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Daily Egyptian SERVING THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1916.
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2026
Carbondale organizers host vigil for Minnesota woman killed by ICE agent
InsiDE Saluki QB returns in fall
Carmen Tapley ctapley@dailyegyptian.com
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STL hosts skating championship
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Benton native stars in ‘Fear Factor’
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VOL. 109, ISSUE 17
Members of the Carbondale community gathered on Friday, Jan. 9 to remember the life of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-yearold woman from the U.S. who was killed in an altercation with ICE agents on the streets of Minneapolis two days prior. Good was shot three times in the face by ICE agent Jonathan Ross — who was identified by the Minnesota Star Tribune — while in the driver’s seat of her car during an active ICE raid in her neighborhood. Good can be seen on video from multiple angles disrupting the raid with her car while others, including her wife, harass the agents on foot and usher them to leave the area. An officer attempts to open her driver’s side door as Good reverses away from the scene, but she then puts the car in drive and moves forward, which is when Ross unholsters his gun and fires, killing her almost instantly. The incident ignited fiery political discourse across the nation as American political figures in the Trump administration claim that her death was justified, while others — like those gathered in Carbondale — say that Good was murdered in cold blood. Before the vigil, the Daily Egyptian requested an interview with event organizers but were provided with a pre-written statement instead. The organizers asked to remain anonymous. “We restlessly await justice for Renee Good,” the statement read. “We seek the dawn of justice, where mothers can hold their
Attendees of a vigil held for Renee Nicole Good, a Minneapolis woman who was killed by an ICE agent, walk in a procession down The Strip toward the Carbondale Civic Center Jan. 9, 2026, in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin
children, where neighbors are united regardless of what side of a border they were born on.” A little after 9 p.m. at Friendship Plaza, the organizers — many masked — began the vigil through introductory speeches expressing that the gathering was a solemn occasion where the community could share their grief, sorrow, anger, loss and unsure feelings about Good’s death. The anonymous organizers remembered Good as a wife, mother of three children and award-winning poet. The extent of Good’s involvement in Minneapolis activism is currently unclear, according to reporting by The New
York Times.Organizers recognized that Good was not the first person to be killed amid ICE activity, and that 32 others had been killed since the Trump administration took office. “We have seen the fear and pain that ICE is causing all across this country to our neighbors — the death and violence that they have brought upon our communities, but especially immigrant communities and communities of color,” one organizer said. Organizers called Good a martyr and a hero, but said they believe the Trump regime will paint her as a domestic terrorist who deserved death. According to PBS, there
is no consensus among political parties. Republican leaders like Vice President JD Vance have claimed the ICE agents acted in self-defense, while Democratic leaders point to video evidence claiming otherwise. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called Good’s actions an “act of domestic terrorism” in a press conference. In a guest essay to The New York Times, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey refuted this claim, writing, “I’ve watched multiple videos, from multiple perspectives — it seems clear that Ms. Good, a mother of three, was trying to leave the scene, VIGIL | 2
Meet the candidates running to represent Illinois’ 12th Congressional District Brayden Guy bguy@dailyegyptian.com
2026 marks another year of elections in Illinois. The Daily Egyptian interviewed the two candidates running for the U.S. 12th Congressional District Representative seat: Democrat Julie Fortier and Republican Mike Bost. Both of these candidates have an easy primary lined up as they are the only candidates in their respective parties. Regardless, the primary election will be held on March 17. Then Fortier and Bost are expected to run against each other for the general election, which will be held Nov. 3. Bost is the incumbent and has served as the 12th District representative since 2015, having also been a state representative for over 20 years.
A Murphysboro native, Bost graduated from Murphysboro High School and served in the Marines. He described the 12th District as “home.” “There are good people, older people, who came from farming and mining and are hardworking,” Bost said. “Unfortunately, we have seen some bad times in Illinois because quite often the laws are stripped, painted and pushed towards what Chicago wants.” Fortier has lived in O’Fallon for over 30 years. She served in the Air Force and has a Ph.D in pathology research. Fortier described the 12th District as “large” and “diverse.” “When you look at this district and you look
at the stats, as far as size, this district is 14,000 square miles – which is huge,” Fortier said. “It’s so diverse. Of that 14,000, over 10,000 of that is farm land. Within that you have over 18,000 farms, you have over 31,000 farmers, you have cities that have white collar workers, you have towns, labor unions, a coal mine in the south, an oil refinery in the north, we have community colleges and some universities. We have populations from every race, every gender and every religion. It is a true representation of America.” While the 12th District does have populations made up of many different races, according to the US Census Bureau, it is 87% white. “It’s not like going into downtown Chicago,”
Fortier said. “You won’t find farmers in downtown Chicago. You won’t find coal miners in downtown Chicago.” Fortier said that her background in research and scientific writing gives her a unique perspective and certain advantages as she goes to challenge Bost. “I assess data very fast, and I come up with solutions very fast. It’s just how I’m wired. If I don’t know something, I go and research the truth. I cannot make decisions if I am uninformed,” Fortier said. As the incumbent, Bost`s representative duties can take him out of the district often. “But if we are not in the district, we do a lot of 12TH DISTRICT | 3
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Wednesday, January 14, 2026
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VIGIL
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not attack an agent.” They finished their introductions with a cry for justice to bring down the “rotten order that allowed for Trump to come to power, for ICE to kill Renee,” and a quote from Mother Jones, a radical union organizer who was buried in southern Illinois; “Honor the dead and fight like hell for the living.” Following was a moment of silence for Good and the others who have died in ICE custody. One person, who introduced themselves only as Mississippi, a community member and medic from Minnesota, read a personal statement. They said that “the people behind this terrorism and tragedy get to sleep safely behind numerous walls of protection paid for by our taxes.” Mississippi shared their insight into the ways that Minnesota has been under attack by the federal government. They said their sister travels to and from work in fear because of her skin color and carries her passport with her at all times for proof of legal citizenship. Their sister teaches English as a second language and most of her students are Somali refugees whose families immigrated to Minnesota while under a civil war, now marking 80,000 in population. In addition to preparing for school shootings, Mississippi said their sister lives in fear for her safety and freedom as well as the safety and well being of her students and their families. Mississippi said that in Minnesota, the Somali refugees, Hispanic residents and people of color in general are afraid to leave their homes. “The federal government claims to be targeting criminals, but they are the violence and murderous criminals. Men with guns and masks are stopping people of color to harass and kidnap them,” Mississippi said. Rumors of ICE agents attempting to enter schools and buses has become so consistent that the public schools have transitioned to online learning with demand that ICE withdraw from the city of Minneapolis.
“We can hope for justice someday, but we cannot afford to wait for it,” Mississippi said. “Please stand with Minnesota by sending support if you can and organizing with your neighbors. I would say before it’s too late, or that it’s never too late, but frankly the time is now.” Another speaker, Judy Ashby, read the poem “For Renee Nicole Good” by Amanda Gorman, who is most known for her readings at former President Joe Biden’s inauguration and Super Bowl LV in early 2021. The vigil was followed by a procession from Friendship Plaza to the Civic Center and back. They marched up the streets with banners reading “Justice for Renee Good” and “Melt ICE,”and handed out colorful pieces of paper reading “Stand For Good,” a play on Good’s last name. The procession took up the entire width of the Strip in Carbondale. The procession was met by cheers from passersby and patrons of local businesses as a Carbondale Police Department cruiser closely followed the group with its lights on. The procession stopped at the Carbondale Civic Center to repeat various anti-ICE sentiments before making their way back to Friendship Plaza. Some attendees said they wanted to know how the student population would respond to Good’s death, others said they were there in solace and support of those who have been affected directly and indirectly. Nikolas Jonathan, a member of the community, said that he attended the vigil because of all the violence against the people of this country. “There is power that is being used for hatred. It is important to honor the life lost to the terrible system we live under,” Jonathan said. Adam Smith, a visitor from out of state, said he felt anger and sorrow toward the news of Good’s death. He heard about the vigil like most other attendees did — through the internet. “She was just someone on the street, that could be anybody anywhere at any time,” Smith said. “It’s just scary for everybody in the country right now, no matter what
ideology or ethnicity you belong to, but you should be afraid.” He said the turnout of political gatherings in southern Illinois is always impressive and comforting in times like these. Even in the far reaches of the country, we can still come together and stand up to these things, he said. Vic Binah, an SIU alumna and member of the community, said fear encourages her activism. She said as a queer Jewish woman she understands the fear of interacting with law enforcement, but “seeing as they are being allowed to kill us for something that they perceive as a slight, that just escalates to being allowed to execute minority folks, being able to execute Jewish folks, being able to execute people of color.” Binah said her wife has had family members from Puerto Rico that have been detained without reason as legal citizens, which has incited in them a lot of fear and rage. “This country’s supposedly built as a land of the free, and it’s just not feeling that way,” Binah said. “This is the first step into fascism, and especially citizens that claim to be proud of this country, claim to love our country and our values are not seeing that, and that’s the scariest thing for me.” Binah said her mother and father are Marine veterans, and in being a Marine, they were taught to act a certain way, look a certain way, and be a certain way — not just for an image of bravery, but for military training, where you are taught not to take the time to question things. She said she sees that reprogramming leech into the civilian lifestyle, where one takes the government’s official statements at face value instead of forming independent thoughts and opinions. “We should be able to question our government without fear of being murdered in front of our children or our wives,” Binah said in recognition of Good’s own wife having witnessed her death. Staff reporter Carmen J. Tapley can be reached at ctapley@dailyegyptian. com. Sports reporter Eli Hoover contributed to this reporting.
