The Daily Egyptian - April 1, 2026

THE Daily Egyptian

InsiDE No Kings rally 3.0, page 5

Making a thesis statement, page 8

Trailblazing pilot Theresa Claiborne talks perseverance at SIU

TAY ACREE tacree@dailyegyptian.com

Students and community members gathered at Southern Illinois University Carbondale Thursday evening to hear from Theresa Claiborne, a trailblazing aviator who made history as the first African American woman to serve as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force.

During a conversation hosted

by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Claiborne shared her journey through the military and aviation industry, reflecting on the challenges she faced, the barriers she broke and the importance of expanding opportunities for future generations. Her message centered on leadership, perseverance and the impact of representation in fields

where diversity has historically been limited.

Before aviation, Claiborne said she originally planned to pursue a career in broadcasting, studying communications with a minor in journalism before discovering her passion for flying.

She said she had previously

Freshman outfielder starts strong, page 9

New bill aims to end cash-prize hunting competitions in Illinois

Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation that would ban wildlife hunting contests in the state, targeting events where participants kill animals such as coyotes and other small game species for cash prizes and awards.

Senate Bill 3063 would make it unlawful to kill “furbearing” animals for money, prizes or other incentives in organized competitions, tournaments or derbies. If passed, Illinois would become the 11th state in the country to prohibit the practice.

The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Linda Holmes, a Democrat from Aurora, applies to species classified by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as “furbearers:” coyotes, red foxes, raccoons, badgers and mink. The proposed legislation does not affect legal hunting, trapping or state wildlife management programs. Instead, it specifically targets organized contests that critics say encourage high-volume killing for entertainment rather than sustenance or conservation purposes.

Holmes has framed the proposal

as a measured response rather than a sweeping restriction on hunters. In committee discussions, supporters emphasized that the legislation would not shorten hunting seasons, reduce bag limits set by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources or interfere with farmers protecting livestock. Instead, they say, it draws a line between regulated wildlife management and competitive events centered on prizes and public weigh-ins.

Supporters of the bill argue that wildlife hunting contests undermine ethical standards and disrupt ecosystems. Nadia Steinzor, Carnivore Conservation Director for Project Coyote, said that advocates for these contests often allow for unlimited killing within a set time frame, with animals sometimes discarded after the competition ends. As outlined on HuntIllinois.org, unlike regulated furbearer hunting under Illinois’ official seasons and licensing framework, wildlife killing contests have no oversight or structured limits and instead promote indiscriminate killing for prizes, a distinction reinforced by the

As Tornado Alley migrates to southern Illinois, experts explain how to stay safe

Tornado Alley — the region of the U.S. that sees tornadoes and severe weather more frequently — now encompasses southern Illinois as favorable weather for tornadoes has increased significantly in areas farther east, causing meteorologists to believe the alley is shifting.

For decades, Tornado Alley was centered in the Great Plains, spanning from South Dakota and reaching parts of Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. The trend of tornadoes forming more

frequently east of Tornado Alley had been studied since the early ‘90s. The change was made official in 2024.

Tornadoes are not uncommon in the U.S. On average there are about 1,200 tornadoes a year, according to National Geographic with around 71 deaths a year on average, according to CBS News. This also comes with the loss and damage of property at about $5.4 million per year, according to IOP Science, a website from the Institute of Physics that provides journals and archives from scientific studies and physics.

The shift to southern Illinois States including Illinois, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana have seen an increase in severe weather within recent decades. Meteorologists noticed this change in 2023, when severe storm outbreaks and tornados swept across the midwest in late March and early April.

This led to a study called the Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment or VORTEX project at the City

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CORRECTIONS

In the March 25 edition of the Daily Egyptian, incorrect puzzle answers ran for Sudoku #4. The puzzle and its correct answers can be found below.

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state’s published hunting regulations and species information from Hunt Illinois.

While some say it’s unethical, Illinois Sen. Terri Bryant, a Republican from Murphysboro, said she opposes the bill.

“These contests are a legal and legitimate way to help manage wildlife populations, and banning them is unnecessary government overreach that ignores the role sportsmen play in conservation,” Bryant said. “This is nothing more than a solution in search of a problem that doesn’t exist.”

According to Steinzor, scientists and conservation groups have widely criticized the contests, saying they can interfere with wildlife management goals. Coyotes, for example, play a key role in controlling rodent populations and limiting the spread of certain diseases. Research from the University of Illinois Extension has suggested that such contests can negatively affect public perceptions of the hunting community.

Graph Provided by Division of Wildlife Resources, Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Outside of organized competitions, coyote hunting in Illinois is regulated through established wildlife management policies overseen by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. A standard hunting season includes defined timeframes, licensing requirements and method restrictions designed to balance population control with ecosystem stability.

Hunters must possess a valid Illinois hunting license and follow seasonal dates set annually by the state.

Regulations govern where hunting can occur, allowable equipment, and lawful methods of take. Unlike competitive events that reward volume within short time windows, routine hunting spreads harvest activity across months and across regions, reducing concentrated pressure on local populations.

State wildlife managers also rely on harvest reporting, population monitoring and habitat data to determine season lengths and regulatory adjustments. These safeguards are intended to ensure that hunting supports conservation goals rather than undermines them.

Biologists generally distinguish regulated hunting from prizebased contests because management frameworks are built around sustainability. Agencies set seasons and rules to prevent overharvesting and to maintain ecological balance, including predator and prey relationships. Research and guidance from institutions such as the University of Illinois Extension Office emphasize that structured wildlife management relies on controlled harvest levels rather than unrestricted killing.

