Dangers along the Rock River.

Should two old dams be removed?

Plus it's time for the boys of summer to take the field in The Cities.

[lively music] [music ends] Opening day for the Quad Cities River bandits is just days away.

We get you ready for the home opener in a little bit.

But first, the Rock River i mostly a gently flowing waterway stretching from Wisconsin through northwestern Illinois and then ending in the cities at the Mississippi River.

But the river does have some dangers, rapids, as well as some manmade dams.

And two of them, the Steel Dam and the Sears Dam, are both on the Rock River at Milan and Rock Island.

Now, despite those areas being marked with signs warning of dangers, the dams, especially the steel dam, have been the scene of drownings.

A hearing was held last mont after State Senator Mike Halpin secured funding to study ways to improve the safety on the river.

Senator Halpin joined us to talk about that and the legislative session that's less than two months left.

Let's talk about the Steel dam and the Sears dam.

Why did that create concern for you?

So I got into office as a state rep back in 2017, and within three years, we had had three deaths, at that location.

And so I talked to a retired engineer and some local officials, and I ended up getting money.

$800,000 for a safety study.

And that's that's how all this came about.

And, it was important to me because if we could, make the dam safer while maintaining the the river level and all the recreation, everything we do, you know, why would we not at least look into it?

These dams are old.

I mean, they have historic value as well.

At least the Sears Dam, of course.

You were at the public hearing or the sessio that that involved the public.

Were you surprised at the people who said, leave it as it is?

I mean, it's already marked as being dangerous.

You had Backwater Gamblers saying, you know, don't tamper with this.

Did that surprise you?

No, not at all.

I think the folks that live along the river, great people that enjoy being close to the river, you know, recreating righ on the river in their backyard.

It's very important to them and it's important to preserve that for them.

And I'm in full agreement with that.

My my goal in getting that, study results was to see whether or not we can, make modifications that would actually leave again, leave the water level as it is, but, you know, have some improvements for safety, make it easier for people to, to survive if there's an accident.

Because it is incredible tragedies that have occurred there, as you mentioned.

And one of the people that that, talked about, it was Melissa Chavez, who's two, who lost her five year old daughter.

I mean, that's a heartbreaking situation.

And we've seen it happen.

I don't see it time and time again, but we've seen it happen with peopl who may not be all that familiar with the river, or they just somehow, and once they get swept up but they get pulled down to that area of the dams and aren't able to save themselves.

Did that, does that have a bigger impac when you when you're looking at whether or not that should be fixed, than, let's say, preserving it because of historic value?

Yeah, my my thought is that we should, making sure, be makin sure that everyone on the river is educated about what the dangers are and are aware of their surroundings.

That's job number one.

But we do need to tak into account that not everyone can be, fully aware at all times.

And the other thing you have to remember is you could be doing everything right.

Operating safely.

You could be on the river for years.

But one day, you're jet ski malfunctions, you're wearing a life vest, and you're just not able to to get out before you can, before you get over the, over the dam.

And even the best swimmers can kind of go under there.

So we have to try to balance that.

And that's been my goal from the very start.

What do you see as a price tag or even as a timeline, which I know it, there isn't one.

But I mean, what would you like to see?

And it is an expensive proposition.

It is.

And, there is no timeline.

There's no existing project or plans.

That would be a step for much later down the road.

And so although DNR does have some cost estimates that are I think there were between like ten and $20 million.

Those are ballpark.

And they're as we sit here today.

Obviously, if it's years down the road when, when the community would decide to do something, you know, maybe more expensive.

So there's really no hard numbers on on any of it.

As long as we're talking about hard numbers, let's pivot to the budget, which is, of course, you've got about a month and a half, left in, for this session.

And of course, could be extended, but the budget always ends up being, the last big deal the governor already put forth his his plan.

Were you satisfied with what he has for K through 12 spending?

With the whole belief, and I want to get this right, that you had a, 2027 deadline, in order to, fully fund, education, that the state would fully fun education throughout Illinois?

Yeah, I was okay with the number under the circumstances.

We're going into a very difficult budget year with federal impacts that are affecting us.

We've fallen short on th original goal for funding EPF.