News | Page 3
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
12TH DISTRICT CONTINUED FROM 1
tele town halls, usually once a month,” he said. Bost’s telephone town halls have been controversial since they started in 2017. In March of last year, a protest was held outside the Jackson County Courthouse because protesters felt their voices were not being heard. The 12th District has voted Republican consistently since 2015. As a Democrat, it could be difficult for Fortier to win over a district that has voted for Bost for the past decade. “I am hoping that they (the constituents) understand that this district has had very little representation,” Fortier said. “Just because he (Bost) might be in their party does not mean he is in their best interest. I think that has come to light with the ballot bill he is trying to put through. He does not want mail-in ballots past election day, which totally impedes military people — especially military people who are deployed.” Fortier is referencing the SAVE ACT, H.R. 22, a bill co-sponsored by Bost, that would require individuals to provide documentary proof of their U.S. citizenship to register to vote. This would force people deployed overseas to come back to America if they wanted to register to vote. “I want these people to know that I will be a voice for them,” Fortier said. “I don’t care what political party people are. I will be the best voice I can be for this district.” Much of southern Illinois is farmland, and soybeans account for more than 1.1 million of the region’s 2 million row crop acres. Tariffs have caused China to buy fewer soybeans in 2025; historically, the country has bought 40% of Illinois soybeans. The U.S. exported 26.8 million metric tons to China in 2024, but only exported around 18 million metric tons in 2025, according to Farmdoc. President Donald Trump implemented these tariffs starting in January 2025 in an attempt to reduce trade deficits. Bost said that the “previous administration did not request any trade promotion authority,” which are statutes that can give the president power to alter tariff rates and negotiate on trade agreements. The 2015 trade promotion authority expired in July 2021, and the Biden administration did not renew it, instead choosing to use new models like the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, according to the Library of Congress.
“Now we have a president who really knows how to negotiate those trade deals,” Bost said. “When we start talking with our soybean farmers, and understand I have been not only endorsed by all of the ag groups, but I have also been working with them side by side every day, making sure their message is taken forward,” Bost said. Bost serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and is the chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “What Trump has done is he has pushed (China) into a situation where they have to come back to the table,” Bost said. “No one ever has been a president of this nation who knows how to make a deal and how to get people to the bargaining table.” Bost said to remember that China’s leader is imperialist, so “they are going to play for the long game.” He also said that China “drives the market up,” which causes farmers to overorder. “We are trying to get through that, and with these tariff negotiations, that is what we are trying to do,” he said. “See, the ag people understand that, that tariff money is going to come back to help some of our farmers. We are trying to put that together at this time. That is the advantage of being on the ag committee.” China has bought more U.S. soybeans recently, which has helped the market. But even with the Trump Administration’s $12 billion Farmer Bridge Payments, farmers are suffering as they stand to lose between $33 billion and $44 billion, according to Reuters. “We are keeping abreast of it as members of the ag committee. Are we worried? Well, I’ll tell you what, if you actually represent farmers or are a farmer, you worry all the time,” Bost said. “Is it going to be too hot? Is it going to be too cold? Is it going to be too dry? Is it going to be too wet? What are the prices going to do? More concerning than even the market with China is the market terms we have right now of the input cost.” Concerning the same soybean dilemma, Fortier had some ideas, but could not expand on them yet. While she may not be affiliated with the Agricultural Committee like Bost, both have respect for farmers. “You’re banking on a good crop to sell,” Fortier said. “So when the market goes down, you have to weigh the odds. Do I sell at a reduced price and hope to recoup some of my loss, and will that loss compensate for everything I
Photo provided by Julie Fortier
have invested? Or do you hold onto it, hoping that there is a market next year or at the end of this year? They still have bills. A lot of farmers work two jobs.” Fortier did not agree with the recent use of tariffs. “What I have heard time and time again from farmers, whether it has been online or whether it is the farmer I have spoken to — it is interesting because you take the tariffs, and it’s almost like you’re paying yourself,” Fortier said. She further explained that tariffs created an odd cycle. “For instance, let’s say my tractor falls apart. I have to go buy the part to fix my tractor. There is a new tariff on that. So now I am paying the tax that’s going to go to America. So let’s say I pay $10 tax on this. So now I fix my tractor, and America is like, I’m going to give you tariff money to help you with not being able to sell soybeans. So the farmer is like, ‘I’m just paying myself?’” In addition to tariffs, President Trump announced in late October of 2025 a plan to quadruple beef imports from Argentina. This created concern and backlash from cattle ranchers, and caused Bost to have some concerns of his own. “I am also very concerned because, in my district, one of the largest meat processing plants is getting ready to be built, and we want to make sure that the market is there and allows our farmers to make profits, and that is what I will argue for,” Bost said. “I have concerns, but I understand that the Argentinian beef is specifically for the lower-grade hamburger.”
Photo provided by Mike Bost
Fortier acknowledged that it was a low-producing year for beef and that President Trump gave money to Argentina to “lower the price of beef,” which Fortier said, “does more for Argentina than our beef farmers.” She also brought up President Trump’s relationship with President Javier Milei and how it tied into the soybean market. “Trump likes Argentina, he wants to buy the peso, so he gives them $20 billion. Well, that then got increased to $40 billion because he likes the gentleman who wants to become president again in Argentina.” Another concerning matter for southern Illinoisans is health care. Just recently, 17 Republicans joined Democrats in the House to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies, but Bost stayed aligned with the GOP leadership. Bost has long been an opponent of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Many Americans are worried about the price of premiums if the tax credits of the Affordable Care Act are not extended. This was one of the major issues that caused the longest government shutdowns in our nation’s history. Bost said he favors market-driven competitive solutions to health care rather than socialized or governmentsubsidized health care. He said that “if someone is competing for your insurance bid,” then that competition “reduces the overall cost of insurance.” Instead of the government subsidizing, which is “calling winners
and losers.” Bost gave an example of one of his constituents and his problem with the health care system: “I got one guy who called me… and he is in my district, he pays like $5 a week for insurance, $30 a month with his employer, but if all of a sudden he goes from making $106,000 a year to $107,000 a year, now his insurance climbs to $800 a month and a $5,000 deductible. That’s the problem with government-run health care.” Bost said he is going to do something for the long run and “not just the short run.” Fortier talked about times when she had struggled with insurance. “I don’t think people realize if you have never been without medical insurance — there has been a time when I did not have medical insurance — how scary it is. You never know if an accident will occur,” Fortier said. Fortier said she believes in universal health care. “Americans deserve health care. We deserve universal health care,” Fortier said. “Nobody can afford to live in this country without health care.” This example is not necessarily “socialized health care” because universal health care just means that everyone has access to health care, and socialized health care would mean the government owns and distributes all health care. The DE interviewed Fortier on Oct. 25 and Bost on Dec. 5, 2025. Staff Reporter Brayden Guy can be reached at bguy@dailyegyptian.com.
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Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Salukis star quarterback DJ Williams to return for 1 more year Eli Hoover ehoover@dailyegyptian.com
Quarterback DJ Williams announced on Monday, Jan. 5 through the SIU football social media accounts that he would be returning to the Salukis for his final year of eligibility. The announcement came nine days after Williams himself announced that his waiver request to play one more year of college football was accepted due to him missing almost all of the 2024 season after a finger injury. Williams said he was absolutely blown away by Saluki fans’ response to his return. “It truly means a lot. Feels like I’ve made an impact not only around athletics but in the community,” Williams said in an email to the Daily Egyptian. “I am blessed beyond measure
Cali Roy JRNL 310
to have the opportunity to come back and play in front of a community that truly loves me and believes in me.” Williams was an All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Honorable Mention and finished third in the MVFC Offensive Player of the Year race behind eventual Walter Payton Award winner Youngstown State QB Beau Brungard and North Dakota State QB Cole Payton this past season. Williams collected national hardware at the end of the season as well. He finished eighth in the Walter Payton Award voting, and found himself on multiple FCS All-American teams. Both FCS Football Central and Stats Perform voted him for third team honors, while the Associated Press gave him an honorable mention.