As a result, standard hunting seasons are typically not considered a disruption to wildlife management objectives. Instead, they function as one tool out of many, in addition to habitat conservation, scientific monitoring and agricultural protections used to manage species populations responsibly.

A 2022 survey of Illinois residents found that 73% opposed wildlife killing contests, while a 2024 national study by the Animal-Human Policy Center of Colorado State University concluded that 82% of Americans support statelevel bans on the practice.

Ten states — including Arizona, California, Colorado and New York — have already banned wildlife hunting contests, and similar proposals are under consideration elsewhere, like New Jersey.

Opponents of the bill argue that furbear hunting is a long-standing tradition and can serve as a tool for population control. Some hunters maintain that organized contests are simply a structured extension of lawful hunting practices. Contests often reward the heaviest or largest number of animals killed within a short period, incentivizing participants to target as many animals as possible.

Critics say this structure can disrupt local predator populations in concentrated areas, potentially leading to unintended ecological consequences. Some biologists have noted that removing large numbers of coyotes from a specific region can temporarily destabilize pack structures, which in some cases may increase breeding rates rather than reduce long-term populations.

Some also question whether the contests significantly impact overall wildlife numbers, pointing to statemanaged seasons and licensing requirements already in place. While exact numbers are unclear, advocacy groups say such events are held annually in parts of southern and central Illinois.

John Lenzini, a southern Illinois hunter, said he believes hunting should only be done for food purposes.

“I feel the same way about eating venison from a deer as I do harvesting vegetables like zucchini and cucumbers

prohibit this practice,” she said, adding that the purpose of the bill is “ensuring ethical hunting and trapping.”

Project Coyote, a national wildlife advocacy organization, has been pushing for bans on wildlife hunting contests

“These contests are a legal and legitimate way to help manage wildlife populations, and banning them is unnecessary government overreach that ignores the role sportsmen play in conservation.”

- Terri Bryant Illinois Republican Senator

from my garden,” he said. “This furbearer killing for prize money or sport is not ethical hunting by any standard I know.”

Steinzor said the issue is about ethics and ecological balance.

“We are hoping Illinois does the right thing and becomes the 11th state to

across the country. The group argues that the events do not align with modern conservation science and damage public trust in wildlife stewardship.

As SB 3063 moves through the Illinois General Assembly, lawmakers will weigh arguments from both sides — balancing

hunting traditions with growing calls for stricter wildlife protections. SB3036 was first introduced on Jan. 28, 2026 in the 104th General Assembly. It was sponsored by Sen. Linda Holmes and filed with the Secretary of the Senate on that date. The bill was referred to committee for legislative consideration. No committee vote or advancement to a full chamber vote has been recorded yet. As the bill awaits further committee action, both sides are mobilizing supporters to contact legislators. Public testimony and potential amendments could shape the final language of the proposal. Whether SB 3063 advances or stalls, the discussion underscores shifting public attitudes about wildlife ethics and the evolving definition of conservation in Illinois. For now, the debate highlights a broader conversation happening across Illinois and the nation about the role of hunting, conservation ethics and how wildlife should be managed in the 21st century.

Staff Reporter Yahri Edmond can be reached at yedmond@dailyegyptian.com

University of New York, in collaboration with the National Severe Storms Laboratory, which eventually concluded that Tornado Alley has shifted east into southern Illinois. Data from the VORTEX project shows a direct correlation between population density of the Midwest and the formation of more frequent tornadoes near moisturerich areas along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

The new tornado trend shows a direct correlation between severe weather and the effects of La Niña patterns. This pattern begins in the Pacific Ocean, where temperatures can become colder than normal.

La Niña changes the path of the jet stream, which is a fast, narrow current of air that flows from west to east high in the atmosphere, which is a key to global weather. This allows the warmer air from the Gulf of Mexico to move north, while the cold air pushes down.

When the warm and cold air meet, it causes favorable conditions in the atmosphere fueling strong storms to hit the states. This is why areas outside of the original Tornado Alley, like southern Illinois, are seeing stronger storms and more frequent tornadoes, according to VORTEX project research.

Tornado and severe storm safety Jordan Levinson, a firefighter and paramedic who was a member of an ambulance task force that responded to the Joplin, Missouri Tornado in 2011, shared his big safety tips for severe weather and how to prepare for it.

Firstly, Levinson said, get indoors, into the lowest level of a structure. The Federal Emergency Management Agency suggests if you do not have a basement, find a room in your home without windows in the middle of the house. Levinson said to get down to your hands and knees along the wall and try to cover your head and neck with your hands. FEMA has also suggested helmets for children in tornado conditions.

Levinson recommended having emergency supplies on hand before severe weather is expected to

start. Emergency supplies include nonperishable food, bottled water, matches, candles, a portable radio and extra batteries.

“Have your phone with you but understand that there is a good chance the towers have been damaged so service might be down,” Levinson said.

In case your phone does not have a connection, he said that a portable radio that receives emergency signals and handcranked radios would be useful.

Christine Wielgos, a warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky, said people need to have multiple ways to access warnings. Wielgos’ main job is to connect weather science with the public and emergency decision-makers.

“You are supposed to be acting on these things, and the people that survive major tornadoes take shelter,” Wielgos said.

Wielgos also said to check in on loved ones, making sure they have an action plan and are aware when severe threats occur. If you wake up and know there is a severe weather threat, be sure and alter potential plans, and figure out where your loved ones are, she said.

