license plate tags and has pending proposals to repurpose Tamms Correctional Center. Candidates examine tax policy, affordability issues Mueller told the DE she would prefer to boost tourism to raise money rather than raising taxes. “I want to be conservative with the taxpayers’ money at whatever level,” she said. Jacobs said he favors tax cuts across the board. He pointed to the Jackson County board, of which Mueller is a member, as a local government that increases its budget too much. Mueller defended the board, saying “it’s not that we’re increasing taxes, it’s the entities that are levying against the properties which increase the taxes.” The DE asked both candidates about changing Illinois’ flat income tax of 6.25% and about implementing a wealth tax. Mueller said multiple strategies were necessary — she’d have to look deeper to find the best solution, as southern Illinois isn’t like “up north.” Mueller described the “billion-dollar” tourism industry trails and mountain biking brings to southern states, wanting to do the same in Illinois. In an Oct. 14 text message, Jacobs wrote that he was against both ideas. “We are watching an exodus of high wage earners and the jobs they create leave the state,” he wrote. “We must spend less in our State budget,
not tax more.” When asked about affordability issues, Mueller mentioned the importance of working with unions. “My platform is basically taking care of people,” she said, adding she doesn’t want people to have to work multiple jobs, and that lowering the cost of utilities would help Illinoisans feel the effects of the state’s uniquely high minimum wage. When asked about the current minimum wage, Jacobs said his focus was mainly on deregulating businesses. “The more businesses that are here, the more occupations or jobs will be available,” he said. Illinois education policy could change The DE asked Jacobs and Mueller how they would change Illinois education policy, and if they would support consolidating certain school districts to maximize resources as literacy rates decline. According to the National Library of Medicine, half of the 59th district’s counties rank in the bottom third of the country for adults without high school diplomas. Mueller referenced Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library as something she admired. “I feel we need to empower not-for-profit organizations… and help give them funding,” Mueller said. When asked about district consolidation and increasing district funding, Mueller said, “I think if it makes sense or if it’s appropriate.” However, Mueller said she’d be concerned about increasing class sizes out of fear that more kids may “fall through the cracks.” Mueller was also wary of changing job availability for local teachers, and emphasized a holistic review of current curriculums, teaching styles and how to spend “effectively and efficiently.” On Jacobs’ end, the state senator said he wants schools to simply “teach people.” “Quit giving them awards for just being at the soccer game,” he said. “Everybody can’t get a little trophy for winning the spelling bee. There’s some that are going to win it and some that aren’t.” Jacobs also said he thinks declining birth rates make district consolidation a valid consideration, though case-bycase analysis and constituent input would be warranted. He criticized the state’s lowering of standardized testing benchmarks. Jacobs said he believes the curriculum fails students on the essentials. While historical topics involving minorities, women, genocides and wars are required throughout students’ academic careers, districts are given free will to talk about what they want. The state’s guidelines maintain the main goal of public schools is to educate students on stem, language arts, social sciences and physical and mental health. “They’re not getting an education,” Jacobs said. “I mean, they’re spending a lot of time on — I hate to even use it — a lot of woke stuff.” When asked about AI’s presence in schools, Mueller said research was needed to find a balance of adapting to new technology and preserving students’ cognitive abilities. Jacobs said guard rails may be necessary to protect constitutional rights, but that he felt using AI for homework was just a quicker way of looking at an encyclopedia and supported the Pritzker administration ban on cellphones in school. Candidates maintain similar views on AI development The CEOs of Anthropic and OpenAI have both called for
Paul Jacobs
Tamiko Mueller
Republican
Democrat
an international slowdown and cooperation of the technology to preserve humanity, and others have raised environmental concerns with the developments. Mueller said she’d be in favor of a moratorium on AI development but wanted further research. On their development, Mueller believes their water usage is a problem, and that southern Illinois’ proximity to the Mississippi and Ohio rivers may leave the state more susceptible to environmental damage from them. Jacobs said local governments should have the final decision on whether data centers are built. He is okay with data centers as long as they generate their own electricity, are quiet and recycle water. Candidates disagree on social issues The candidates mostly differ in their views on abortion law and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Mueller said she believes in the freedom of choice, but objects to abortion “as a form of birth control.” She said she believes in abstinence, and that “people should be mindful.” Jacobs says he is against abortion without exception, adding that he believes Illinois’ support of abortion has led to a decrease in federal funding for the state. When asked if he supported exceptions for rape or protecting the health of the mother, Jacobs replied, “not really, no, I don’t. That’s my personal opinion.” Mueller disapproves of ICE, who took a Carbondale man into custody this past year, and calls for reform of the agency. “This is not just about us here in southern Illinois,” she said. “It’s called human dignity.” She said she voted to make Jackson County a sanctuary community and stands by that decision. When the DE asked Jacobs if Illinois should remain a sanctuary state, he said, “Oh, absolutely not. It’s ridiculous.” While legal definitions are murky, Jacobs said the state’s status is against federal law. Jacobs’s claim can not be verified, as there’s not a set legal definition of a “sanctuary” entity, though Illinois has disagreed with federal authorities in the past. During an in-person interview with Jacobs, the DE pointed out that a large percentage of farm workers are undocumented and asked if he thought his proposal to cut back on Illinois’ undocumented immigrant population would affect local agriculture. Jacobs said he found it hard to believe, saying that in his time running his vineyard in southern Illinois, he had an entirely legal workforce. “There are too many family farms that are out here, especially in Illinois,” he said. “The sentiment is that they’re not going to be hiring illegals.” The USDA states roughly 40% of hired crop farm workers lack legal immigration status, and that the number of family farmworkers has substantially declined.