The senior quarterback also rewrote the Saluki history books in 2025. His 847 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns were the most by a QB in SIU history. He broke records with his arm as well, as his 2,846 passing yards were fourth-most in program history, but had to settle for fifth in the Saluki record books with 22 passing touchdowns. While SIU’s Week 1 opponent has yet to be released, currently fans’ first chance to see Williams and company in action is Thursday, Sept. 3 in Homewood, Alabama against the Samford Bulldogs.
as “the book that changed my life.” The book was titled “A Cabinet Maker’s Notebook” by James Krenov, a famous woodworker from Russia. This book was not simply a how-to on woodworking, but rather a philosophical take on the deeper meaning of his craft and passion. Krenov’s book was a grand work on his way of life, and after reading it, Kinser became hooked and went full “Krenovian” — “If that’s even a term,” he said. His professional career became an emulation of Krenov’s work. “I didn’t want to do kitchen cabinets, or I didn’t want to do that type of cabinetry,” he said. “I wanted to do Krenovian.” He spent the next six or so years working professionally, embodying the style of his role model, reading every subsequent book he released. Then, in 1981, Krenov started a school: The Fine Woodworking Program at the College of the Redwoods. In its second year, Kinser applied, got in, and began studying under his six-year inspiration. Under his idolturned-mentor, Kinser’s woodworking transformed all barriers he once had. “I divide everything pre-California and post-California,” he says, “My deck of cards was completely reshuffled when I went out there and I was exposed to world-class standards.” The enlightening experience furthered Kinser’s passion and dedication to his craft. Exposure to a whole new world of standards, styles and influences allowed Kinser to begin discovering his niches and true inspirations. “I’ve always been very careful about what influences I’ve picked,” says Kinser. “There’s so many directions to go on woodworking.” As it stands today, Kinser draws much of his design inspiration from the Japanese aesthetic and furniture, Scandinavian design, and even the 18th century Shakers. He appreciates simplicity and rejects unnecessary adornments. Traditional, yet
personalized, with a hefty dose of wabi sabi, Kinser’s pieces speak to his masterful taste in style and contextualization. Outside of other woodworkers as inspiration, he finds most of his ideas for concepts and pieces through day-to-day conversations and working with other artists of different mediums. Many of his pieces feature collaborations with other artists who work with mediums such as metal or painting. Through his conversations with real people come real stories, channeling real inspiration. In collaboration with painter Michael Onken, one of his prominent pieces, Worker’s Cabinet, is an homage to the American worker. This piece, like all Kinser’s are, began as a rough idea, and through his creative lens, transformed into a one-of-a-kind piece, honoring something much deeper than a simple toolbox cabinet. Kinser’s often circles back to the theme of finding purpose and seeing it through. None of his work is half-baked, and every piece from his workshop is crafted to the highest degree. “There’s a reason people get $10,000 for a nice piece of cabinet work,” he explains. “There’s quality there. Just really consistent good work, throughout the whole piece.” Now more than ever, artists such as Kinser said they fear for the arts and the loss of fine-quality artistry. “I’m pessimistic about the state of the arts right now, and it’s not just (President Donald) Trump and what he’s doing,” says Kinser. “There’s been a diminishing support in the arts the last…20 years I’d say. It’s harder to make a livingAs someone who has based his entire life’s philosophy on pursuing his passion, Kinser says it troubles him. Even before his Krenovian journey down woodwork lane, it’s clear he’s always felt that innate sense to find a higher cause and pursue it at any cost — except
Sports reporter Eli Hoover can be found at ehoover@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @hoovermakesart
Photo provided by Saluki Athletics
Kyle Kinser: The impractical wooden cabinet maker
Kyle “Lefty” Kinser’s ascent into woodworking obsession began around the time he moved to Makanda. He found a dead walnut tree in his yard, harvested it and took it to a sawmill; the rest was history. From the moment he began his first project, he knew that he’d found his passion: working with his hands and crafting something to perfection. The now 74-year-old was born March 20, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois. He spent his formative years with his parents and three siblings in a small, southwest Chicago suburb called Clarendon Hills. Once he reached high school, he attended a seminary boarding school, and at one point began thinking his life’s path was to become a priest. However, that dream was short-lived, as he was kicked out for not “thinking priest.” “You know, the vow of poverty never scared me,” he said. “The vow of chastity, I guess, was the dealbreaker.” After his priest dreams came to an end, he attended Western Illinois University in Macomb, where he would go on to meet his wife of many years. After college, in 1974, Kinser and his wife, Jeri, decided to move down to Makanda. Both of his sons, Abel and Andy, were born in their little house on the hillside and raised in the little hippie town just off Old Highway 51. “Abel was born in a house up there and 10 days later, that house burned down,” Kinser said. “10-day-old baby, didn’t have a house. But we liked this place. Losing a house didn’t make us move.” Though that statement may sound crazy to some, to Kinser, that’s just who he is. Around 1976, Kinser was introduced to a woodworking book that would transcend his passion for woodworking into his life’s philosophy — the book he would go on to refer to the rest of his life
for celibacy, which thankfully is not an integral part of woodworking. “There’s this joke,” he said. “How do you make a small fortune? Well, you start with the big one and take up furniture making.” But despite any lows or lulls, Kinser’s greatest achievement has been seeing through what he sought out and setting an example to future generations of his family. His son, Andy, has gone on to pursue woodworking, building houses and guitars, and moving out to California to start his family. As a true Kyle Kinser homage, he even named his son Xylem, “the heartwood of the tree.” His other son, Abel, stayed in Makanda, raising his two daughters, Audrey and Margaret. His passions lie with botany and plants. “He’s always pursued what he’s passionate about,” Kinser said. “He likes problem-solving, and Andy, too, likes working with his hands. I think they’ve always done what they’re passionate about.” Seemingly, despite not planting the seed of pursuing money over all else, his family seems to be okay with that. “I love getting to have his tables in my home,” said Kinser’s oldest grandchild, Margaret, who’s currently studying English at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. “Knowing they were made in my family, and will stay in my family for generations, is really meaningful. One table was even made collaboratively with my grandpa and my dad, which is sweet to know how much really went into making the piece.” Margaret’s sister, Audrey, who’s studying biological science at SIUC, said she feels the same way. “I love seeing my grandpa’s work in Tropicana and other local shops,”
Audrey said. “It’s cool hearing strangers say his name and all the kind words they have. He and his work have really made an impact on his community, and I take a lot of pride in that.” With his work as his legacy, Kyle Kinser’s impactful pieces can be found across the globe and across politicians’ homes, spanning from Korea, Japan, Singapore and Europe to the French embassy, to former Gov. Jim Thompson and U.S. Sen. Paul Simon’s dining rooms. Kinser’s life has been a dedicated, self-disciplined journey of discovery, trying and perfection in his craft. As he has preached, he has unadulteratedly practiced the Krenov philosophies he discovered back in the mid-’70s of intuitive connection and expression. Throughout his thoughtful process of craftsmanship and cabinetmaking, he blurs the line between art and life, blending the two until they are one. The importance of his work serves not only as fine quality furniture, but as art pieces with stories deeply ingrained within the wood. Just as the grain of the wood reveals its age, these pieces reveal something much deeper than any mass-produced Ikea piece could convey. The unwavering dedication to his craft is a testament to the genius of Kinser’s work, and it will be no surprise when future generations of woodworkers admire not only the works of Krenov, but Kinser as well. Simply put, in his own wise words: “It’s just called passion.” Editor’s Note: This story was produced for JRNL 310: Writing for the Mass Media.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Sports | Page 5 Men’s Basketball Winter Break Recap
Salukis go 2-4 over break, enter the second half at 8-9 Eli Hoover ehoover@dailyegyptian.com
The Salukis men’s basketball squad stayed busy over the holiday season, first traveling south to Richmond, Virginia and then all across the midwest to begin Missouri Valley Conference play. The Dawgs won two and lost four, and now start the second semester at 8-9. Richmond 93, SIU 84 The Salukis made their way to Richmond, Virginia on Saturday Dec. 13 to take on the Spiders in their last nonconference game of the season. The Salukis came away with their second overtime loss of the year, dropping this one 93-84 to the Spiders. SIU tied the ballgame with 13.8 seconds to go after guard Quel’Ron House got fouled after making a basket and made the ensuing free throw to tie it 74-74, but Richmond sent the Salukis to their second overtime game of the season. Rolyns Aligbe tallied the Salukis’ first double-double of the season in the loss, scoring 19 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. House (17), guard Damien Mayo Jr. (12) and guard Jalen Haynes (12) joined Aligbe in scoring double-digit points. Illinois State 75, SIU 68 The Salukis welcomed the Illinois State Redbirds to the Banterra Center Thursday, Dec. 18 for the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both squads, and the Dawgs could feel the absence of senior forward Prince Aligbe who was out due to coaches’ decision amid the 75-68 loss. Guard Quel’Ron House’s 12 points and the team’s 57% shooting percentage played a large part in SIU holding a 32-26 lead with 2:33 to go in the first half. House’s sixth turnover of the half with 17 seconds left on the clock gave the Redbirds a chance to cut into the lead once more, but Redbird forward Chase Walker’s layup dropped harmlessly off the rim as the first half clock expired, sending SIU into the locker room with a 35-30 lead. Both teams struggled to score coming out of the locker room due to the lockdown defense of both teams. The offensive stalemate left SIU with a 42-37 lead four minutes into the half. A 9-0 run for the visiting side briefly gave the Redbirds a 43-42 lead with 14:01 left in regulation. The Salukis were able to take the lead right back as House made a pull-up jumper to make it 45-43 with 12 minutes remaining. Illinois State outscored SIU 12-5 coming out of the timeout. Nagy got a technical foul for arguing with referee Gary Maxwell with 6:01 to go. The ensuing free throws from Redbird guard Mason Klabo gave Illinois State a 63-52 lead. The Salukis got as close as six points down the stretch, but never any closer. Guard Drew Steffe’s two missed free throws down 69-62 with 1:17 to go seemed to be the nail in the proverbial coffin. House led the Salukis with 22 points in the loss. He was joined in double figures by Steffe (17) and
SIU guard Damien Mayo Jr. (0) celebrates in the locker room surrounded by the SIU men’s basketball team after the Salukis made a 68-67 buzzer-beater win over the Belmont Bruins Jan. 4, 2026 at Curb Event Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto Rolyns Aligbe (10). Bradley 73, SIU 69 The Salukis made their way to Carver Arena in Peoria, Illinois Sunday, Dec. 21 to take on the Bradley Braves in their first conference road game of the season. The Salukis shot a paltry 15.8% from behind the three point line, a factor in a gut-wrenching 73-69 loss. The Salukis started off scorching, with guard Quel’Ron House scoring a floater a minute into the ballgame, followed immediately by guard Damien Mayo Jr. stealing the inbounds pass and making a layup. SIU couldn’t keep the hot start going, running into a scoreless streak of nearly two and a half minutes. Foul trouble quickly became an issue for SIU when guard Jalen Haynes got whistled for his second foul of the contest early in the first. House had already gotten his second foul a moment earlier, meaning Nagy had to give guard Caden Hawkins his first competitive minutes of the season. Hawkins and the rest of the Salukis on the floor were able to keep the team in the game despite the foul issues. The final four minutes was a rush of offense. Bradley guard Demarion Burch hit multiple threes to help the Braves to a 39-34 lead heading into the locker room. The Braves continued to keep the Salukis at bay throughout the early portions of the second half. The Salukis refused to give up though, as back to back buckets brought it to 62-57. That forced Bradley head coach Brian Wardle to call a timeout with 6:04 to go. Bradley got spooked by full-court pressure applied by the Salukis, and Wardle was forced to call another timeout, Bradley up 69-63. Forward Rolyns Aligbe hit the Salukis’ second three of the contest with 49.9 seconds to go to cut the Bradley lead to 69-66. Mayo nailed a straightaway three to make it 71-69, the closest it had been since early in the first half.