Wielgos said that if you have pets, make sure you have an action plan, and find their carriers. FEMA recommends that you have pet supplies, including animal food, leashes, carries and any medication, included in your emergency plan along with microchipping pets. Talking with experts

Wielgos, who has studied the shift of Tornado Valley, said she believes that southern Illinois has always been in the path of severe weather.

“In the mid- to late ‘90s, we barely had 20 tornadoes a year,” she said. “As time went on, the numbers went on a rollercoaster ride… How many people in the 2000s had cell phones? Now we take pictures of everything, and report everything, with a new world to report things with social media.”

Because of the technology shift in the past decade, tornadoes have been easier to report and document.

“Certain years we have more

tornadoes in different parts of the country than other years. Based on the patterns, based on the atmospheric conditions that happen to be in play in that particular year that allows us to have tornadoes,” Wielgos said.

She also said that tornadoes have a season where they are more likely, but you should be prepared all year round for severe conditions.

“Tornadoes are possible all year round, around the clock, there is really no time we can’t have tornadoes,” Wielgos said.

Weather in southern Illinois

Even with the new shift in Tornado Alley, southern Illinois is not unfamiliar with strong storms, tornadoes, or even derechos. Derechos are sometimes referred to as “inland hurricanes” because they can cause hurricane-force winds in landlocked areas. They are strong storms, fueled by humid and hot weather. They move faster than other storms, and they also come with an “eye,” as hurricanes usually do.

In 2009, a derecho hit southern Illinois. The storm, often referred to as the “May 8 Storm,” hit the region with 90 mph winds and brought several tornadoes with it.

“That was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, or at least a once in a year thing

for me,” Wielgos said. “That complex of storms actually started way out in the plains. That was 90-100 mile winds across part of Southern Illinois with some brief tornadoes mixed in there. It was a hot mess.”

Jessica Whittaker, a native of Galatia, Illinois, watched the storm while at work in Herrin.

“There was talk of an upcoming ‘inland hurricane’ for days. What did that even mean? A storm? Lots of wind? Nobody actually knew what to expect and figured it was just media hype anyway,” Whittaker said.

Several National Weather Service meteorologists considered the 2009 storm to be one of the worst derechos in the past decade. The Storm Prediction Center issued two “particularly dangerous situation” severe thunderstorm watches across the Plains and Midwest.

Whittaker recalls trees almost lying flat in the high winds and debris was flying everywhere outside.

“It had rained for days before so the ground was saturated; most mature trees just couldn’t hold up their canopies and laid over. It was wild. Roofs blew off houses, flimsy structures blew away. Most roads were closed due to debris of some sort,” Whittaker said.

Whittaker said that in the town of Galatia, several community members came together to help one another with the aftermath of the derecho. Community members and neighbors that had generators were helping houses without power, plugging in refrigerators.

“If you had a saw, you were cutting. If you didn’t have a saw, you were dragging debris.” Whittaker said.

Southern Illinois has seen strong storms since then within recent years. On March 13 and 14 of 2025, a low pressure, strong storm system came into the Southern Illinois area with up to 50 mile an hour winds. According to the National Weather Service’s reports, this system brought in 8 tornadoes through parts of Southern and Central Illinois.

According to the NWS, Southern Illinois sees about 54 tornadoes a year. 2025 is the most active tornado season the southern and central part of the state has seen, with 142 reported tornadoes. May was the top month in 2025 for tornado activity, with most storms starting at 6 in the evening, according to NSW.

Staff Reporter Mariah Fletcher can be reached at mfletcher@dailyegyptian.com

Hundreds rally in Carbondale for No Kings Day Protest

Several hundred people gathered at Turley Park Saturday morning, many arriving early with handmade signs and determined faces ready to stand together.

The Carbondale protest was part of a broader series of No Kings demonstrations held across the country. The March 28 protest marked the third coordinated protest focused on expressing opposition to current government policies and actions, with a flagship rally held in Minneapolis.

Kevin Garthe, who is a participant in Carbondale’s “Signs of the Times,” a recurring roadside demonstration where residents hold visible but premade protest signs, said the group tries to keep messaging “not inflammatory.”

“I’m here because every American should be here today,” Garthe said. “We are on a slippery slope. It’s important people recognize what fascism is. We’re checking all the boxes.”

Demonstrators brought their own messages and reasons for participating, creating a range

of perspectives throughout the event.

“This is my second No Kings pretest and uh yeah definitely anti-Trump,” said 70-year-old Mel Tate, explaining why she was there as the crowds started to chant.

The demonstration remained peaceful, with participants moving from the pavilion through the park waving signs and chanting.

Staff Photographer Amilia I. Estrada can be reached at aestrada@dailyegyptian.com

Saluki Softball comes up just short as Bruins take series 2-1

AARON CARNAHAN acarnahan@dailyegyptian.com

Southern Illinois Softball fell short in a weekend series at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale. as the Salukis hosted the Belmont Bruins for a three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 28 and a single game the following day. The Salukis split the doubleheader with the Bruins before the Bruins took the final game of the series in a come from behind fashion to win the series 2-1.

MARCH 28: BELMONT 7, SIU 0

The Saluki offense struggled to manufacture runs in the opening game of the series. With only three Saluki hits, there wasn’t enough offense to produce the runs the Dawgs needed. For the first four innings, the game was a pitching duel. Freshman pitcher Hailey Lucas was the starting pitcher in the circle for SIU. Lucas held the Bruins scoreless in her first four innings of work.

