Galesburg's Morning News

Knox College Professor Robert Geraci and Professor Gabriele Trovato from Japan's Shibaura Institute of Technology share insights on theomorphic robots in the "Robots, Rights, and Rites" series. Trovato, born and raised in Italy, describes his work blending faith and technology, including SanTO, the world's first Catholic robot for prayer and spiritual reflection inspired by sacred art and theology...

On this episode of Galesburg's Morning News, City Manager Eric Hanson joins host Jay Redfern to preview the Feb. 2, 2026, City Council meeting and update on major city projects. Hanson describes the agenda as "pretty routine," continuing infrastructure work and finalizing previously discussed items. Key agenda items include honoring the retirement of K9 Officer Zeus (who will be donated to his han...

Tammy Nelson, LPN and Communicable Disease Coordinator, and Erin Olson, Director of Public Health Information and Community Engagement at the Knox County Health Department, join us on Galesburg's Morning News to provide a full update on the current respiratory illness season in Knox County. While Illinois is reporting one of its worst flu seasons in more than 15 years, local data in Knox County sh...

In this episode of Galesburg's Morning News, WGIL's Tyler Gumm interviews Adam Seaney, director of the Galesburg Area Vocational Center, along with students McKenzie Goff, Araceli Chavez, Elan Baggott and Caleb Claeys. Seaney provides an overview of the first semester's successes, including the expanded Health Occupations program where all 40 students passed their final exam and a projected 95% fi...

Knox College is bringing two prominent thinkers—progressive intellectual Cornel West and conservative scholar Robert P. George—to Galesburg for a public conversation on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. at Central Congregational Church. The event, hosted by the Etz Family Institute for Civic Leadership and Dialogue, explores how to disagree fruitfully in a time of deep division. On this episode of Gale...

On this episode of Galesburg’s Morning News, new Knox College head football coach Adam Gonzaga joins WGIL's Jay Redfern to discuss taking over the Prairie Fire program. Gonzaga, the 32nd head coach in program history, brings more than 30 years of college coaching experience, including stops at Stanford, the Naval Academy, and Lake Forest College, where his defense helped win a Midwest Conference t...

On this episode of Galesburg’s Morning News, meteorologist Chris Geelhart from the National Weather Service Central Illinois Office in Lincoln discusses the expansive arctic blast and winter storm system affecting Galesburg and a large part of the country. Early Friday morning, temperatures in Galesburg dropped to minus 11 degrees with wind chills reaching minus 34 degrees, prompting most area sch...

On this morning’s Galesburg’s Morning News, Laurie Aten with Give Back, Galesburg previews tonight’s (Thursday, Jan. 22) Gold Out girls basketball game at John Thiel Gym. The Streaks host Sterling with sophomore tip-off at 5:30 p.m. and varsity at 7 p.m. Proceeds support the Kleine Pediatric Wellness Center and its programs for youth health, including Hands-Only CPR training in high school classes...

On this episode of Galesburg’s Morning News, Andy Crawford, Managing Director of the Music Performance Program at Knox College, joins John Raymond and Sean Carey—co-leaders of the band Shadowlands—to preview the 13th Annual Jerome Mirza Jazz Residency. Funded by the Jerome Mirza Foundation, the week-long program brings world-class artists to campus and the Galesburg community for workshops, rehear...

In this Galesburg's Morning News segment, Chairman Steve Watts of the Knox County Mental Health (708) Board joins the show to detail the board's work funding local services for mental health, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and substance use. Established via 2017 referendum (after the 1964 state law), the board levies a 0.15 per $100 property tax, projecting $1.7 million in revenue for th...

Kara Downin, Resource Conservationist for Knox County Soil and Water Conservation District, joins Galesburg’s Morning News to preview upcoming events and programs. The conversation covers the open house and director election on Wednesday, Jan. 21, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the IDOA Conservation Seminars on Jan. 27 in Sycamore and Jan. 28 in Mt. Vernon, the newly released spring newsletter, and ope...

City Manager Eric Hanson joins Galesburg’s Morning News to preview tonight's City Council agenda and discuss key initiatives for the new year. The conversation covers traffic safety ordinances (stop signs and school-hour parking), the reapplication for a Federal-State Partnership grant for South Street railroad underpass planning, and the proposed TIF agreement with Judy's Kitchen LLC for a downto...

Maury Lyon, a long-time member of the organizing committee, joins Galesburg's Morning News to preview the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Community Celebration Breakfast on Monday, January 19, at The Ascent Church, 169 S. Cherry St., in Galesburg. The event brings the community together for a meaningful observance of Dr. King's life and legacy, focusing on reflection and fellowship rather than c...