On the ensuing inbounds, House was able to pick the pocket of Bradley guard Jaquan Johnson, giving the Salukis a chance to tie the game or even take the lead. But the chance slipped through Aligbe’s fingers when he couldn’t handle House’s pass with 1.1 seconds to go. Two free throws from Bradley guard Alex Huibregste locked in a 73-69 victory for the Braves. Mayo led the team with 4 steals and was also the leading scorer on the afternoon for the Salukis, finishing up at 18 points. He was joined in double digits by Aligbe (16) and House (10). Murray State 84, SIU 81 SIU traveled to Murray, Kentucky on Dec. 29 to face the Murray State Racers. Despite roaring back from a 20-point deficit to tie the game late, the Salukis missed a last-second shot and lost 84-81. The Salukis and the Racers went back and forth through the early portion of the matchup. However, the Salukis trailed by 38-25 at the final media timeout of the half. Despite the Racers stretching their lead to 20, the Salukis were able to whittle it down to a 47-34 score heading into halftime thanks in part to a buzzer-beating putback from forward Prince Aligbe. The Salukis came out of the locker room swinging, and the good fortune continued for SIU as the game crossed into the later stages. SIU continued to play lockdown defense, forcing a nearly four minute field goal drought for the Racers. Murray State guard JJ Traynor buried a three with 2:14 remaining to make it a four point game, and moments later his teammate Layne Taylor completed an and-1 to make it a 79-72 ballgame and force an uphill battle for the Salukis the rest of the way. The Dawgs, however, refused to go down without a fight as five straight points from Aligbe made it 81-79 with 39.6 seconds to go. Murray State forward Javon Jackson
knocked down two free throws with 11.8 to go to make it 83-79 after a controversial foul call on Aligbe. SIU had one more chance down 84-81 with 8.7 on the clock. A final shot from Mayo clanged off the front of the rim as time expired, and the Salukis’ fate was sealed. Aligbe had arguably his best game as a Saluki in the loss, leading the team with 19 points and 9 rebounds. Offense was not an issue for the Salukis, as Aligbe was joined in double digits by guard Quel’Ron House (15), Sykes (11), his younger brother Rolyns (11) and Steffe (10). SIU 75, Valparaiso 70 The Salukis welcomed the Valparaiso Beacons to Banterra Center for their annual New Year’s Bash, with both sides looking for their first conference victory. SIU closed the first half on a 13-2 run. Back-to-back dunks from guards Isaiah Stafford and Davion Sykes sent the home crowd into a frenzy, the Dawgs sporting a 36-25 lead at half. Thanks to Saluki guard Jalen Haynes getting called for a technical foul while celebrating Sykes’ dunk, Valpo started the second half with a pair of free throws. Guard Owen Dease split the pair. The Beacons continued to try and cut down the lead, but to no avail. Forward Prince Aligbe and House tied for the team lead in scoring with 12 points each. SIU 68, Belmont 67 The Salukis then traveled to Nashville, Tennessee Sunday, Jan. 4, to take on the Belmont Bruins. They got their first road conference win in spectacular fashion, with guard Quel’Ron House burying a floater with a mere 0.1 seconds left on the clock to clinch a 68-67 victory. Offense was unusually hard to come by in the opening portions of the matchup, given how fast-paced both teams normally like to play. As the half came to a close, the Bruins were no closer to solving the puzzle on the offensive end. Their 22
points in the first half were the least in a half for the team this season. To compound matters, the Salukis seemed to finally get into the flow of things on offense. SIU headed to the locker room holding on to a 26-22 lead. Belmont came out of the half ready to redeem themselves. Guard Jabez Jenkins tied the game at 34 for the Bruins with 15:04 left in regulation, the first tie since early in the first half. That’s when the lids finally came off the rim for both teams. Saluki guard Isaiah Stafford scored 8 points in the span of 1:21, and the Bruins scored 9 points as a team in almost exactly the same time frame. A layup from forward Prince Aligbe gave SIU a 4443 lead with 11:15 left in the game. After seven lead changes in the first 10 minutes of the second half, Belmont finally settled into holding a lead of their own. The Salukis took the lead back off an Isaiah Stafford fast-break layup to make it 66-65 with 18.6 seconds left. Belmont forward Eoin Dillion replied with a turnaround jumper with 5.9 to go to give the Bruins the lead back. That’s when House made his daring dash and last-second layup to win it 68-67. House was the leading scorer for the Salukis at 15 points. He was joined in double figures by Stafford (14) and Haynes (13). UIC 70, SIU 57 Three days later, for the final game of winter break, the Salukis looked to build on their exciting victory when they traveled to Chicago, Illinois to take on the Illinois-Chicago Flames. UIC walked away with a 70-57 victory over the Salukis, their first victory of the conference season. The loss dropped the Salukis to 2-4 in the MVC. SIU saw the game continue to slip away little by little. The Salukis brought it down to a 1-point game, but a handful of quick turnovers and a 7-0 Flames run put that to bed quickly. UIC came away with a 21-13 lead with 6:17 left until halftime. SIU had finally made some headway, cutting the lead to 8, before guard Damien Mayo Jr. committed a flagrant foul on UIC guard Ahmad Henderson II with 0.6 seconds left in the half, giving the Flames a 31-21 advantage going into the locker room. The Flames extended their lead to 42-27 six minutes into the half, but the Salukis started to claw back as the second half reached the middle stages. SIU finally got within 5 with 2:35 left in the contest on a floater from Mayo. That ended up being the last points of the night for the Salukis. Immediately afterward, UIC got four points on one possession, making the score 66-57 with two minutes remaining. A handful of free throws later, the Flames got to celebrate a 7057 victory on their home floor. The now 8-9 Salukis will host the Drake Bulldogs on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m., inside the Banterra Center. Sports reporter Eli Hoover can be found at ehoover@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @hoovermakesart
Page 6 |Sports
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Gateway to Milan
St. Louis hosts skating championships for first time in 20 years The ice in the Enterprise Center, home to the St. Louis Blues, is usually adorned with hockey nets and pucks, but the arena was filled last weekend with the sequined outfits and daring leaps of U.S. figure skaters all looking to claim a national title and a spot to the 2026 Olympic Games. St. Louis became the gateway to Milan and host to the U.S. Figure Skating Championships for the first time in nearly 20 years. The nearly weeklong event running from Jan. 6 to 11 featured events such as pairs, women and men’s singles and ice dance. Whether singles or pairs, each program consisted of intricate turns, leaps and music that packaged each performance together while spectators watched. At the end of the night on Friday, Jan. 9, skaters Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov earned first place in the pairs program, defending their title from last year and becoming the first pair to repeat since 2014. The pairs program is a discipline in figure skating where male and female skaters perform together in synchronized fashion, combining individual elements with overhead lifts, jumps and more. “You don’t know how it feels to compete as a reigning national champion until you actually do it,” Efimova said in a press conference. “It does
bring extra pressure, it does bring more fire and will to defend that title, really.” However, even with their 207.71 score, a spot on the Olympic team was a low chance for the gold medalists heading into Saturday morning when the team was selected. Efimova is awaiting her American citizenship and doesn’t actively have a U.S. passport, which is required to be nominated to the Olympic team. The team, announced on Sunday, did not include Efimova and Mitrofanov. “To make it to the Olympic team, I couldn’t imagine it, it is a dream and it is still alive,” Efimova said on Friday. “I really hope there is a little chance that it can happen.” This year’s competition also comes just days ahead of the one-year anniversary of the fatal Jan. 29 plane crash in which over a dozen U.S. figure skating coaches and athletes died on board, some from Boston — the city where Efimova and Mitrofanov are members of the Skating Club of Boston. “Since what happened last Jan. 29, I have felt that it’s important to bring that success, to bring a little bit of light with every performance, to bring something good in the moment of difficulties,” Efimova said. “It is very emotional and very important for me.” Friday night, Amber Glenn kneeled on the center of the ice with her hands on her head as a standing ovation roared around the arena.
Glenn took home her third-consecutive national title on Friday night after scoring 233.55. She scored a record-setting 83.05 on Wednesday during the short program, the highest score ever recorded in U.S. championships, breaking the record of now-silver medalist Alysa Liu, who set the record just a few skates before, according to the New York Times. The U.S. women’s figure skating team last brought home a medal in 2006, a 20 year drought that current skaters Glenn, Liu and bronze medalist Isabeau Levito are looking to break. “I think as long as we all stick to what we do best, then we will break that drought,” Glenn said. Ilia Malinin won his fourth-straight U.S. Championship title Saturday night in the men’s free skate, and ice dance pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates clinched the most titles in U.S. history with seven first-place finishes in the ice dance competition. On Sunday, Jan. 11, the 16-man Olympic team was announced consisting of three women, three men, three ice dance teams and two pairs. This Olympic team, created in the home of the Blues, will make their way to Italy for the Games, which begin in less than a month on Feb. 6.