Candidates oppose downsizing Choate Mental Health Center Both candidates are against the downsizing of Choate Mental Health and Development Center in Anna. Following reports of significant abuse at the facility, the Illinois Department of Human Services announced layoffs of staff and a phase-out of Choate’s 75 psychiatric beds, drawing a lawsuit from the union representing Choate’s workers. In the time since the DE interviewed Mueller and Jacobs, IDHS announced that the state would instead keep 25 of the 75 beds, a move state senators Terri Bryant and Paul Jacobs praised but described as “inadequate.” Mueller blamed Republican policymakers and her opponents for the cuts and accused them of not taking action. SIU School of Medicine released a detailed report of recommendations to solve some of Choate’s issues in 2023, which Mueller said Jacobs should have done more with when it was released. “We really could have had a different trajectory,” she said. According to Jacobs, however, the then-state representative was part of the group that brought Choate to the attention of SIU’s School of Medicine in the first place. Jacobs, like Mueller, cited the report they put together as useful to Choate’s future. Jacobs said the Pritzker administration wants to close facilities like Choate and move residents to
other facilities, which Jacobs called “just as dangerous.” Mueller says she is “already working for places like Choate.” Mueller toured Choate with an American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees representative several weeks ago, she said, and proposed that the state work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to reuse the site for homeless veterans. Jacobs says that mental health is a big issue in southern Illinois because of a “desert” of medical professionals. He said there were many reasons why, but cited the state’s property taxes and number of malpractice lawsuits as reasons why more psychiatrists aren’t coming to the area. Environmental issues The DE asked Jacobs and Mueller about environmental issues like protecting the Shawnee National Forest, consequences of industrializing and state regulations. Southern Illinoisans have raised concerns for the Shawnee’s safety regarding industrial developments like data centers, agriculture and logging. A pending federal proposal, for instance, would leave 11,000 untouched acres of the national forest vulnerable to the logging industry. Mueller said while new industries aren’t bad, she doesn’t think logging is something the area would benefit from. She said the Shawnee Forest “is beneficial to all of us,” and “we need to continue to protect that.” Jacobs said concerns over logging are “people that are not necessarily understanding what you should be doing in the forest.” He doesn’t approve of clear-cutting practices, but says people need to let the forestry service handle it. There have been movements to turn the forest into the “Shawnee National Park,” an idea that Mueller was open to but wants a “happy medium.” Jacobs
doesn’t support it and is skeptical of national parks’ local effects. Experts have found “overwhelming scientific evidence” that Earth’s climate is changing at rapid levels due to human action. Jacobs stressed the importance of new fossil fuel energy developments and said “we’re stupid” to think climate change is caused by mankind’s actions. Jacobs said he’d owned property in Florida for fifty years, and he could “guarantee you the Gulf of America is way down where it was” when he bought it; however, NASA found that the Gulf of Mexico’s coastline is now rising five times faster than in the past. Mueller, Jacobs receive large campaign donations Campaign donation records show nearly all Mueller’s funding came from the Democratic Party and various labor unions — like the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers among others. She received $5,000 from 18th district state senator Bill Cunningham’s campaign, the Illinois Senate Democratic Fund and smaller groups tied to the party. These funds total $28,500 of her total $33,606 contributed. From Jan. 1, 2025 until Sept. 30, Jacobs raised $80,314 from 56 unique contributors. Top donations include $19,150 from the Illinois Optometric Association’s PAC, $10,000 from Illinois Realtors PAC, $7,002 from the Illinois Farm Bureau banking group, $7,000 from Ameren Illinois and other Republican campaigns like Patrick Windhorst. Donors from the alcohol industry have donated in the past and gave Jacobs $1,250 this election cycle. Jacobs also received large donations from the Republican Party and conservative groups in the past. Staff Reporter Mack Biesk can be reached at mbiesk@ dailyegyptian.com and on Instagram @mackbiesk34
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
News | Page 9