Sarah Smith, the new executive director of the Galesburg Tourism & Visitors Bureau, joins Galesburg's Morning News with WGIL's Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm, along with board vice president Denise Gerstenberger to discuss her plans for the organization's next chapter. Starting in January 2026 after leading placemaking and tourism efforts in Clinton, Iowa, Smith brings a fresh perspective focused on m...

In this episode of Galesburg's Morning News, WGIL's Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm speak with Galesburg native Don O'Brien, Regional Director for the Better Business Bureau's Quincy office, about staying safe from fraud in 2026. Online shopping fraud remains the most reported scam for the sixth straight year, while romance, investment, and government impersonation schemes continue to target consumers...

Kristi Mustain (Board President of the Galesburg Public Schools Foundation), Zach Maher (event emcee and GPSF board member), and Jeff Ewing (Galesburg Jr./Sr. High School Principal) join Galesburg's Morning News to preview the 2nd Annual "Super" Steak Fry. The event is Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at The Vault in downtown Galesburg (doors open at 5 p.m.). Tickets are $75 each (i...

Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm reveal the top 10 most listened-to Galesburg's Morning News interviews of 2025, based on replays on wgil.com (online listens only). The countdown features community favorites like the viral Galesburg anthem jingle and the emotional tribute to Cpl. Paul Hoots. Here are the top 10 with direct links to listen: 1. Galesburg’s New Anthem: A Jingle for Community Pride (Aug. 26...

In this episode of Galesburg's Morning News, WGIL's Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm sit down with Galesburg District 205 Superintendent of Schools John Asplund for a comprehensive look back at 2025 and ahead to 2026 priorities. The conversation begins with the district's measured response to concerning social media posts, emphasizing student safety while keeping schools open. Asplund then reflects on t...

As 2025 comes to a close, The Orpheum Theatre in downtown Galesburg is celebrating a historic year. In this year-end Galesburg’s Morning News interview with WGIL's Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm, Executive Director Andrew Driscoll shares the numbers: over 30,500 guests (shattering the previous record by 4,000), nearly $500,000 in ticket revenue, and donations doubling to $250,000. He highlights the #1...

In this episode of Galesburg's Morning News, Mayor Peter Schwartzman joins us in studio for a candid conversation reflecting on 2025 and looking ahead to 2026. The mayor shares what he sees as the year's top accomplishments, addresses the impact of significant council turnover (two resignations in 2025, four members now with less than a year of experience), and explains how he's working to maintai...

Galesburg resident and Army veteran Sergeant Byron Baird sits down with WGIL's Jay Redfern right after Monday night's City Council meeting, where he was honored with a mayoral proclamation—and state recognition from Rep. Dan Swanson—for his long-overdue Purple Heart. Baird, 38, originally from Williamsfield and a 2005 graduate, served eight years in the Army's 27th Engineer Battalion, 264th Cleara...

In this episode of Galesburg's Morning news, City Manager Eric Hanson joins WGIL's Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm for a detailed preview of tonight’s (Dec. 15, 2025) Galesburg City Council meeting and a broader look at the city’s priorities heading into 2026. Hanson breaks down key agenda items, including: • The annual abatement of property taxes on General Obligation bonds—preventing a potential $2.8...

Tuesday Cetin (Galesburg Community Arts Center) and Denise Gerstenberger (Discovery Depot) preview "Galesburg Express" – the big holiday celebration downtown this Saturday, December 13. Here’s what’s on tap: 🎅 8 a.m. – Donuts & Cocoa with Santa at Discovery Depot (tickets still available) 🎨 10 a.m.–3 p.m. – Free kids art drop-in at the Arts Center 🛍️ All day – Santa sightings, story times, ornam...

Galesburg Jr./Sr. High School sophomore Sophia Sebben (Jr. Miss World Festival Queen) is collecting toys and cash donations for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital this Friday night at the Silver Streaks basketball game vs. United Township at John Thiel Gym. She’ll have a table right across from the concession stand. On Dec. 21 she and the other queens will personally deliver everything to the k...

Saturday, Dec. 6, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. — WGIL, FM95, KFM, The Laser and Z106.1 need your help to fill the big brown UPS trucks outside both Hy-Vee stores, Walmart in Galesburg, and Hi-Lo in Abingdon. In this episode of Galesburg's Morning News, FISH of Galesburg Executive Director Katherine Seguino explains why the second drive is so critical: demand is still surging (now serving over 900 familie...