Amber Glenn, with Dallas Figure Skating Club, kneels on the ice while the crowd gives her a standing ovation following her free skate package that earned her a gold medal Jan. 9, 2026.
Left: Danny O’Shea lifts partner Ellie Kam into the air during the pairs free skate Jan. 9, 2026 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
Senior editor Lylee Gibbs can be reached at lgibbs@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @lyleegibbsphoto
Audience members watch from the stands during the women’s free skate Jan. 9, 2026.
Maxim Naumov holds up his necklace at the end of his exhibition performance after being announced to the USA 2026 Olympic Team Jan. 11, 2026.
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Sports | Page 7
Pairs skater Olivia Flores skates past the U.S. Figure Skating logo at center ice Jan. 9, 2026 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
Gold medalists Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, with the Skating Club of Boston, hug during their pairs package Jan. 9, 2026.
Gold medalist Amber Glenn leaps during an exhibition performance after being announced to the USA 2026 Olympic Team Jan. 11, 2026.
Olivia Flores and Luke Wang skate on to the ice before the free skate competition Jan. 9, 2026.
Ice Dance pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates skate in an exhibition performance after being named to the USA 2026 Olympic Team Jan. 11, 2026.
Page 8 | Sports
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Women’s Basketball Winter Break Recap
Salukis get two wins over the holidays, enter second semester at 4-11 Noah Petschke npetschke@dailyegyptian.com
The SIU Women’s Basketball team entered the new year with multiple conference games ahead of them. Looking to head into the new year on the right track, the Salukis would face the Bradley Braves on the road, play host to NAIA Judson and Belmont, and then hit the road again to kickoff 2026 at Drake. Bradley 64, SIU 47 The Salukis opened Missouri Valley Conference play on Dec. 18 with a trip to Bradley. While the SIU defense performed admirably, the Saluki offense found little success, and the Dawgs fell 64-47. SIU found a place on the scoreboard first after a minute of scoreless play with a jumper by Indya Green. Bradley was quick to tie the game as the teams went back and forth. Bradley later made four-straight to lead 8-7, and then sank a 3-pointer to end the first with a three point lead. Much like the first quarter, it took a minute before second quarter scoring began. The teams kept it close until a Bradley run gave them an 18-9 lead with five left in the half. SIU began scoring in the third but Bradley kept the game close. Kraus made a layup and free throw to make it a one-possession game with six left in the quarter. Kayla Cooper made a 3 to give SIU its first lead since the start of the game but the Braves quickly took the lead back. The two teams entered into the final 10 minutes of action at 43-36. Halfway through the fourth quarter, Bradley extended their lead to double digits. However, when SIU cut the lead down, Bradley drove it back up.
Bradley later went on a 8-1 run to close out the game the Salukis took a 64-47 loss to open conference play. Indya Green led the scoring effort for the Salukis, dropping 16 points. Alayna Kraus joined her in double-digits with 11. Karris Allen was the squad’s leading rebounder, snagging five boards. Tkiyah Nelson dished out three assists while swiping two steals. SIU 85, Judson 29 The Salukis hosted NAIA Judson University on Dec. 20 at the Banterra Center and picked up their third win of the season in dominant fashion, defeating the Eagles 85-29. The 55-point win is SIU’s largest margin of victory since the team defeated Chicago State 115-57 on December 1, 2022. The Salukis held Judson to a shocking 1 point during the first quarter, and led 39-8 going into halftime. By the end of the third quarter, the Salukis had extended their lead to 62-16. Judson managed to go 3-3 in the final two minutes, including a threepointer, but that did little to make the score any better, and the Salukis walked away with a 85-29 win. Indya Green and Jeniah Thompson both picked up double-doubles. Green had 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Thompson scored 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Alayna Kraus kept her doubledigit scoring streak alive with 16 points. Kraus has not recorded less than 10 points in any game this year. SIU’s defense was dominant, causing 27 turnovers thanks to 18 steals. The Salukis also had five blocks and held the Eagles to 17.3% shooting from the field. Belmont 68, SIU 56 Coming off of a nine day break over Christmas,
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Women’s Basketball hosted the Bruins of Belmont at home for a Dec. 29 matchup. The Salukis took off early with a 4-0 lead in the first quarter, but Belmont kept the game close after hitting a three to cut the lead. After both teams spent two minutes scoreless, Belmont took their first lead of the game, and later hit five straight to give them a 14-8 lead. Alayna Kraus hit a 3-pointer at the end of the first. The second quarter featured a back and fourth game to start before SIU went on a 5-0 run. Belmont took the lead 25-20 heading into halftime. Belmont entered the half and extended their lead to 29-20 until Jeniah Thompson and Kraus cut into the Belmont lead. The teams traded buckets until Belmont earned 11 consecutive points. SIU’s Karris Allen kicked SIU off in the fourth with a layup, but Belmont maintained a substantial lead through the quarter. Kraus made a 4-0 run to cut the gap to 12 points, but Belmont put the game away and handed SIU a 68-56 loss. Alayna Kraus kept her double-digit points streak ending the game with 20, and Kayla Cooper joined her in double-digits with 10. Indya Green led the team with 7 rebounds. Drake 89, SIU 75 To bring in the new year, the Salukis traveled to Des Moines, Iowa, to play the Drake Bulldogs on Jan. 2 to start off 2026. The first two quarters of the game were back and forth, with SIU taking a tight 1-point lead into the second half. A few back-to-back buckets gave Drake an early 8-4 lead, but jumpers from Alayna Kraus and Tkiyah Nelson allowed the Dawgs to tie things up. The second quarter went back and forth, SIU eventually extending their lead to eight. Drake made a few baskets to close the gap, and a Bulldog three gave Drake a late lead towards the end of the quarter. Kraus sent the Salukis into halftime up 40-39 with a buzzerbeating layup. The strong Bulldogs’ defense held the Salukis back and allowed Drake to take control of the final two quarters. The Bulldogs sailed ahead on a 9-0 run early in the third. Drake built a lead up to 12 in the fourth but SIU brought the game back within 10 points. Despite double-doubles from forward Indya Green and guard Jeniah Thompson, the offensive struggles and relentless Drake defense would hold the Salukis back and take the first game of 2026 by a score of 8975. UNI 91, SIU 64 After a loss to Drake, the Salukis stayed on the road and made a short trip across the state of Iowa to face the University of Northern Iowa to face the Panthers on Jan. 4. This matchup proved to be less favorable for the Dawgs as they were ambushed and outscored early, the Panthers outscoring SIU by nearly double in every quarter but the fourth. The teams started even at the beginning, UNI taking a 5-4 lead early, but the Panthers extended their lead to 14-4 after going on a 9-0 run. SIU went on a 6-point spree but the quarter ended with a last-second Panther score all while the shots were not falling for the Salukis, SIU down 47-26 at halftime. SIU came out of the half with a large margin to erase, but the strong Panther offense persisted and outscored the Salukis by 15 points in the third quarter, taking the game 70-32 with 1:36 left in the quarter. While the offense and defense both clicked in the fourth quarter, the large lead established by UNI was too much for SIU to overcome. UNI continued to add on their points but the Salukis went on an impressive 17-0 run to lessen the deficit. The clock stopped with the score at 91-64. Evansville 75, SIU 70 After two consecutive losses in Iowa, the Salukis
looked for a fresh start as they hosted the Purple Aces of Evansville on Jan. 8 at home. The intense first quarter was just a taste of the drama that this matchup would bring. Although the 3-pointers were not falling for SIU, the Dawgs dominated the interior game by scoring 18 of their 21 points in the paint throughout the first quarter. Forward Indya Green and guard Tkiyah Nelson each knocked down a pair of baskets, leading the way to a 21-19 SIU advantage after the first. Looking to build upon the lead, guard Jeniah Thompson filled up the stat sheet and led SIU to a short run, jumping out to an eight-point advantage. Her efficient shooting and paint presence allowed her to score 6 points on 75% shooting and grab 6 rebounds in nine minutes. The Aces would quickly erase that lead with an 8-0 run, tying the game at 32 points apiece with the clock winding down. As the second half began, the Salukis’ shooting struggles persisted. Thompson and guard Kayla Cooper fueled the SIU offense with 4 points each. The shots were not falling for SIU, and Evansville took advantage and claimed a lead with impressive offensive splits. A pair of Aces’ free throws allowed them to enter the final quarter with a 3-point lead. Adding to her impressive performance, Thompson put up another 6 points in the fourth quarter, keeping the game close and getting the crowd on its feet. Green and guard Karris Allen each posted 5 points in the quarter as well, getting the SIU offense back to form. With the clock winding down and facing a three-point deficit, the Salukis would turn the ball over in a crucial moment, allowing the Aces to secure a victory. SIU 97, Valparaiso 59 Searching for the first conference victory, the Salukis welcomed the Beacons of Valparaiso University to the Banterra Center on Jan. 10. Immediately, the Dawgs looked determined to secure a win. Shots were falling left and right, tough defense was applied and SIU dominated the rebound category. The Salukis’ dominant night kicked off with guard Jeniah Thompson stealing the ball and knocking down a dazzling and-1 layup. SIU took the lead at 5-4 and never looked back. Forward Indya Green and guard Alayna Kraus contributed heavily to the 27-point scoring barrage in the first quarter with multiple buckets from each of them. The Salukis were able to shake off the shooting troubles from the previous game and light up the rim with 12 made field goals in the first quarter alone. The remarkable display allowed SIU to coast to a 27-13 lead going into the second. The second quarter came, and the Salukis’ shooting spree was still on. Green appeared unguardable, draining field goals and free throws with ease. The Beacons were not ready to give up hope as they put up 21 points in the second quarter, limiting the damage. The third quarter was underway, and Thompson was still rebounding and scoring with great efficiency. With seven minutes remaining in the quarter, the Salukis were up 60-40, and stopped the Beacons from tallying up any further points for the next five minutes. The fourth quarter began, and guard Kayla Cooper continued her solid performance by dropping in a few points, keeping the game out of reach of the Beacons. The Salukis outscored the Beacons for the fourth consecutive quarter, this time by a margin of eight points, leading SIU to a comfortable 97-59 victory. Thompson finished with a 25-point, 14-rebound double-double and played strong defense, tallying four steals. SIU is now 4-11 overall and 1-5 in conference play. The Salukis will take the court next on Thursday, Jan. 15, to face off against Murray State at the Banterra Center in Carbondale. Sports reporter Noah Petschke can be reached at npetschke@dailyegyptian.com