118th District candidates Markel, Doody make their case to voters ZOREN ANAKO JRNL 201 As the Nov. 3 election approaches, voters in the 118th District will ultimately decide which vision they prefer for their state representatives: Chip Markel’s call for greater investment in working families and public services, or Scott Doody’s focus on property tax relief, tourism and infrastructural development. Although both candidates agree affordability is one of the region’s most pressing issues, they offer different ideas for the economic future of southern Illinois. Markel said rising costs have made it increasingly difficult for working families to make ends meet, citing fuel, food, childcare and housing as major costs. He said the expansion of economic opportunities in the area should be a priority for representatives. Doody said he plans to focus heavily on property taxes, which he said have become unsustainable for homeowners and businesses alike, and advocate for tax reforms. “You can’t be number one in property taxes. It is killing small business, big business and homeowners, especially seniors,” Doody said. Candidates examine opportunities for economic growth Doody credited tourism and infrastructure improvements as some of the region’s strongest opportunities. He identified the many southern Illinois wineries, restaurants, lodging and outdoor recreation as ways to attract visitors from outside of the region, arguing for bringing new dollars into the local communities in
support of businesses across the district. Markel pointed to the importance of developing small businesses and campaigned for the reopening of the Tamms Correctional Center, a highsecurity prison, to create jobs in some of the district’s poorest communities. “If we can lower property taxes and bring some goodpaying jobs to the area, that would have an impact,” Markel said. He said the creation of economic opportunities is especially important to him in areas such as Alexander and Pulaski counties, which he said have historically been overlooked by state leaders. Candidates consider SIU an ‘economic engine’ Both candidates described Southern Illinois University as a critical driver of the regional economy. They stressed the importance of keeping students in the area after earning their degrees. “SIU is a $2 billion economic engine for this area,” Markel said. “We have to invest in that.” Markel pointed specifically to SIU’s School of Medicine, School of Law, aviation program and research departments as reasons the university deserves continued support from the state. Doody described the aviation and agriculture programs as significant assets for southern Illinois. He expressed the importance of lowering the cost of living in the area to retain more students after graduation. He said high property taxes force young adults to leave the area. “If we don’t get a handle
on our property taxes, that impacts everything,” Doody said. “When a young person graduates SIU and buys a home, they get sticker shock.” Candidates align on public water consolidation and AI development Earlier this year, concerns emerged among southern Illinois residents after claims circulated that local water systems could eventually be sold to private companies. Doody said those concerns were based on misinformation and emphasized that local water systems remain under local control. “My job for public water is to help it remain public,” Doody said, pointing out that many of the concerns stemmed from misunderstandings. Markel said he opposes the privatization of public utilities and believes residents should have a greater voice in and understanding of decisions involving water infrastructure. “Anytime you privatize a public service, it shifts the focus from helping the public to profit,” Markel said. He said residents should always be involved in discussions through public meetings to ensure transparency over decision-making processes and that voters have more control over their public utilities. As emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence begin to take on greater prominence, both candidates discussed whether they would approve of major tax incentives for the building of AI data centers in the area. While Markel’s concerns are rooted in energy use, water consumption and limited job
Homer “Chip” Markel Democrat
Scott Doody Republican
creation from AI facilities, Doody said AI development is inevitable and argued that any future facilities should be self-sufficient and should not infringe on the lives of local residents. “If they want major tax incentives to come here, the answer is no,” Markel said. He said large technology companies should demonstrate clear benefits to local communities, and they should be selfsufficient and entirely without the aid of public incentives. Doody also showed skepticism towards providing major tax breaks for AI data centers. “They’re multibillion-dollar companies. They don’t need tax breaks,” Doody said. Candidates offer competing views on public safety, government Healthcare, criminal justice policy and government services also emerged as key points of difference between the candidates. Markel brought up healthcare access and the future of Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center as one of his top concerns.