But we have put in an additional, 350 million every year, except last year, to to fund towards this.

But we're not going to get there.

Not every district's going to be fully funded by 2027.

Because it looks like it's about a $305 million, what the governor was calling for.

Yup.

Which is which would put, Illinois paying about $9.

billion of its budget towards, basically elementary education, K-12 education.

Yeah.

And that's almost 3 billion, greater than what it was when I took office in 20 or 27 or, sorry, 2017.

We've mad significant investments there, but we need to keep on that path.

Between COVID, and various change to the federal administration, it's been difficult for us to really put in what which ideally, we should b in 550 million a year, or more.

But we really we haven't been able to do that.

We've been able to do what we can.

As far as increases funding increases every year.

Yeah.

Yeah, it increases every year.

Yeah.

So if if you don't meet the 2027 deadline, do you still think, do you project that it is going to happen at some point, just not 2027?

That's right.

And I think if you talk to the school districts, they will tell you that this funding formula has been incredibly beneficial as far as reliable spending.

They're in a much bette fiscal situation than they were, under the previous wa of funding, funding education.

And as long as we continue on the path, continue to make these investments as we have over the past eight years, we will get to the point where we need to be.

Well and of course, one of th big expenses is teacher salaries And you've introduced a bill allowing more retired, teachers to become substitutes.

Explain to me a little bit about, how that bill would work.

Yeah.

So under existing law, retired teachers can only work so many days or so many hours in order to continue collecting their pension.

You know, so this is, something they do on the side with the teacher shortage and the difficulty that school districts have in retaining substitute teachers.

This bill would give the an extra, 20 days and an extra 100 hours per year to, substitute teach withou putting those payments at risk.

How do you see that progressing through the legislature?

I mean, do you think that has a good chance of passage?

We've done it every year.

It's, started during COVID, so I think it has a good chance of passage because we're still in that situation where we need those teacher to come back to the classroom.

My ideal situation is a time when we get more teachers through that teacher pipeline, get them educated, get them in the classrooms.

So we don't need that coverage.

But right now, it's still very important.

And also under the latest budget plan, I don't know what the machinations are since it's about a 1% increase for the, public, state institutions, the higher education, such as Western Illinois University as well.

Is that enough money?

A 1% increase is disappointing for a lot of these, leaders of the public universities.

No, it's not nearly enough.

And, I mean, the silver lining is that the 1% is, an increase on the full 3 that was budgeted for last year.

But our universities only got a 1% increase.

The governor's has held back the rest, because of budget pressures.

So the good news is it's a it's on paper, it's 1%, but it's larger than what, that much larger than what they got last year.

That being said, it's still not enough.

We need full, investment.

I've got the bill, to make sure we get the full $7 million for operating expenses for Western Illinois University here in the Quad Cities.

We've got the pendin higher education funding formula bill that's out there that would transform the way we fund higher ed, the same way that the evidence based formula, helped K through 12.

We really need to get there, and we need to do it sooner rather than later.

You have seen a precipitous fall in the enrollment at Western Illinois University.

Are you worried about the health of Western?

Western?

Puts out a great product.

They'll continue to, put out a great product.

They are able to do more with less but I want them to be able to, venture into new areas where they can have better chances at recruiting and retaining students.

We want them to not be have t feel as if their hands are tied when it comes to being innovative.

We want to make sure that they're out there doing everything they can and them, like the other regional universities they need resources to do that.

Have you, because you saw that, especially during the, Rauner administration where there was the, logjam in many ways between the legislature and the governor?

And you add that to COVID.

And we saw so many Illinois students leave the state, and go elsewhere.

Do you think the tide has turned on that?

Do you see that it's more healthy, for for the students, to come to, Illinois public universities?

Absolutely There's no, no doubt about it.

Despite the, what I think are insufficient increases, our universities are getting increases, and they are still putting out, a great product.

And where there i still that perception out there.

I get that question, you know are you worried about Western?

I'm not worried about Western.

I'm worried that the public is worried about Western.

And if there's anything I can, say to to reassure people that, WIU is open for business and is, preparing students for the future.

They certainly are.

What we're facin now is more national challenges.