A troublesome fifth inning for the Salukis saw the Bruins picking up a two-run advantage off an RBI double and a sac fly. Belmont blew the game open in the top of the sixth, pushing across four additional runs on a bases-clearing double and an RBI single to make the score 6-0 Bruins.

Lucas finished with six innings pitched, nine hits, six runs, five earned runs and seven strikeouts. Junior pitcher Kiana McDowell relieved Lucas entering the seventh inning and threw an inning, allowing two hits and an earned run while picking up a strikeout.

Sophomore left fielder Sage Grann, junior third baseman Amanda Knutson, and sophomore right fielder Moleah Blomenkamp were the only three Saluki hitters to pick up a hit in the contest. Despite the majority of the game being close, Belmont wins the game by a final score of 7-0.

MARCH 28: SIU 5, BELMONT 1

Saluki pitching led the way to victory in the second game of the three-game series. Freshman pitcher Brooklyn Danielson was the starter. Danielson threw four innings, only allowing two hits and holding the Bruins scoreless while picking up five strikeouts.

Junior pitcher Emily Delgado entered the game for Danielson in the fifth. Delgado pitched three innings, letting up two hits and one run and striking out five. With these strikeouts, Delgado reached 200 career strikeouts at the collegiate level. Delgado also picked up her second save of the season.

Danielson received her sixth win, remaining a perfect 6-0 on the year.

Knutson started the scoring for the Salukis in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double to collect her 17th RBI of the season. The Dawgs came right back in the bottom of the fifth with junior designated hitter Emily Williams hitting an RBI single to score Blomenkamp. Junior catcher Sydney Potter unleashed a mammoth blast over the left field wall to score three more. Potter now has 14 home runs and 36 RBIs. Potter leads the team in both of these categories.

With the offensive burst in the fifth and the strong pitching outings from Danielson and Delgado, the Salukis topped the Bruins 5-1 in the second game of the doubleheader.

MARCH 29: BELMONT 3, SIU 1

The third game of the series was a thriller. The Salukis built a one-run lead and held on to that advantage until the top of the seventh inning.

The Salukis scored the first run of the ball game in the first inning when Williams singled into right field. Grann scored on the play and Knutson was cut down attempting to score behind Grann. Williams now has 30 RBIs this season and the Dawgs were up 1-0.

That lead lasted until the top of the seventh inning. A two-run home run for Belmont erased the Saluki lead. A close play at the plate ruled a Belmont baserunner safe at home on a bunt single. SIU challenged the play at the plate but the call stood and Belmont extended the lead to 3-1.

The Salukis couldn’t quite muster a comeback in the bottom of the seventh and the Bruins won the game 3-1.

Danielson pitched the majority of the contest, going six and a third and allowing five hits and three runs. Delgado came into the game in the seventh and threw two-thirds of an inning and despite allowing two hits kept the Bruins at three.

After losing the series to Belmont 2-1, Southern Illinois fell to 18-13 overall and 7-4 in the MVC. The Belmont Bruins improve to 24-9 overall and 11-3 in the MVC.

The Salukis return to action Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4 for a three-game series against the Indiana State Sycamores. First pitch will be at 12 p.m. in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Sports Reporter Aaron Carnahan can be reached at acarnahan@dailyegyptian.com

Southern Illinois University TRIO Project Upward Bound Project 2026 Summer Program Positions

The Project Upward Bound (PUB) Program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an educational assistance program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. It is designed to assist qualifying high school students in developing the skills and motivation necessary for successful completion of post-secondary education or training. Services are provided to participants throughout the academic year and during six weeks in the summer Summer Teaching Positions Available Foreign Language (Spanish or Japanese)

Architecture

Engineering

Teachers will provide instruction Monday-Friday for 5 weeks, including pre/post test assessment Teachers will provide skill-based curriculum using core standards and real life situations Law Business Med-Prep

Residential Staff

Counselors Overnight Monitors

Counselors will live in dormitories with students monitoring and coordinating student activities

Counselors receive room/board, meals, and 6 week living allowance This is not an hourly wage

Minimum Qualifications

Teachers: Bachelor 's Degree, teaching experience

Counselors: Junior college standing, leadership skills

Overnight Monitor: Must remain alert and awake to monitor students from 10pm-6am

To ensure full consideration, materials must be submitted by May 8th.

Questions?

Email Ms. Dominick at erica dominick@siu.edu or call (618) 453-3354

Visit projectupwardbound@siu.edu to apply!

Artists amplify thesis statements with personal upbringings

DAYLIN WILLIAMS dwilliams@dailyegyptian.com

The Glove Factory hosted a showcase for art majors’ thesis on March 20 to display the works of three senior artists, Ashli Bonner, Kailey Prior and Addy Rodriguez. They chose specific art forms to display their personal upbringings.

Prior said, “My motivation for this work is recalling and celebrating those childhood visuals and interests, and exploring how they relate to my identity in adulthood.”

Prior created sculptures that represent women who inspired her throughout her life.

Rodriguez describes her work as mixedmedia. The inspiration derives from an obsessive-compulsive disorder and her experience through a sociocultural lens. She also mentioned her Mexican upbringing, Catholicism and machismo as

recurring influences.

“This body of work is a way to cope and to inform the viewer of a disorder that is often underdiagnosed and hidden in fear of shame or being perceived as vain,” Rodriguez said.

