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Daily Egyptian SERVING THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1916.
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InsiDE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2026
VOL. 109, ISSUE 27
No Kings rally 3.0, page 5 | Making a thesis statement, page 8 | Freshman outfielder starts strong, page 9
Trailblazing pilot Theresa Claiborne talks perseverance at SIU
New bill aims to end cash-prize hunting competitions in Illinois YAHRI EDMOND yedmond@dailyegyptian.com
Theresa Claiborne poses for a portrait at SIU’s Student Center March 27, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin 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 PILOT | 10
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
HUNTING | 3
As Tornado Alley migrates to southern Illinois, experts explain how to stay safe MARIAH FLETCHER mfletcher@dailyegyptian.com
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 TORNADO ALLEY | 4
Tornado Density 2019-2024 James Jamason | @XTOMIC_COMIC