Entertainment and Culture | Page 9
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Meet the DE’s faculty editor Eli Hoover ehoover@dailyegyptian.com
When Carbondale, Illinois transplant Alee Quick was asked how she has time to be the faculty editor at The Daily Egyptian, an instructor at Southern Illinois University, and the “Trivia Lady” at local bar PK’s in addition to her full time job as Director of Community Engagement at News Literacy Project, she had a very simple answer: “I hate to have any downtime. I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” While in the present day Quick is buried in work, that wasn’t always the case. After graduating from the prestigious University of Missouri School of Journalism in 2011, job offers were hard to come by. “When I was graduating and getting ready to look for a job in 2011, nothing had really come through,” Quick said. After months of searching on the job market and getting rejected from graduate school, she posted on Facebook to search for an opportunity. One finally arrived in the form of Emriver Inc. in Carbondale. An old neighbor had seen Quick’s post and told Quick to send a resume in to the company. “I sent him a resume, we talked, I came down (to Carbondale) for a job interview and ended up getting hired there as their creative director,” Quick said. Quick continued at Emriver for three years before life circumstances pulled her away. “I ended up relocating to Colorado, my partner at the time, now husband, got a job at Rocky Mountain National Park and I was like, ‘can I come too?’,” she continued. The two only stayed in Colorado six months. His job was seasonal and Carbondale was beckoning Quick to come back. She was in Colorado for such a short amount of time that she had yet to update her resume. The Southern Illinoisan was looking for a digital editor, and Quick seemed like the perfect fit. “They reached out to me and they were like, ‘you’re in Carbondale, your resume looks pretty interesting… would you want to apply for this?’ “ Quick explained. “And I said ‘yeah, actually I’m in Colorado, but I am really interested.’ ” Quick would go on to have what she called “the best six years of my career” at The Southern Illinoisan, rising all the way to lead editor under the tutelage of award-winning journalists such as current
Alee Quick Daily Egyptian Faculty Managing Editor
SIU professor Molly Parker-Stephens and Tom English. The COVID pandemic and a frustration regarding how staffing cuts were handled led her to yet again take a leap of faith and look for something somewhere else. It wasn’t long before she found her current fulltime job at News Literacy Project. “That was another lucky break,” Quick said, “I stumbled upon their website one day and asked ‘what’s this about’ went to the about section, then team, then careers, and saw ‘oh civic marketing manager! They want someone with a mix of journalism and marketing background? My entire resume is built for this job.” It was so perfect in fact, that she got promoted to her current position of Director of Community Engagement only a year after starting at News Literacy Project. Quick explained News Literacy Project as “A nonprofit, national education program. We help educators, primarily K-12 educators, incorporate news literacy and media literacy into their curriculum.”
The News Literacy Project doesn’t stop there, either. They make sure parents are understanding what their kids are getting taught as well, and that’s where Quick steps in. “My part of all of that is, students are learning this stuff in the classroom, how can we get students to learn this also outside the classroom,” Quick continued. “So that’s where families come in. I write, along with a colleague, a monthly newsletter that’s meant for parents and caregivers that’s about AI, social media, algorithms, journalism and how do we find credible information?” Quick also partners with community centers and public libraries through the News Literacy Project to make sure they’re equipped to help kids handle the everchanging world of consuming news. Then another opportunity came along. In August of 2024 Quick got asked if she would like to be the interim faculty editor of The Daily Egyptian, Southern Illinois University’s student-run newspaper. “The leadership at the School of Journalism and Advertising needed someone to fill in on an interim basis until they could fill the position permanently. Originally, I was like ‘yeah it’s just interim, it’s just temporary,’” Quick said. It took only one semester for everyone involved to realize Quick was the perfect person to fill the role permanently. Daily Egyptian senior editor Lylee Gibbs, who’s also a senior at SIU, said she may have been the most excited out of anybody. “There was such a tremendous improvement in the newspaper the first semester that I knew that her staying here long term was going to be great,” Gibbs said. “I was on the search committee that hired Alee,” Gibbs continued. “There were some other people that had applied for the position but obviously we loved Alee and what she had already been doing and so it was clear as day the job was hers.” Quick wasn’t the only new person on staff at The Daily Egyptian. Just about everyone else was as well. “Our accountant was also new around that time and shortly thereafter we also got our business manager so the thing is, August 2024 until later in the winter, things were really up in the air,” Quick said.
Gibbs was new to her position as editor-in-chief as well. Gibbs credits them going through everything together for being why they’re so close now. “It was stressful in the beginning so I’m sure that helped make us closer. It was a lot of learning curves in the beginning so that helped bring us closer,” Gibbs said. Quick realizes that while The Daily Egyptian is classified as a campus newspaper, the paper’s outreach is much further than that. “It’s a community newspaper at the end of the day,” Quick said. “I mentioned before that The Southern had experienced some cuts. They have new owners now, they have some great editors, their new owners have invested a little more in the paper but their staff is still smaller than it’s ever been. The Carbondale Times also got purchased by another company. The media landscape around here has changed. As a result, that has left some opportunities for publications like The Daily Egyptian to step up and be more of a community newspaper as well.” When asked what one thing Quick has taught her, Gibbs said she’s made her a better leader. “I think Alee has helped me become a better leader,” Gibbs said. “There are a lot of things she’s helped me with, just like when I’m confused and don’t know what to do. There are things I’ve never experienced before like being a leader and having to guide every desk on a staff. Sometimes it’s really confusing and I feel like I know now, there are some things I don’t have to ask her, and it’s because she’s helped to guide me in the leadership aspect.” Riley Sembler, one of Quick’s students and also a photographer at The Daily Egyptian, mentioned that Quick can sometimes drop useful things like that at the drop of a hat. “She adds little snippets in the DE meetings that are really valuable and helpful,” Sembler said. “She helps us become better.” If there’s a door that’s opening, chances are Alee Quick has already bursted through it, and now she’s taking the next generation of journalists with her. Editor’s note: This story was produced for JRNL 310: Writing for the Mass Media Sports reporter Eli Hoover can be found at ehoover@ dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @hoovermakesart
Booby’s hosts Open Mic Comedy Night Will Elliott welliot@dailyegyptian.com
A dozen people fill an empty bar in the cover of night. Some hang around the bar, grabbing a drink with close friends and talking with the waitress, while others go through their phones, rehearsing for the performance they are about to give. One man stands up and walks towards the stage, grabs the microphone, tapping it a few times before saying the starting words in an announcer’s voice. “Alrighty, everyone, who’s ready for some comedy!” Booby’s Bar and Sandwich hosts a stand-up comedy open mic every first and third week of the month in Carbondale, Illinois, at 8:00 p.m. The open mic sees community members from Carbondale and surrounding towns come together and joke around for an hour and a half. Comedians who participate in the open mic joke about community issues, politics, work and relationships. Yet, that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what these comedians bring to the mic. Like every good stand-up set, there’s an opening setup and a twist before you get into the story. A year after Booby’s reopened in 2024, Carbondale City Council Member
Nathan Colombo started Booby’s open mic night, intending to create a stand-up laboratory. He wanted comedians to come to Carbondale to test out new material before heading out into the southern Illinois comedy scene. This dream, however, was passed on after Colombo was elected to the City Council. The rest of the story is still being written every other Wednesday, headlined by Tom Kremer, current emcee of the standup mic. Kremer is one of the original members of Booby’s Open Mic Night, who thanks comedy podcasts for how he got to be a stand-up comedian. “I hate to do it, but I’ve got to hand it to podcasts,” Kremer joked. “I’ve got into comedy podcasts, standard comedians, where they’re telling jokes and goofing around.” After a bit of listening to comedy podcasts and comedy show “Kill Tony,” Kremer decided to give stand-up a try at Booby’s. “I went a couple times just to watch and listen before I got up on stage,” Kremer said. “Eventually, I just wrote down what I thought were my best, roughly eight minutes, got up there, told my jokes, and got off (the stage).” A lot of the jokes Kremer makes are directed at modern-day American politics.