Bonner explores the connection of certain aspects from childhood to adulthood, specifically what social interests are socially acceptable for children. Her theme revolves around the discovery of destruction.

Bonner said, “Using anatomy as a vehicle for the concept of destruction and discovery, I invite the viewer to discover what about the pieces they find appealing whether it’s the subject itself, the color relationships, the texture, and/ or techniques used.”

Photographer Daylin Williams can be reached at dwilliams@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram at @photosbydaylin

Freshman phenom raking for Salukis

NOAH PETSCHKE npetschke@dailyegyptian.com

In just his second at-bat as a Saluki, freshman Kye Watson mashed the third pitch he saw over the right field wall. The talented lefty turned heads upon his debut, swiftly making a name for himself after racking up 22 hits, stealing four bases without fail and posting a perfect fielding percentage in his first 17 games.

Watson grew up in Lititz, Pennsylvania, served a short stint at Coastal Carolina University, and ended up at SIU, where he now patrols right field as a redshirt freshman.

“It just seemed like a perfect fit for me to come here and have a fresh start,” Watson said. “I love it here, it’s been great.”

Watson said his father, Matthew Watson, who has experience in the MLB as a leftfielder, has been a great mentor to the young star his entire life.

“I wouldn’t be where I’m at without him. He’s been my biggest helper and my best friend,” Watson said. “It’s just the little things from someone close to you, who you can relate to; it’s extremely helpful.”

Watson made a strong transition from high school baseball to college ball, even with the large leap in skill level.

“For me, this year, it was about just simplifying the game. Back in high school, there were times when I thought I could do a little bit better,” Watson said. “Now that kids are throwing harder and have better off-

speed, honestly, less is more. You have to just put the barrel on the ball and hit it hard, and it will find a hole.”

Watson, despite being one of two freshmen in the program, immediately felt at home being part of an older team.

“It has been my favorite year so far. This group is wonderful. Coming in as a redshirt freshman, there are a bunch of older guys in here; they took me in right away and took care of me,” Watson said. “It allowed me to play freely here and that’s when I’m at my best.”

Watson caught the attention of many SIU Baseball fans after hitting a single and a home run in his first two at-bats of the season.

“It was a little surreal for me. I’ve been in situations like that before, and I was just trying to help our team,” Watson said.

Watson’s name is regularly posted in the leadoff spot of the batting order, a calculated move by head coach Lance Rhodes.

“He can get on base, hit for average, run when he’s on the bases, and just has pure bat-to-ball skills. The leadoff guy is going to come around more than anyone else,” Rhodes said.

Watson said he appreciates Rhodes’ support and coaching style, and that he has had a great time playing under the seven-year SIU coach.

“It’s been fantastic. He’s a very player-friendly coach, and you can talk to him about baseball and stuff off the field,” Watson said. “He’s been very

helpful, and this place has taught me a lot as a baseball player and as a human being as well.”

Hitting coach Tony Caldwell, in his first year as a hitting coach at SIU, has developed Watson’s approach to hitting.

“He really allowed me and helped me get the barrel head out and find some more power,” Watson said.

Caldwell praised Watson’s philosophy during his at-bats.

“He’s always competing to get a good pitch to hit, and if it’s not there, he has a good approach of taking the

pitch,” Caldwell said.

Along with being an intimidating hitter at the plate, Watson plays a high-level right field.

“He’s a guy who has pretty much played right field his whole life, so he’s very familiar with how the ball comes off the bat,” Rhodes said. “I think he’ll just continue to get better as he is around college baseball more.”

Caldwell expressed admiration for Watson and said he has enjoyed working with him during their first year at SIU.

“We love to have him in the

lineup. He’s always working hard and ready to compete,” Caldwell said.

Watson has high expectations for himself and the team during his time at SIU.

“I would like to go as far as we can in the playoffs, and possibly win the conference,” Watson said. “Personally, I want to do whatever I can to help the team win.”

Sports Reporter Noah Petschke can be reached at npetschke@dailyegyptian.com

Salukis drop series to Utah Tech 2-1

NOAH PETSCHKE npetschke@dailyegyptian.com

After going 1-3 on a road trip, SIU Baseball headed back to Itchy Jones Stadium to begin an eight-game homestand. To start the lengthy stretch of home games, the Salukis hosted the Trailblazers of Utah Tech University for a three-game series from March 27 to 29.

MARCH 27: SIU 10, UTT 0

Pitcher Andrew Evans got the nod to kick off the weekend series.

The towering right-hander sent the Trailblazers down quickly to start the game.

Neither offense generated a run until the bottom of the third inning, when the Salukis loaded the bases for Gabe Petrucelli. The second baseman drove in two runners with a single to center field to get the home team on the board.

The Dawgs tacked on another run after scoring on an error in the fifth inning.

One inning later, the Salukis found themselves with a 4-0 lead after third baseman Jaden Flores sprinted home on a wild pitch.

The Salukis had traffic on the bases, and the offense was still red hot. Shortstop Henry Kufa started the seventh-inning scoring barrage with an

RBI single. Right fielder Kye Watson got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, driving in the second run of the inning. Another wild pitch made it 7-0, and the Salukis were on the verge of a mercy-rule victory.

Centerfielder Julio Guerrero, who has put a ball over the wall three times in the last four games, stepped up and sent a fastball out of Itchy Jones Stadium. The three-run home run was enough to win the game by mercy rule in the seventh inning.

Evans pitched all seven innings, shutting out the Trailblazers on 117 pitches.