He criticized efforts to reduce services at the facility and argued that rural communities need greater investment in healthcare infrastructure. “I’m not going to Springfield to work for Chicago Democrats,” Markel said. “I’m a southern Illinois Democrat.” Markel said voters should look past party affiliation and vote in their own best interest by choosing the representative that cares about issues that affect the area and its people. He pointed to his background as a Navy veteran, corrections officer and union leader as roles that have prepared him to represent the district and serve in Springfield. When it came to issues of public safety, Doody focused much of the discussion on the SAFE-T Act. The SAFE-T Act stands for Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today and is an Illinois law that applies equally statewide. Doody said portions of the SAFE-T Act should be revisited while preserving provisions he believes creates fairness within the criminal justice system by shifting power to more local enforcements. Doody pointed to several
accomplishments from his first months in office, including infrastructure funding efforts and work involving Tamms Correctional Center and Choate Mental Health Center, projects that also have the backing of Chip Markel’s support. Candidates clash over representation and campaign rhetoric Campaign rhetoric also became a point of disagreement between the two candidates. Markel criticized Doody’s comments on a Facebook video in which he referenced returning to the ‘United States of America’ while visiting SIU’s campus. “He is not going to be for southern Illinois. He is going to be for a certain segment of southern Illinois,” Markel said. Doody rejected that characterization and said the remark was part of a joke he had used for years while traveling throughout the region as a radio show host. “I’ve been saying that for years,” Doody said. “I work for everybody.” Beyond their disagreements, both candidates repeatedly returned to a common theme throughout their interviews: southern Illinois deserves more attention from the state government. Voters have a chance to choose whose vision of southern Illinois they want to see progress on Nov. 3.
This story was published in collaboration with JRNL 201: Writing Across Platforms.
Staff Reporter Zoren Anako can be reached at zanako@dailyegyptian.com and on Instagram @thezorenreport
Bailey challenges Pritzker in governor race TAY ACREE Staff Reporter The cost of living is a central issue in Illinois’ Nov. 3 governor’s race, with Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and Republican challenger Darren Bailey offering different plans to address housing costs, utility bills and taxes. Pritzker is seeking a third term alongside Christian Mitchell, a former state representative and deputy governor in Pritzker’s administration. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is running for the U.S. Senator seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. Bailey, a former state senator and southern Illinois farmer who lost to Pritzker in 2022, is running alongside Aaron Del Mar, a former council member in Palatine, a northwest suburb of Chicago. He also has experience serving on state boards. Independent candidate Colin Corbett is also running for governor, alongside lieutenant governor candidate Carolyn Schofield. The Daily Egyptian interviewed Mitchell, Bailey and Del Mar. The DE requested an interview with Pritzker, but campaign representative Leah Hurwitz said his schedule was packed through Election Day and an interview was unlikely. She offered to answer questions by email or provide campaign surrogates. Bailey told the Daily Egyptian that his unsuccessful 2022 campaign taught him he needed to reach beyond the views of the southeast Illinois district he represented. “Illinois is a big and diverse
state,” Bailey said. “I don’t think I understood that quick enough.” Pritzker has framed his reelection campaign partly around opposing the Trump administration. Speaking to supporters after the March primary, he described the stakes in national terms. “This is the fight of our lives,” Pritzker said. “Everything we care about is under siege from Washington.” Running mate Mitchell described the Democratic ticket’s priorities to the DE as increasing wages, reducing costs and responding to federal policies the campaign argues are hurting Illinois residents. “I would say the biggest (priorities) are making sure that we raise your wages, that we lower your costs, and that we reverse some of the damage that’s been done in Washington,” Mitchell said. Bailey has proposed six months of relief from the state gas tax and a 1% property-tax cap. In January, Bailey proposed an “Illinois DOGE” commission led by Del Mar to review and identify waste, according to Capitol News Illinois. The proposal echoed the federal Department of Government Efficiency associated with Elon Musk, though Bailey and Del Mar said their approach would not involve mass layoffs of state employees. Bailey stated that residents’ financial pressures have worsened during Pritzker’s two terms as governor. Pritzker first took office in January 2019. “I don’t think I have yet to talk to anyone who will look me in the eyes and tell me that overall life is better today than it was