You know, the demographic, cliff, fewer high school students, you know, that are in school, that are graduating, that are looking for universities.

We're going to have to deal with that.

But we can't actually deal with that and adjust unless we have the resources to provide the product.

One of the area that the legislature last year, went in order to boost revenues was to be taxing a sports betting, sports gambling.

And we have seen, I want to get this right because I got the numbers right here.

Right now.

House Bill 5143 looks at the sports wagering tax again, almost as a way to rescind that.

That that's a move.

We have seen fewer sports bets compared to the year before.

A 15% a decrease.

6 million fewe bets in November, but still $1.3 billion in gambling in each, for four straight months.

Yeah.

So do you think that tax is working, or do you do you feel that the, you know, repealing it is a good move as was introduced with this House bill?

There is, so much money in that industry.

Right.

And those, the big players, And, you know, not to name ‘em, but the big players in that industry are making millions and billion of dollars across the country.

What I think the structure of this tax doe is it probably reduces the folks that are betting a dollar on a game as opposed to, because the tax is $0.50 per bet.

So, my guess is and I haven't dug into the data that there may be fewer bets but people are betting larger.

To make that... Worth it.

...make that charge worth it.

Yeah, worthwhile.

And that's what you're seeing.

The th the revenue from these companies and the taxes that they pa are still continuing to come in.

And I think that will still be the case.

But but that being said, every legislature, should be looking at each of these to make sure it's properly balanced and so I'm certainly open to, considering that bill and seeing what we can do with it.

One last are that I thought was interesting is, you have introduced a bill and talked about lowerin the volume of commercials.

Yeah.

I never really thought about that, youre... Yeah.

But mostly what?

It's not commercial television, the broadcast.

Yeah.

You're looking at what?

Streaming services and cable?

Yeah, so broadcast and cable are actually already covered by the federal act.

Right.

I remember years ago when I was younger, noticing that on broadcast TV, the commercials came on a loud volume, and it had to turn down the remote, and then turn it back up when the show came back on.

Right.

So this gets to the streaming services, which aren't covered by that federal law, and Congress still hasn' acted on on streaming services.

So we're going to try to do it here in Illinois and, just make life a little bit easier for kids with a sleeping baby in the back room, or folks with hearing disabilities that are very sensitive to volume changes.

So where did this come from?

So it came partially from from my own experience, but I hear it from constituents in the district.

But over the winter break I was watching a couple movies with my kids and noticed the exact same thing.

All of a sudden the commercial comes on loud as ever, and it's a very frustrating thing for, for, it was a annoyance for for us, but it can be more serious if you've got hearing issues or again, sleeping baby in the back room.

But these are like, companies that are out of the state of Illinois for the most part.

I mean, how can Illinois regulate something that's more a national issue?

It's something that I would love to see done on a national level, but we can regulate the, the services that if they're producing products and sending their, their, service into Illinois, they can be regulated in this way.

And, the technology is there to do it.

Broadcast and cable are doing it.

We've put them on the same same footing as those two, and we should be okay.

All right.

Thank you for your time.

I appreciate it.

Always happy to be here.

Thanks so much, Jim.

Our thanks to Illinois state Senator Mike Halpin, Democrat from Rock Island.

Just ahead, it's time to play ball at Modern Woodmen Park.

What you can expect for the season.

But first, some of the events scheduled throughout the Quad Cities thanks to Visit Quad Cities.

Check out the things t do this week in the Quad Cities.

QC Restaurant Wee will put a spring in your step on April 6th through the 12th.

Take advantage of deals discounts, and featured dishes.

Next, watch as the Quad Cities River Bandits take on the Wisconsin Timbe Rattlers at Modern Woodmen Park.

Then enjoy the Freight House Farmers Market indoor winter market.

You can shop local while staying warm.

Then travel through time while experiencing a performance by Ballet Quad Cities.

Don't miss this original show!

Finally, World Ballet Company is taking the other stage to perform Cinderella.

The show will be truly magical.

For more events like these check out our events calendar at VisitQuadCities.com.

The Quad City River Bandits home opener is Tuesday, April 7th as we take on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for a six game homestand.

So what can we expect from the boys of Summer this year?