MARCH 28: UTT 9, SIU 4

Looking to snag a series victory, pitcher Troy Shepard took to the mound for the Salukis in Game 2.

Similar to Friday’s game, the crafty left-hander kept the bases empty in the first inning.

Guerrero, batting second for the Dawgs, drove the third pitch he saw over the left field wall, good for his fifth homer in the last six games. The surging centerfielder gave SIU a swift 1-0 lead.

Both pitchers mowed down the opposing offenses with ease, and no runs were plated until the bottom of the fifth inning. Catcher Jacob McKenzie scored on a wild pitch,

giving the Dawgs an insurance run.

The Trailblazers scored their first run of the series in the top of the seventh inning of the second game, cutting the lead down to one run.

The Salukis answered back in the bottom half of the inning with a McKenzie RBI single.

After a grueling eighth inning, the Trailblazers’ offense posted six runs on a plethora of hits, walks and errors.

The crowd went silent as another two Trailblazer runs crossed home via SIU errors. The Salukis faced a 9-3 deficit heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Down to the last few outs, Guerrero added the final run to the Saluki total with an RBI single up the middle, but the damage was already done. The Trailblazers took the second game 9-4, making the third game the deciding factor for a series victory for either team.

MARCH 29: UTT 12, SIU 4

The Salukis sent out Meade Johnson to face the Trailblazers in the decisive third game of the series. The pitcher faced some early trouble, giving up a first-inning run.

First baseman Cecil Lofton and Petrucelli each recorded a hit in the bottom of the inning, but no runs were scored for the Salukis.

SIU infielder Gabe Petrucelli (6) dives for home plate during a game against Utah Tech March 27, 2026 at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale Illinois. Riley Sembler | @riley_sembler

The Trailblazers upped their lead to 2-0 on a run-scoring wild pitch.

Guerrero gave the Salukis their first run on an RBI sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.

The game-tying run was scored on smart baserunning by Lofton and Flores.

The Trailblazers posted a five-run seventh inning, giving the away team a large lead. Flores knocked his first homerun of the year over the left field wall and added a run to the SIU total.

Once again, the Trailblazers put up a five-run inning, this time in the eighth, extending their lead to 12-3.

The Salukis notched their last run of

the series with an RBI sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Kyle Mager in the bottom of the eighth inning, cutting the lead down to eight runs.

The Trailblazers walked out of Itchy Jones Stadium with a 2-1 series victory over SIU.

With this series loss, the Dawgs are 10-16 overall, with a 1-2 record in conference play. The Trailblazers improve to 18-10 overall.

Sports Reporter Noah Petschke can be reached at npetschke@dailyegyptian.com

considered careers such as teaching and nursing before shifting towards broadcasting.

“I was thinking that’s what I was going to do,” Claiborne said of her early interest in broadcasting. “But I got up in that airplane, and I was like, this is it. I don’t care if I ever talk to anybody, or write anything, I want to be a pilot.”

She said her turning point came after getting the opportunity to fly a small aircraft.

“I got an opportunity to fly on a small airplane, and I knew right then and there that was what I wanted to do,” she said.

Claiborne said she first felt the weight of breaking barriers when she learned she would become the first African American woman pilot after she enlisted in the military as she prepared to graduate.

Her journey was not without obstacles. At the time, opportunities for women in aviation were limited, and Claiborne said she often had to prove she belonged.

“You just have to go with the flow,” she said. “Whenever I showed up, I was always doing the best that I could do.”

She said her mindset was shaped early on by advice from her mother.

“Do the work and get an A,” Claiborne said her mother told her.

That mentality helped her push through doubt.

“There isn’t anyone in this world who hasn’t thought they couldn’t do something at one time or another,” she said. “But don’t let yourself fail. You have to keep trying to do your best.”

Claiborne emphasized that representation continues to play a critical role in aviation and the military.

“We need to be represented in every field,” Claiborne said. “I don’t only want to see people who have enlisted, I want to see captains, pilots and officers too. You need to see the whole crew.”

She added that while progress has been made, challenges remain.

“I’ve seen progress, but I’ve also seen one step forward and two steps back,” she said. “Some of the same things are still happening.”

“There will always be obstacles, and people saying you’re not qualified,” Claiborne continued. “But you have to remember that you are.”

John Shaw, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, said

Claiborne’s visit gave students a chance to hear directly from someone who has helped shape the aviation industry.

“We want to talk about her amazing, iconic career, the various ceilings that she shattered, and her broader perspectives on leadership and diversity,” Shaw said.

Claiborne said leadership is about more than technical skill — it also involves how individuals work with others.

“I just have to be me and do my job the way it is meant to be done,” she said. “If I have to be a little tough, that’s what I will do.”

She also encouraged students to stay committed to their goals.

“You have to keep your eyes on the prize,” Claiborne said. “People get scared they aren’t going to succeed, and they give up too easily. You just have to stick with it.”

For students who may not see themselves represented in their field, Claiborne offered encouragement.

“I didn’t see anyone like me,” she said. “You can always be the first. Don’t discount yourself; be the one.”

Claiborne said speaking at SIU was an opportunity to connect with students and share her experiences.

“It’s an opportunity not only for myself, but also for the students, because I pride myself on being able to help guide them,” she said.

As the event concluded, Claiborne said she hopes students leave with confidence in their abilities.

“I want people to leave knowing that I am more than qualified, and that people who look like me are qualified and good at what they do,” she said.

Staff reporter Tay Acree can be reached at tacree@dailyegyptian.com.