eight years ago,” Bailey said. Del Mar also identified affordability as Bailey’s campaign’s leading issue, pointing to property taxes, utility bills, tolls and government fees. “The total cost comprehensively of Illinois is just too expensive,” Del Mar said. Pritzker has defended increased state spending as an investment in Illinois’ future. When signing the fiscal 2025 budget in June 2024, he said, “We are on a trajectory of sustainable long-term growth, and this balanced budget boosts us further in the right direction.” Mitchell questioned how Bailey’s property-tax proposal would affect funding for schools and local governments. He said comparisons with Indiana’s property-tax limits leave out the local income taxes collected by counties there. “They’re not telling you the full picture,” Mitchell said. “They’re also not telling you how they would fund our schools or other things like that.” Mitchell pointed to the elimination of the state grocery tax and tax relief for families with children as examples of the administration’s approach to affordability. Illinois eliminated its 1% state grocery tax on Jan.1, 2026, though local governments can impose their own grocery taxes. The state also introduced a child tax credit beginning with the 2024 tax year for eligible taxpayers with at least one qualifying child younger than 12. Housing remains an unfinished part of the administration’s agenda, Mitchell said. He said Pritzker
supported a proposal to increase housing construction, but it did not pass the General Assembly. “That’s one area where we can and must do more,” Mitchell said. He said the administration would revisit the proposal and work with local officials on reducing barriers to construction and allowing more housing density. “Sometimes you get it done the first time, sometimes you don’t,” Mitchell said. “This is an example of where we did not. We’re going to go after that again.” The campaigns are also divided over the SAFE-T Act and Illinois’ elimination of cash bail. Illinois eliminated cash bail on Sept. 18, 2023. Defendants no longer have to pay money to be released before trial. Prosecutors can request detention for qualifying offenses, and judges decide whether the legal requirements for detention are met, including whether release conditions can address a threat to public safety or a risk of willfully fleeing prosecution. Bailey argues the law has made communities less safe and placed an unfair burden on law enforcement. He said police officers, prosecutors and others working in the criminal justice system should have had a larger role in developing the legislation. Mitchell defended the move away from cash bail, arguing the former system allowed defendants with money to secure their release while poorer defendants could remain jailed before trial. “We were not holding people in jail awaiting trial based on
their risk to the public,” Mitchell said. “We were holding them based on their ability to pay.” He said detention decisions should depend on public safety rather than a defendant’s financial resources. Mitchell also pointed to investments in the Illinois State Police, technology and equipment, alongside community-based violence prevention programs. He said officials remain open to changes that would improve the law. “No law is ever perfect,” Mitchell said. “If there’s something we can do that is going to make the people of Illinois safer, we’re absolutely open to doing that.” Bailey has questioned whether state spending is producing adequate reading and mathematics results and called for greater accountability in schools. For public universities, Bailey said his administration would examine spending, including administrative salaries, and appoint trustees who would prioritize affordability for Illinois residents. “Illinois schools need to be focused on Illinois students,” Bailey said. “Therein also lies some serious accountability and transparency.” Del Mar said Illinois residents should receive priority at taxpayer-supported state universities. “Illinois universities are subsidized by taxpayer dollars, so I think that Illinois students should have first access to our universities before others,” Del Mar said. Mitchell said the Pritzker administration has increased
education funding and expanded financial assistance through programs such as the Monetary Award Program and AIM HIGH. The Monetary Award Program provides need based grants to help eligible Illinois’ students pay tuition and mandatory fees at participating Illinois’ colleges. AIM HIGH helps eligible Illinois’ residents attend the state’s public four-year universities through financial awards, with requirements and award amounts varying by university. Mitchell pointed to the state-funded renovation and expansion of SIU’s Communications Building as an example of the administration’s investment in higher education in southern Illinois. Mitchell said the campaign wants students to have access to career training and college programs without taking on excessive debt. “Focusing on college affordability and making sure that kids can get into the programs that are in demand and competitive is a huge focus of this administration,” Mitchell said. For elementary and secondary schools, Mitchell said another Pritzker term would continue funding the state’s education formula, expanding early-childhood education and supporting intensive tutoring to address learning losses. The Associated Press contributed reporting. Staff Reporter Tay Acree can be reached at tacree@ dailyegyptian.com and on Instagram @through.tays.lens_
Page 10
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