For example, he would make jokes about the current status of the Epstein files while also taking a slippery slide at convicted rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs. “Venting about politics and the crazy ways of the world is definitely a big part of why I needed to get up there,” Kremer said. “I needed to get some of it off my chest.” Comedy has always been the backbone of political commentary. Political cartoons, “Saturday Night Live’s” Weekend Update and The Onion are all examples of political satire, the sub-genre of comedy where people rip into modern-day politics. Unfortunately, the protection of this category is starting to be threatened. Earlier this year, comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who hosts “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, had his show pulled from the air and suspended for commenting on the death of Charlie Kirk. Months before, Stephen Colbert, host of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” had his show canceled mid-session because of his criticism of President Donald Trump. Satire and political commentary are protected under the First Amendment of the United States as long as the person who is speaking does not cross the line and threaten, or call for the harm of an individual. During stand-up night at Booby’s, this line is enforced by Dan
Akron, the main comedian in charge of the operation. “There are things that the First Amendment protects that wouldn’t be comfortable or wouldn’t be at home (in a stand-up set),” Akron said. “ Comedy has a whole lot of surprise and a whole lot of offensive language in it.” Free speech plays a large role in a comedian’s ability to tell jokes. “As concerns free speech, we are the canaries in the coal mine because we’re the first ones to get singled out if somebody’s going to try to kill the First Amendment,” Akron said. “People need to laugh, it’s a blowoff valve.” Stand-up comedy is not all about complaining and talking about your issues; comedians have to throw in jokes, as well. Steve Wiech, a regular at Booby’s open mic, said for him, it’s all about the jokes. “No, I don’t think comedy should be venting at all, I think it’s all about jokes,” Wiech said. “I want everyone to have a good time and if I’m just telling people about my problems, then I think I’m ruining their day; I want to be as silly as possible.” Akron helps teach new comedians who show interest in stand-up comedy. He always teaches people where the “do-notcross line” is because his comedy is meant
to make people uncomfortable. “I like to connect with the audience and make them a little on edge, just slightly uncomfortable with their own comfort zone,” Akron said. The comfort zone for stand-up comedy has been expanding over the years. More and more people stand up and give it a try, especially in southern Illinois. “There’s stand-up all over the place, and it’s popping up in different venues because we don’t have a comedy club,” Akron said. “There’s pop-up comedy clubs in bars, in event venues, libraries, in the basement of the Student Center, house parties, there’s the stand-up comedy scene in southern Illinois, it’s a lot richer than a lot of people think.” Every first and third Wednesday of the month, people can find Booby’s Bar and Sandwich, lightly crowded with stand-up comics ready to perform. They may stand up and tell jokes about politics or just tell jokes to grab a beer with their friends, but they still are standing up for what they believe in the most: laughter. Editor’s note: This story was produced for JRNL 310: Writing for the Mass Media Staff Reporter Will Elliott can be reached at welliott@dailyegyptian.com or at Booby’s stand up comedy night drinking lemon water.
Page 10 | Entertainment and Culture
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 REVIEW
‘People We Meet on Vacation’ is a love letter to rom-coms, but it’s not quite sealed
Carly Gist cgist@dailyegyptian.com
So “Stranger Things” is over and you’re looking for a reason to renew your Netflix subscription. Allow me to introduce you to the movie that’s making rom-coms cool again: “People We Meet on Vacation.” Maybe you haven’t found your soulmate at an Illinois college. But best friends Poppy Wright and Alex Nilsen did, 10 years ago, at the University of Chicago. Or at least they did in the international bestselling novel by Emily Henry. In the movie, the meet-cute shifts east to Boston College. See, I’m what you’d call a “book purist.” I believe, deep in my bones, that movie adaptations should be faithful to their source material. To be fully transparent, I only finished the book a few days before it came out, so I’m not a die-hard Henry fan. But I did rate it five stars on Goodreads, so trust me when I say that, despite its changes, the film version of “People We Meet on Vacation” captures the heart of original story: the yearning of two polar opposites, the humor that ensues and the idea that your soulmate is the person you can truly be yourself around. It’s director Brett Haley’s
understanding of this that allows the adaptation to feel like a fresh change of scenery rather than losing your luggage at baggage claim — and it starts with Boston College. Sure, it’s a small adjustment on paper, but it’s not meaningless. First, Boston is a longer
Puzzle Answers
drive to the characters’ hometown of Linfield, Ohio, so it creates space for new adventures to bloom. Second, it spares Henry’s homage to rom-com classic “When Harry Met Sally” without becoming a word-for-word imitation. “People We Meet on Vacation” doesn’t rely on nostalgia, but it doesn’t shy away from it either. In a way, that’s what makes it successful. Like Harry and Sally, Poppy and Alex prove opposites attract. Poppy is constantly on the move, Alex craves stability, and yet their dynamic works. During a trip to Canada, the duo makes a pact that wherever they are in the world, they’ll unite every summer for a weeklong vacation. It’s a tradition they keep up for a decade, until a trip to Croatia — sorry, Tuscany — ends in disaster. Now, two years later, the two are reuniting for Alex’s brother’s destination wedding, but the feelings they’ve been harboring won’t stay repressed for long. The movie spans 12 years of will-theywon’t-they moments. And even though you can probably guess what the answer to that timeless question is, you’ll still find yourself alternating between kicking your feet and scolding the protagonists for being too stubborn. I wish I could give you some big statistics of how the movie performed at the box office, but thanks to the streaming service craze, it didn’t get a
theatrical release. Still, it’s off to a strong start. It debuted at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and currently sits at No. 1 on Netflix’s Top 10 Movies Watched. Plus, the marketing team is doing a pretty good job. I saw Poppy and Alex on X-ray bins at the O’Hare airport. Netflix struck gold with its casting, although the script doesn’t always allow the stars to shine. Emily Bader, an upand-coming talent, breathes life into Poppy — the bubbly, insecure travel writer who narrates the book. Henry herself has identified Poppy as a character that could be considered insufferable, but Bader, with her perfect comedic timing and effortless charm, makes Poppy the protagonist you can’t help but root for. Tom Blyth (as in “The Hunger Games” franchise’s young President Snow, yes) takes a quiet approach to Alex, a logicbased English teacher. His performance is subtle but not mundane, and it contrasts nicely with Bader’s portrayal. Their chemistry, as best friends and as lovers, is through the roof. But as individuals, there’s something missing. As I mentioned before, the movie mostly succeeds at preserving the book’s core. With less than two hours to portray nearly 400 pages, it combines highlights of separate trips into one and transports dialogue to new places. The transitions between summers of present and past are
smooth and clever, and the timeline is labeled with the book cover’s font. But in translation from page to screen, the story loses the very thing that sets Henry’s book apart from others in the genre: the nuance of her characters. There’s a nod to Poppy’s and Alex’s backstories. Early in the movie, we learn that Poppy was bullied in school and Alex lost his mother at a young age. But we don’t learn that Poppy’s parents were hoarders, that the friends and partners she introduced to her family ended up leaving her. Or that Alex’s mom died during childbirth — an event that caused his father to fall apart and forced Alex to take care of his brothers at just 6 years old. These are details that drive the character’s actions and set them up for powerful arcs. Without it, they just feel watered down, like the cliches you’d expect from any other rom-com. The choice is a setback, but not a failure. The movie still earns its heartfelt moments. It knows just when to make you laugh and when to make you cry. The creative team works within their budget to create realistic destinations, and the color grading sets Poppy and Alex’s story against a warm, vivid backdrop. The soundtrack bridges generations, featuring tunes from the likes of Taylor Swift and boygenius to Nat King Cole and Paula Abdul. “People We Meet on Vacation” is the best book-to-movie adaptation I’ve seen in a long time. Sure, it needed more room to breathe and develop its characters, but — for the most part — it honors Henry’s work while creating new adventures for the characters that readers love so dearly. (I’d even argue the ending is better, but I’ll let you decide for yourself.) And in an era where critics are constantly suggesting the genre is dead, it makes for a pretty solid rom-com. If you’re a hopeless romantic looking to restore your faith in love, a wanderluster looking for a cure to travel blues or just a movie fanatic looking for something fun, book your tickets to see “People We Meet on Vacation.” Or, I guess in this case, fire up Netflix and enjoy the ride — turbulence and all. Overall Rating: 7.5/10 Editor-in-chief Carly Gist can be reached at cgist@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @gistofthestory.