Police shut down illegal dental office in Granite City operated by immigrants

BETH HUNDSDORFER

Capitol News Illinois

GRANITE CITY — In a small, two-story brick house on a one-way residential street a couple of blocks from the police station, a bootleg dental practice operated, marketed through an encrypted app to the Hispanic community, authorities said.

Clients seeking dental care were led up the back stairs of a house in the 2500 block of Iowa Street and into a darkened room where there were dental chairs, suction hoses, dental surgical tools, orthodontics equipment and an X-ray machine. Cash was the expected payment for services.

It isn’t clear how long this went on. Residents in the working-class neighborhood didn’t notice anything unusual, they said, except for a few more cars parked on the street.

“This is a pretty quiet street. We don’t have any problems here,” said a woman who lives nearby and didn’t want to be identified.

For at least a year and half, the house operated as an underground dental practice upstairs until it was shut down last fall, according to a police report.

After a four-month investigation by Granite City police, prosecutors charged Idania J. Moreno-Paal, 41, and Rodolfo Figuera, 59, with felony practicing medicine without a license.

Moreno-Paal, of Granite City, and Figuera, of Rolling Meadows, near Chicago, both practiced as dentists in Venezuela before emigrating to Mexico, then to the United States.

Moreno-Paal, her husband Salvador Francisco Tabacco-Campos and their four children lived in the house, while upstairs she performed everything

from cleanings to extractions and even braces, police said, in exchange for cash.

Figuera, who patients knew as “The doctor” would come to the Metro East to treat patients and paid Moreno-Paal to use her home for his appointments, according to a police report. He did not live in Granite City, and his whereabouts are unknown.

According to police, Moreno-Paal and her husband fled Venezuela into Mexico. In 2022, both had been granted temporary protected status work visas to enter the U.S. TabaccoCampos “possibly owned and operated a pharmacy in Venezuela, according to the police report.

The illegal dentist office has since been shut down, and the whereabouts of Moreno-Paal and her family are unknown. Neither Moreno-Paal nor Figuera had been booked into the Madison County Jail or made a court appearance.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request seeking information about the family and Figuera immigration status, including whether they’ve been deported.

A root canal gone bad

The operation came to police attention in mid-October after a 33-year-old woman reported that she experienced an infection that spread and caused fluid to leach from her ears after a root canal went awry.

The woman spoke to police through a translator and told them she was suffering from a toothache in her rear molar and didn’t have dental insurance. Several of the woman’s co-workers referred her to Moreno-Paal, who she learned was a dentist in her home country of Venezuela.

The woman told police she contacted Moreno-Paal through the encrypted phone app “What’s App” in Spanish.

When the woman arrived at around 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday night, Moreno-Paal let her up the stairs and put her in a chair. The woman told police that Moreno-Paal gave her a pill and she lost consciousness and awoke after receiving a root canal. She left after Moreno-Paal gave her a pack of pills and told her to take one every eight hours. The woman told police she paid $850 in cash and left.

Two days later, she returned to the Granite City house suffering from pain and swelling.

Moreno-Paal and a man, later identified as Figuera, proceeded to surgically extract the infected tooth.

The infection did not abate. The woman was treated in two local emergency rooms. Eventually, the infection relented, but then the hospital bills came.

The woman went to Hoyleton Youth and Family Services seeking financial assistance with the medical bills, according to police reports.

A Hoyleton worker contacted Granite City police. Two days later, Granite City police executed a search warrant on the house.

According to a police report documenting the search, they found a container with human teeth inside, dental equipment, narcotics, six cell phones, notes and ledgers, bank statements and $1,254 in cash.

A violation of the TRUST Act?

In their report, Granite City police noted that they conducted a records check through the Department of Homeland Security regarding Moreno-Paal, Tabacco-Campos and

their four children.

The Illinois TRUST Act, signed into law in 2017, regulates local law enforcement interactions with federal immigration agents. It prohibits them from holding individuals solely on immigration detainers, stopping people based on perceived status, or sharing nonpublic information without a judicial warrant.

At the time, the TRUST Act was one of nation’s strongest state-level dueprocess protections for immigrants, designed to shield them from being deported while interacting with local police.

Granite City police did not respond to requests for comment about the case or whether they assisted Immigration and Custom Enforcements agents. The Illinois attorney general’s office also did not respond.

In a May 2022 interview with a Mexican newspaper, Excelsior, Moreno-Paal told a reporter she did not want to go to the United States initially because she could not practice dentistry without going back to school.

Something changed after that. Moreno-Paal and her husband, Tabacco-Campos, both were issued temporary visitor drivers licenses in February 2023 — six months before they filled out paperwork applying for an occupancy permit for the house on the Iowa Street.

A man who spoke only in Spanish answered the door at the house earlier this month and said he now resided at the home and the dentist’s family no longer lived there. He didn’t know their current whereabouts and pointed to a mailbox stuffed with mail addressed to the couple.

After the search warrants were

executed in October, Granite City detectives Noe Marquez and Brandon Shellenberg brought Moreno-Paal in for an interview. She denied the amount of income that she derived from the practice, according to a police report documenting the interview. When detectives confronted her with bank statements and wire transfers, she told them what she was doing with the money.

“She explained the money was for a home she purchased back in Venezuela,” according to the report.

Moreno-Paal told the detectives she purchased the medications found in the home from local Mexican grocery stores, the report stated.