SPORTS SIU unveils statue, honors life and legacy of baseball icon Itchy Jones
NOAH PETSCHKE Sports Editor
Family, friends, coaches and SIU baseball players past and present gathered on the Itchy Jones Stadium concourse to watch the unveiling of a Richard “Itchy” Jones statue on Saturday, Oct. 17. Many speakers discussed the importance that he had on the baseball program before the cover came off, revealing a large bronze statue in honor of Jones, who died in 2025. Jones was born in 1938 and graduated from SIU in 1960, where he played baseball for four years. After graduation, Jones spent 21 seasons coaching the Salukis, winning national coach of the year twice and Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year four times. He also led the Dawgs to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and
three College World Series appearances, finishing runnerup in 1978. With a career coaching record of 738-345-5, Jones retired in 2005 and finished in the top 20 all-time for the winningest coaches in Division I baseball history. Longtime voice of SIU Athletics Mike Reis opened up the ceremony with a message about what Jones meant to him. “Itch was one of my closest personal friends, and he was my closest professional friend,” Reis said. Harold Bardo, a Saluki hall of famer and former SIU athletics administrator, spoke on the impact that Jones had on SIU baseball on and off the field. “Itch may have been measured by wins, losses, championships and records,
but his influence cannot be measured by stats alone,” Bardo said. “The players he coached carry the lessons they learned from home to their careers, their families and communities.” Itchy Jones’ daughter, Susan Jones, wrapped up the ceremony by speaking about the statue and her father’s character. “This statue is a physical reminder of the values that Dad lived by every day,” Jones said. “I know if Dad were here right now, he’d probably be a little bit embarrassed and honored, but he’d tell all of us that he was doing what he loved to do most: play ball and coach.” Sports Editor Noah Petschke can be reached at npetschke@ dailyegyptian.com
Jones family unveils Itchy Jones statue at the Richard “Itchy” Jones Statue Dedication and Unveiling ceremony at the Abe Martin Field Oct. 17, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin
Saluki soccer extends win streak to 11
AARON CARNAHAN Sports Reporter
Saluki soccer took on the Valparaiso Beacons on the road at Brown Field. Following a dominant win over Valparaiso, the dawgs hit the road and defeated the University of Illinois Chicago Flames 3-0. OCT. 15: SIU 3, VALPO 0 SIU came in on a ninematch win streak with a record of 10-2, and a perfect 4-0 record in Missouri
Valley Conference play. The Beacons entered the matchup at 5-6-2 with a 1-2-1 record in the MVC. Southern Illinois scored in the 27th minute to take a 1-0 lead. The Salukis extended their advantage over the Beacons to 2-0, scoring in the 63rd minute. In the 76th minute, the Dawgs scored for a third time. SIU went on to win
their 10th straight match with a final score of 3-0. Saluki forward Victoria Hassan scored twice against the Beacons. Hassan now has five goals this season. SIU forward Maya Dixon scored the third goal for the Salukis in the game; she now has a team-leading seven goals. The Saluki defense held Valparaiso to zero shots on goal.
Saluki goalie KK Miller picked up her third shutout of the season. OCT. 18: SIU 1, UIC 0 The Salukis played their second straight road match against the University of Illinois Chicago Flames at Flames Field. The only goal of the game came in the 82nd. Saluki forward Katrina Young scored to put SIU up 1-0. Southern Illinois went on
to win their 11th straight match, staying perfect in MVC play with a 6-0 record and a 12-2 overall record. Both teams took three shots on goal in the match. Southern Illinois played two goalies. KK Miller played the first half and made one save. SIU goalie Reagan Miller played the second half and made two saves. UIC falls to 0-5-1 in
conference play, and 1-10-3 on the season. SIU sits in first place in the MVC and will take on the second-place team Drake in their next match on Sunday, Oct. 25 at Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex. Sports Reporter Aaron Carnahan can be reached at acarnahan@ dailyegyptian.com
SIU volleyball swept in weekend series against Murray, Bradley NOAH PETSCHKE Sports Editor
Looking to snap a three-game skid, the Salukis played two matches over the weekend. The Dawgs hit the road to Murray State on Friday, Oct. 16, to face the Racers. Following the first match, the Salukis headed home on Saturday to take on the Bradley Braves. The Salukis could not break their losing streak, dropping both matches over the weekend. Oct. 16: SIU 2, MSU 3 Despite taking a 2-1 lead in the match, the Salukis couldn’t get the job done, dropping the match in five sets. Set 1: SIU 25, MSU 27 The Racers sprinted past the Salukis early in the set, leading 8-0 before committing an error that gave SIU the ball for the first time. The Dawgs quickly came back and tied the set at 21 points apiece, but three straight points gave the Racers a Set 1 victory. Set 2: SIU 25, MSU 10