Entertainment and Culture | Page 11
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Southern Illinois resident fights fears for family on Fox TV show Will Elliot welliot@dailyegyptian.com
Fear always finds a way to keep us up at night — it hisses and wraps around our minds like a snake, raising our heartbeats and paralyzing us in a cold sweat. We may always wake up safe and sound and return to our sleep, but for one southern Illinois resident, he woke up and faced his fears head-on for his family. Zachary Nelson, a Benton native, is set to star on Fox’s new series “Fear Factor: House of Fear” premiering on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2025 and streaming the next day on Hulu. The series is a reboot of the popular “Fear Factor” TV show, which was originally produced by NBC and hosted by Joe Rogan. The show aims to put contestants through extreme challenges and competitions for a cash prize. In Fox’s version of “Fear Factor,” 14 contestants compete for $200,000 in extreme, high-risk challenges while living under the same roof. The show, in theory, almost feels like a hybrid between reality TV and the original NBC “Fear Factor.” Yet, for Nelson, the
show felt much different. “This show is like ‘Fear Factor’ on steroids,” Nelson said in an interview with the Daily Egyptian. Nelson has lived in Benton, Illinois, since he was in the fourth grade. He grew up watching comedian and host of “Fear Factor: House of Fear” Johnny Knoxville in shows such as “Jackass” and fell in love with Knoxville’s humor. Nelson’s mother, Elise Nelson, recalls her son’s love for Knoxville. “That was something they were really into,” she said of Nelson and his younger brother. “They just thought it was funny, and it was just different.” In 2019, Nelson worked as a machine operator at Gateway North Coal Mine in Coulterville, Illinois. To pass the time, he would tell stories to his co-workers. Dan “Curly” Summers would sit back and laugh. “We were crying (laughing),” Summers said. “(His stories) passed the time real good.” A few years later, Summers got a call from Nelson, asking for help breaking into the entertainment business. In
the past, Summers auditioned to be on reality TV and was also a stand-up comedian in Los Angeles and in the southern Illinois region. He also is an independent wrestler who once had covered his body in tattoos of Curly from “The Three Stooges”. Summers helped Nelson audition for Netflix’s “Squid Game The Challenge” and CBS “Big Brother.” “He got into the Top 20, but he didn’t make it,” Summers said. “He’s doing the footwork, sending his tapes out, talking to the right people, trying to bust into the entertainment business.” The casting agents on “Big Brother” loved him, and told Nelson they would “throw his name around.” Three years later, Nelson was pulled into his boss’ office. He learned he had lost his job. “He was upset,” Elise Nelson said. ”Zach has a daughter (named) Kennedy (who is) 10, so that hits home to him because when you lose your pay and your job, you worry about how you’re going to pay your bills (and) how
you’re going to buy your daughter’s stuff.” The same day he was let go from work, Zach Nelson got a call from an unrecognized number. He said he never answers phone calls from unknown people, but in the heat of the moment, he took a chance. ”They’re like, ‘Hey, this is so-and-so from Fear Factor, and we want you to be on the show,’” Nelson said. If Nelson were down inside the coal mine, he would never have received that call due to there being no cell service in the mine. Nelson also, up to that point, did not check his voicemail for numbers he did not recognize. “I’m like, ‘OK, yeah, I’m interested,’ and they’re like, ‘No, for real, if you’re interested, we’re going to send you plane tickets,’” Nelson said. “I’m like, OK, you know, I’ve been scammed before, this is a really good legit scam.” A week later, he was on a plane to Canada to film “Fear Factor: House of Fear.” At the time, the host of the show was not revealed to either the cast or the world. When the news broke, Elise
Nelson immediately called her son. “Zach, I go, you’re not going to believe this, it’s Johnny Knoxville,” she said. Zach Nelson was thrilled to finally meet his childhood hero. “I watched him in all the ‘Jackasses,’ and then, when you’re walking up those steps, and you just see him standing there with his s----eating grin on his face, I was like a deer in the headlights,” Nelson said. Filming started in late August, and Nelson moved into the house with 13 other competitors. Though a $200,000 prize loomed, all Nelson could focus on was his daughter. “Honestly, I didn’t even care about the money,” Nelson said. ”My biggest thing was like, my daughter was so proud, so in my head I don’t want to chicken out.” Many people “chicken out” when it comes to facing fears, but Nelson faced his fears for his world to see. Staff reporter Will Elliott can be reached at welliott@dailyegyptian.com
Civic Center introduces live music before City Council meetings Yahri Edmond yedmond@dailyegyptian.com
Stepping into the Carbondale Civic Center on Tuesday night, the first thing you hear is the warm, vibrant music of local musicians filling the space. The city launched a new initiative on Dec. 9 that brings live music to the public before each City Council meeting. The series, called Civic Sessions, aims to highlight the city’s diverse music scene while encouraging greater community engagement. The inaugural performance
featured SIU School of Music Professor William Cernota, playing the cello, and student Vincent Jones, who played the contrabass. For both musicians, the Civic Center offered a great musical environment, they said. “The acoustics are wonderful for string instruments,” Cernota said. “It was the first time for us, but we really enjoyed it, and the people seemed to appreciate it.” Jones echoed the sentiment, noting the intimacy of the setup. “I really liked how the audience
was positioned… it felt very nice and connected to play for people,” Jones said. The Civic Sessions were introduced by Council Member Dawn Roberts on July 8. and approved by the full council. City staff member Eva Fisher, who now coordinates the series, said the idea is meant to create a welcoming atmosphere and reflect the city’s artistic vibrancy. “This is a new initiative of having a free concert series before each City Council meeting,” Fisher said. “It’s a chance to highlight what a rich,
diverse music scene we have here in Carbondale.” Cernota said he hopes to involve more musicians from SIU, noting that the 30-minute format makes participation accessible. “People should be willing to portray what they can do on a regular basis,” Cernota said. “I want to promote it with the School of Music at SIU and get other people involved.” Fisher said performers have already shown enthusiasm for the new project.
“I’m just so grateful… we have a really collaborative, cooperative music scene here in Carbondale,” Fisher said. With plans to feature students, faculty and community musicians, Fisher said she hopes Civic Sessions will become a long-term addition to city meetings, blending arts and civic life in a way that reflects Carbondale’s creative identity. Staff reporter Yahri Edmond can be reached at yedmond@dailyegyptian.com
William Cernota and Vincent Jones stand for applause on Tuesday, Dec. 9 after performing in the inaugural Civic Sessions concert at the Carbondale Civic Center. Amilia I. Estrada | @aestrada@dailyegyptian.com
Page 12 | Puzzles
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
PUZZLE PAGE
Across 1. Concert appearance 4. Dirty 9. Cooking meas. 13. 100 square meters 14. Contradiction 16. Chief Hawaiian island 17. Short for the least 18. Tennis great --- Gonzales 19. Tax 20. Applications 22. Tap’s partner 23. Hoop dunk 25. Added for free 27. About this size 28. Surrounded by 30. Subject of spectacular bankruptcy case 33. Very similar to 35. Flashy 37. Tokyo Yoko 38. The Pobble had none 39. Engender 41. One of four 42. “You’ve Got Mail” company 43. “The hour --- hand”: St Matthew’s Gospel 44. Dangerous feats 46. G W T W’s --- Butler 48. Green, blotchy frog type 50. Toque wearers 52. To do with plants 55. A machine’s productive hours 57. Honorific title in India 58. --- of the above 59. Happy feline rumble 60. Letters, these days 63. Of a thing 64. Surrounded by 65. I’m sorry --- you waiting 66. “The sloeblack, slow, black, crowblack, fishingboat-bobbing ---” (Dylan Thomas) 67. Egg holders 68. Peter Pan’s pal 69. Blunder Down 1. Complete range 2. Whiskey choice 3. Thomas Edison was once a director of it 4. National economic indicator 5. State of preparedness
Sponsored by
*answers on page 10
6. Baseball segment 7. Clickers or squeakers 8. Expression of derision 9. Add as a bonus 10. Hi-fi is not supposed to suffer from it 11. Card dispenser 12. Golfing short shot 15. Gray wolf 21. 18-wheelers 24. Sleeping 26. Stir-fryer 27. Pack 29. Election list 31. That show’s going to be --- 9 pm 32. Silently indicates assent 33. State emblem on Old Glory 34. Expression of amazement 36. Pristine 40. Chums 41. Holy book of Islam 43. Agenda topic 45. Make lace 47. Musical intervals 49. “1984” antagonist 51. Bases
53. Bury 54. Hotelier --- Ritz 55. Poisonous Javanese tree 56. Catamountain 57. Japanese rice wine 61. Cut 62. Intelligence officer
Gus Says: I wish the designers would draw me better.
*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.
Weekly Event Calendar
January
Your guide to upcoming local events over the next 7 days!
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WED
THURS
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Hangar 9 Carbondale
Booby’s Carbondale
Hangar 9 Carbondale
Booby’s Carbondale
Little Nashville Marion
Open deck competition and dollar night, 8 p.m.
Karaoke, 8:30 p.m.
Southern Grit, 8 p.m.
Weiner Hard Launch: King John and The Jesters, Wieners Gone Wild, Dracula Johnson, 10 p.m.
Open Mic Night: Tom Harness, 6 p.m.
Starview Cobden
PK’s Carbondale
Hangar 9 Carbondale
Wines, vines and hanging designs, 1 p.m.
Open Mic Night, Free, 7 p.m.
PK’s (21+) Carbondale Trivia, 8 p.m. Booby’s Carbondale Local band benefit night: Pet Mosquito, Burgers Gone Wild, and thee Ultraviolets, 8 p.m.
Hawthorne Art Carbondale Hey Neighborino comedy and storytelling open mic, 7 p.m.
Hangar 9 Carbondale Pleasure Petrol w/ Thee Ultravioletes, King John and The Jesters and Spillway, 8 p.m.
Little Nashville Marion Kasey Lee, 6 p.m.
PK’s Carbondale Haizefiend, 10 p.m.
Booby’s Carbondale Y’all Rock Gear Drive: Spillway, Mom Van, Oops All Opps, Bunni, 9 p.m.
Alto Vineyards Alto Pass Open Mic, 5:30 p.m.
Brews Brothers Murphysboro Trivia, 8 p.m.
Little Nashville Marion Uncle John Wilcox, 6 p.m.
Polar bear plunge in the beer garden, 1 p.m. Latin Night: Clasicó, 7 p.m. Latin Night: Perreo polar, 9 p.m.
Hangar 9 Carbondale No events listed.
Karaoke, Free - 8 p.m.
Want to see your event here? Email
editor@dailyegyptian.com.
Starview Cobden Bj Reach, 3 p.m. Little Nashville Marion Aaron R. Smith 6 p.m.
For more events check out our website www.dailyegyptian.com