We sat down with River Bandits general manager Julia McNeal to talk about Opening Day an highlights for the 2026 season.

So, what can we expect on opening day?

Because let's let's be honest it's been a long, hard winter, and we need baseball.

Yes, absolutely.

And, today, the day we're filming, it's a beautiful sunny day in the 70s, and it is perfect baseball weather.

But yes, you're right we just had snow.

The other day.

It's it's time for spring an it's time for baseball weather.

But opening night is going to be bigger and better than ever before.

We're opening up at home on Tuesday, April 7th.

We got $2 tickets, $2 hot dogs, sodas.

We have a pennant giveaway, and we're doing postgame fireworks.

So we're really putting on a show to welcome everybody back this season.

There alway seems to be a bigger excitement when it comes to Opening Day.

And there's been some as you said, really cold ones.

I mean, the weather does play a real factor.

But but what kind of excitement is it for you guys, that are working at the stadium?

You know, modern Woodmen park is laid empty.

There's practice going on now, I'm sure, but it's great to get the fans in and get get everything, you know.

Ready?

Yes, yes.

It's been a long winter, as you said.

And, you know, we spend six months preparing for the upcoming season.

As soon as we hit October 1st, we're thinking about the next season, getting things planned and ready to go.

And so finally seeing everything com together and be brought to life, you know, it's always my favorite part.

Well, the Bandits are you know, a much different team than they were, of course, last year.

And every year it's it's changing a lot.

You we were talking about the coaching staff being really consistent from last year and that's really important.

But I mean, looking at the statistics 16 games over 500 last year, that's really impressive.

It's the most successful regular season in the Royals farm system last year.

It's going to be toug to replicate that or beat that.

Yeah it's it was a fun season.

And it's always, a lot mor enjoyable when you're winning.

And, I felt like we had a lot of walkoffs last year, which, you know, that just gets everybody amped up... Right.

...and excited.

But yeah we had a lotta of great players come through Quad Cities last year.

The only problem was the home run numbers weren't quite there.

I mean, they weren't batting ‘em out of the house.

That was another, number.

It, allowed.

Let's see, I got this, I got I got somewhere here.

Is that, Well, the pitching staff allowed the second fewest runs.

That's huge as well when you talk about it.

But they were dea last in the league at home runs.

That's what I was looking at.

Somehow the team gelled, though.

Oh, yes.

I mean, really came together.

And when you start a new season, how long does it take when you really say, oh, they got it together.

They they're a team now.

Yeah.

So I mean, right now the entire system is down, in Arizona, it's spring training.

We don't know exactl who's coming to Quad Cities yet.

But the players are down there and they're working together.

And so, I actually visited a couple weeks ago, and I saw players you know, from 2 or 3 years ago and players that we had last year.

And so everybody's down there.

So they're getting an opportunity to play together right now.

And I'm sure over these next couple weeks, right before they come up this way, that they'll kinda be playin in their, you know, potential, team that they'll have here in Quad Cities.

It's because when you start watching later in the season, you can see that they're working more as a team.

And it's got to be tough that each year you're kind of starting all over.

You're starting from scratch in some ways.

Yeah, yeah.

It's you know, the watching the minor league baseball farm system, you know, seeing players, move around.

It's it's always interesting and fun to watch.

And, you know, they'll be players that you know, that were, you know, great to work with that I hope come back.

But at the same time, I hope they don't I hope they continue to move up.

So that's always, kind of, you know, something to keep in mind.

But no, it's been fantastic, even since we've been affiliated with the Royals since 2021.

We have a number of players that, are on the, MLB team and, you know, a number who just played in the World Baseball Classic.

Saw that as well.

I mean, that's very impressive.

Let's talk about what's going to happen this season as far as, your giveaways and your promotions, because, each game has got something going on.

Yes.

So we really pride ourselves on providing, you know, affordable family, fun entertainment.

And yes, there's a baseball game going on the field.

There's so much more than that.

And of course, as you know our amusement park in left field that opens in May, that's always something that draws the kids out that way.

Makes the parents, join them there.

But, yes, every game, there's something going on.

Tuesdays we have, as I mentioned, $2 hotdogs, sodas, GA tickets pennant giveaways.