The Salukis gave the Racers a taste of their own medicine, taking a dominant 14-0 lead in the set. Opposite hitter Ella Swansiger tallied seven kills in the set en route to a 25-10 SIU win. Set 3: SIU 25, MSU 15 SIU dominated the first half as the Dawgs jumped out to another early lead. The Racers never had a lead in Set 3 despite tying the game at 11-11. Many different Salukis got their hands in on the scoring on their way to a 25-15 set victory. Set 4: SIU 19, MSU 25 Libero Jillian Shaneyfelt tallied her 1,000th career dig during Set 4 of Friday’s contest, making her the 14th Saluki to achieve that number in program history. Despite a historic milestone, the Racers took full control of the set, winning 25-19 and forcing a fifth set. Set 5: SIU 6, MSU 15 Three SIU errors gave Murray State an early advantage in the
Assistant Coach Bryleigh Buchanan watches from the sidelines during the homecoming match against Bradley Universiry Oct. 17, 2026 in Davies Gym in Carbondale, Illinois. Brylee Williams | @bryleemacmedia
first-to-15 affair. The Dawgs came within two points of the Racers, but Murray State walked away victorious. Oct. 17: SIU, BU The Salukis looked to snap a 4-match losing streak on Saturday and gain some ground in the MVC standings against Bradley. Set 1: SIU 15, BU 25 The Salukis faced a midgame deficit at 15-8 after struggling to get past the Braves’ blockers. The Braves’ lead was too much to overcome, and Bradley took a 25-15 first-set victory. Set 2: SIU 18, BU 25 While the Dawgs were still down halfway through the second set, long rallies and emphatic kills kept them closer than the previous set. A five-point run brought the Salukis within a point at 13-12. Once again, the Dawgs came up short, dropping the second set 25-18 Set 3: SIU 25 , BU 17 The Salukis capitalized on numerous Braves errors, taking a commanding 14-6 lead. Swansiger and middle blocker Beatriz Piaia combined for seven kills midway through the set. After a gritty 25 points, the Dawgs came out on top in Set 3. Set 4: SIU 21, BU 25 The two teams kept the fourth set close, tying at 12-12. The Braves overpowered the Dawgs, taking the final set 25-21. With these losses, SIU falls to 9-11 overall and 3-5 in MVC games. The Salukis are back in action on Oct. 23, taking on the Illinois State Redbirds at home. Sports Editor Noah Petschke can be reached at npetschke@ dailyegyptian.com
Sophomore Ella McFarland (4) serves the ball during the homecoming match against Bradley University Oct. 17, 2026 in Davies Gym in Carbondale, Illinois. Brylee Williams | @bryleemacmedia
Puzzle Answers
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Sports | Page 11
Cameron Cason (8) looks off to the side Oct. 17, 2026 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual
Salukis come up short against Redbirds on homecoming, lose 35-14 AARON CARNAHAN Sports Reporter
Southern Illinois hosted Illinois State at Saluki Stadium during homecoming weekend on Saturday, Oct. 17. The game was nationally televised on ESPNU. SIU entered at 3-4 with a 1-2 record in the Missouri Valley Conference, and ISU came in at 4-2, with a 0-2 record in conference play. Saluki defensive end Ibrahim Sanogo was named third-team FCS Mid-Season All-American. Illinois State won the toss and elected to defer; Southern Illinois received the opening kick. Saluki quarterback DJ Williams was sacked on fourth down to end the Saluki’s second drive of the game. The Redbirds drove deep into SIU territory, and the first quarter came to an end with ISU threatening to score. END OF Q1: SIU 0, ISU 0 The Redbirds found the end zone first, converting on fourthand-goal, with a one-yard touchdown run to finish off a 13-play, 59-yard drive. The point-after try was successful, and ISU led SIU 7-0 early in the second quarter. Penalties really hurt the Saluki defense on the Redbirds’ third drive of the game. ISU capitalized on the defensive penalties from SIU, scoring on a five-yard touchdown run after a nineplay, 80-yard drive. Illinois State made the extra point and opened up a 14-0 advantage over Southern Illinois. Williams fumbled, the Redbirds recovered, and the Salukis turned the ball over in their own territory late in the second quarter. The Redbirds made the Salukis pay for the fumble, scoring on a 10-yard
touchdown run. The extra point is good for ISU, and they took a 21-0 lead over the Dawgs after a four-play, 29-yard touchdown drive. Williams fumbled again after a 22-yard sack; the Redbirds recovered the loose football for the second Saluki turnover in the half. The Redbirds scored quickly on a 17-yard touchdown pass to increase the Illinois State advantage to 28-0 after a successful PAT. ISU has scored 14 points off of SIU turnovers. The first half ended with the visiting Redbirds leading 28-0 over the Salukis. Southern Illinois finished the half with just 77 total yards of offense. Penalties plagued the Salukis, with six penalties going against SIU for 45 yards. HALFTIME: ISU 28, SIU 0 The Redbirds were set to receive the kick to begin the second half. The Redbirds punted, and Saluki punt returner Tae Marrero broke a 68-yard return to set up the SIU offense at the ISU 16-yard-line. However, the Saluki offense failed to score any points, turning it over on downs for the second time in the game. The Redbirds continued to increase their lead, scoring on a 58-yard touchdown pass to cap off a three-play 99-yard drive. The extra point was good, and ISU was in front comfortably with a 35-point lead. The Salukis got on the scoreboard with a 29-yard passing touchdown from Williams to wide receiver Kyle Thomas. Saluki kicker Weston Schofield made the extra point, bringing the score to 35-7 in favor of the Redbirds.