The neighbor who lived down the street told a reporter that she didn’t know the couple’s whereabouts either but noted there have been other people living at the house since the search warrant was executed in October.

“It should be noted the above incident was not reported to the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation at the completion of this report in order for further criminal investigation to be completed,” the police report stated.

The department has no reports on file regarding Moreno-Paal and Figuera, according to the agency’s spokesperson.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

‘Anything Goes,’ a wily farce from the golden age of Broadway

Times have changed, but you can always return to the classics!

“Anything Goes,” an SIU School of Theater and Dance mainstage production, opened on Thursday, March 26 at 7:30 p.m. in Shryock Auditorium.

Originally written in 1934 by Cole Porter and based on a book by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse, the story follows the hijinks and drama of the passengers of the U.S.S. American on its voyage from New York to London. The notable passengers include the foolhardy and romantic Billy Crocker (played by Seth Worthington), Nightclub singer Reno Sweeney (Olivia Manning), the Debutante Hope Harcourt (Amelia Warner) and wanted mobster and “Public Enemy 13” Moonface Martin (Blake Zappa).

The majority of costumes, including the sailor uniforms and vintage dresses were rented. The twolevel set was painted in colors of gold yellow, aqua blue and green, unusual for this show, which director Angela Schultz claimed was an intentional homage to the origin of the show.

“One of the things that bothers me about productions of ‘Anything Goes’ is how pristine the set is,” Schultz said. “Especially since Cole Porter himself was so subversive, both as a closeted gay man and because he wrote in all

these jokes about establishment.”

The show was lighthearted and comedic in tone, with several sketch-like segments that still hold up despite their age. An example of this would be the scenes with Hope’s fiance Evelyn Oakleigh, played by Harrison Gilberti, a wealthy and eccentric Englishman with a notebook full of American expressions he doesn’t fully know how to use.

Over the course of the first act, he was presented as an obstacle for Billy to overcome, needing to find a way to break off Evelyn’s engagement with Billy’s true love, Hope. At one point, Reno attempts to seduce Evelyn in order for Moonface to blackmail him into ending his engagement, but he’s so naive and unaware of her intentions that she’s too busy laughing to actually go through with the plot.

While many of Cole Porter’s original tracks skew longer than average, the show remained engaging with strong vocals and choreography, particularly impressive during the show’s many duets, such as “You’re the Top” or “Friendship,” where just two actors had to keep the scene dynamic on an empty stage.

Another outstanding example was “It’s De-lovely,” which featured flowing choreography stunningly coordinated by choreographer

Matthew Williams and performed by actors Seth Worthington and Amelia Warner.

The standout moments of any production of “Anything Goes” are the ensemble numbers at the end of Act I and beginning of Act II, the titular “Anything Goes” and the faux-gospel song “Blow, Gabriel, Blow,” respectively. The former featured wonderfully executed tap

choreography, while the latter had some of the best imagery in the show, making great use of different levels and colors that pop compared to the background and surrounding cast. Both had some amusing use of props, such as a wooden floatation board, shot glasses and a false bible on a lectern with a set of flasks inside.

Neither of these songs would be complete without their female lead,

Reno Sweeney. Olivia Manning did an outstanding job with this character, combining confidence, talent and a strong, supported voice into an unforgettable stage presence which dominated any scene she was in.

Staff reporter Morrigan Carey can be reached at mcarey@dailyegyptian.com

ACROSS

1- Samuel of Boston beer fame

6- Fish with a net

11- Kitchenware item

14- Minor OT prophet

15- Nintendo’s “super” guy

16- “Much ___ About Nothing”

17- Later on today, perhaps

19- Mahmoud Abbas’s grp.

20- Polluted

21- Frau’s refusal

22- Frighten

24- Top of the line

26- Diagnostic test

47- Hit the slopes

48- Goatee’s locale

27- “If I Ruled the World” rapper

30- Figurehead’s place

31- Zest

32- Squirrel’s cache

34- Lend ___ (listen)

37- Biblical high priest

38- The spice of life

40- “How was ___ know?”

41- US VP, not long ago

43- Region

44- Indian tourist city

45- Kuwaiti leader

49- Jagger’s group, shortly

51- Michelangelo masterpiece

53- Desktop feature

54- Nurse’s charge

57- Revolutionary leader

58- There never seem to be enough of these; in fact, it’s always the sum of the circled entries

62- PC key

63- ___ Martin

64- Chopin composition

65- Dashboard inits.

66- Look after 67- Marsh plants DOWN

1- Pantry pest

2- Morse code word 3- Yellowfin tuna

4- Pony car

5- Attack ad, maybe 6- Some Feds

7- Deliver a tirade

8- Astrological ram

9- It may come before the pitch

10- Captain’s journal

11- Heavy item on a desk

12- Go off script

13- Palindromic time

18- Capital on the Danube

21- Advertising sign gas

22- Fishy armor

23- Cuspid

25- Ask for divine guidance

26- Increase, with “up”

28- Pervasive quality

29- Rouses

33- Hide and ___

35- Courtyards

36- Horse color

38- Blood vessel

39- Capital of Taiwan

42- “Hurry up!”

44- Film material

46- Sleep

49- Resell illegally

50- Pan-fry

52- Tube or sanctum opener

53- Mosque V.I.P.

55- Gait between walk and canter

56- There ___ time like the present

58- Experiences

59- Expected

60- Go on to say

61- “Absolutely!”

Weekly Event Calendar

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*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.

#5

Your guide to upcoming local events over the next 7 days! April

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