Wednesdays are Copa games and one's amusements are open for free.

Ferris wheel and carousel rides Thursdays pint glass giveaway.

$2 domestic beer drafts.

Fridays, fireworks.

Saturdays, giveaways.

We have some really great, promotions this season.

Sundays, another T-shirt giveaway.

Kids run the bases, pre-game autographs.

Something I like to kind of joke about is, that our promotional schedule is becoming so full with so much going on that the font is just getting smaller and smaller... [laughter] ...and harder to read.

Well, and each year, I mean, Modern Woodmen Park seems to be eligibl as as America's best ball field.

When you know their fan-rated or some of the writers rate it, that's kind o an exciting thing as well.

Yes.

Yes, yes, absolutely.

So, currently, the polls have closed for the fourth, running of this contest with USA Today 10 Best, so we're waiting to hear, to see the results.

But we have won the last three times they've run this contest.

And that's a really big testament to not just the ballpark, but the community.

You know, we have really, great community support here in the Quad Cities that you don't necessarily see at all the minor league markets.

Us having a really great, relationship and integration into our local community is something that I'm very proud of.

And a big reason why I'm proud to be the general manager of the team.

Well, in the last few years, you really have seen it because, in the, in the past I mean, you had that river view and you had the view of the Centennial Bridge.

But it wasn't really linke to the rest of LeClaire, Park.

Or Centennial Park on the other side now.

And it just seems that that the ballpark with the amusement area, jus kind of fits in, in that area.

Is that the way you see it is is that, the River Bandits, like you said, are a part of the community?

But also that the ballpark i part of the community even more so than before?

Oh, yes.

Absolutely.

And we have a very historic ballpark.

Modern Women Park is 96 years old.

And I love pointing out different features of it, that this is the original from 1931.

And, everybody has a connection to Modern Woodman Park and, you know, whether they attended kids, as a kid growing up, or whether they worked here, went on a first date there or got married there, it's it just everybody has a connection.

And I love hearing those stories.

Well, and this is your second year as general manager, what do you think the first year is the toughest.

Yes.

[laughter] So what have you learned and what do you hope to do in this coming year?

Yeah.

So, you know, year on was a really big learning year for myself.

You know, I had been assistan general manager for two years, so I had been involve in all facets of the operation.

But once you're in the role of general manager, it's it's so much more than you could even imagine.

And I think the biggest thing was trying to navigate all the unexpected circumstances and things that arose.

And so, of course, you know, you're never going to know what's going to come up, but I feel much more prepared to be able to tackl those things as they come along.

And now that I've got a year under my belt, I know the routine and I know when things need to be done.

And, I just, I'm in a much better place.

And so I think this year's going to be even better than last.

And no matter the weather, opening day is still going to be a very special day.

Yes, yes, it doesn't matter if it, I hope it's not 30 degrees, but if it's 30 degrees, it's still going to be extremely special.

Our thanks to River Bandits general manager Julia McNeil.

We are marking the coming 250t anniversary of the Declaration of Independenc by talking about the Civic Spark that drew people to the career they've chosen that have helped shape the region.

So we posed that question to Melissa Mohr, executive director and CEO of the Figge Art Museum in Davenport.

What is your Civic Spark?

[soft music] Museums, like libraries, are a place where everyone can have access to what is, what are treasures that need to be shared.

Right?

So art is a visual representation of life.

And so I think museums are cherished places that can inspire, that can that can help teach you tools to be more creative in your own life.

Because, I hope that people become empowered around their own creativity.

Maybe they're not a painter.

I'm not a painter.

I love to cook, though.

That's my form of creativity.

So just, I think museum can serve as a gathering place for community.

They can serve as a space for inspiration, where we can share treasures that belong to all of us, but also they can help us.

They can help us move forward.

Like I said empowered by our own creativity.

So that's really what got me into museums.

[music ends] Our thanks to Melissa Mohr, executive director and CEO of the Figge Art Museum in Davenport talking about her Civic Spark.

On the air, on the radio, on the web, on your mobile device and streaming on your computer, thanks for taking some time to join us as we talk about the issues of The Cities.

[lively music] [music ends]