END OF Q3: ISU 35, SIU 7 The Saluki offense turned it over on downs for the third time in the game about halfway through the fourth quarter. Marrero scores on a 45-yard touchdown return. Schofield’s PAT is successful, and the score is now 35-14, with ISU on top. The Redbirds ran the clock out and defeated the Salukis on homecoming. FINAL: ISU 35, SIU 14 “I got to do a better job. The whole thing is my responsibility, and I know that,” SIU Head Coach Nick Hill said following the loss. Williams finished 19/31 for 166 yards and a passing TD. The leading rusher for the Salukis was running back Chandler Chapman with 32 yards on the ground. SIU’s leading receiver was Thomas with five catches for 61 yards and a TD. “I thought Tae competed his tail off,” Hill said about Morrero’s performance. Marrero finished with 162 all-purpose yards, including two punt returns for 113 yards and a TD. “I’m a very explosive player, but I can’t take all the credit. My punt return team is blocking their butts off”, Marrero said post-game. “Anytime I catch it, I want to return it for a touchdown.” The Salukis fell to 3-5, and 1-3 in conference after the loss. Illinois State improves to 5-2, picking up their first MVC win, moving to 1-2 in conference. The Salukis will host the Northern Iowa Panthers next Saturday, Oct. 24, at Saluki Stadium. Sports Reporter Aaron Carnahan can be reached at acarnahan@dailyegyptian.com
SIU Wide Receiver Tae Marrero Jr. (10) runs with the ball after a play Oct. 17, 2026 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. Riley Sembler | @riley_sembler
Page 12 | Puzzles
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Weekly PUZZLE PAGE
"Clint Eastwood Film Title words" by Myles Mellor 1
Across
1. Speaker's place 5. Unskilled laborer 9. Type of tomato 13. Azalea, for one 15. City in "Slumdog Millionaire" 16. From the top 17. Tiny part 18. Particles with a charge 19. Use an old telephone 20. Can you hear me now? cause, 2 words 23. Edit out 24. "I can take ___!", 2 words 25. Breakfast choice 29. Salmon 31. NBC's peacock, e.g. 32. Acts 34. One half of the "Maneater" duo 39. Like crosswords and sudokus, 4 words 42. On the Pacific, 2 words 43. Underworld river 44. "Me neither", 2 words 45. Ancient home to Helen 47. Radio button, e.g. 49. Giant rival in the NFL 52. "Understand?" 53. Future swans, 2 words 59. Plane measure 60. Genesis twin 61. Bank contents 63. Our boys 64. Nobleman 65. Union member 66. Followers: suffix 67. Fertilizer 68. Jazzy James
Down
1. U.S. Army medal 2. Captain with a whalebone leg
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Answers on page 10 35
36
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57
58
*To play Sudoku, fill a 9x9 grid with digits 1 through 9 so that each row, each column, and each 3x3 subgrid contains each number exactly once.
38
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3. "Joy of Cooking" author Rombauer 4. Took to court 5. Color the walls 6. Bespectacled Ghostbuster 7. French river 8. Gp. with tracks and pits 9. Half diameters 10. Shallot 11. Implied 12. Legal departure, abbr. 14. Kind of ball 21. Best 22. Beat 25. Russian saint 26. Debatable 27. Prima donna problems 28. Pot of gold 29. Small-minded 30. Wan 33. Estimator's phrase, 2 words 35. "Rule Brittania" composer
62
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36. Art colony in New Mexico 37. Galway country 38. Pique 40. Lavishly 41. Bounce from school 46. Make good 48. Champagne-producing city 49. European bucks 50. G-man 51. Tiffany art medium 52. Cranium 54. Insurer for military personnel 55. "The Alienist" novelist 56. Memo 57. Bothersome bug 58. Rectangular paving stone 59. "__ was saying . . .", 2 words 62. Indeed!
Weekly Event Calendar Your guide to upcoming local events over the next 7 days!
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