THE Daily Egyptian
aestrada@dailyegyptian.com
Hangar 9 is back: Strip staple reopens with live music, big vibes
Yahri Edmond YEdmond@dailYEgYptian com
After a highly anticipated wait, one of Carbondale’s favorite nightlife destinations, Hangar 9, officially reopened its doors on the downtown Strip in Carbondale. Long known for its lively musical atmosphere, craft beer
selection and unique bar environment, the Hangar is back with a refreshed look and renewed energy — just in time to welcome SIU students back for the fall semester.
Hangar 9 temporarily closed at the end of 2024 after nearly 50 years under the ownership of Sally Carter,
marking the end of an era for the beloved Carbondale venue. It has now reopened under new ownership by Saluki alumni Scott Moller and Andrew Perlmutter. Hangar 9 has undergone several key upgrades while staying true to the charm and grit that made it a local favorite.
Updates include the removal of a main staircase (and the addition of a new one), new TV screens behind the bar that display an all new drink menu, the removal of a downstairs pool table and the addition of three dart boards, the removal of downstairs booths and an overall
rearrangement of seating both upstairs and downstairs. The DJ booth moved, the lighting booth moved, the dancefloor has been expanded and the beginning of an outdoor beer garden has commenced.
Patrons can expect the return of live music, karaoke
HANGAR 3
USG talks fall semester plans
hand them out to students early in the semester.
If there’s one thing Lydia Phelps took away from her successful campaign for SIU Undergraduate Student Government President, it’s that college students love stickers. Which is why she and her fellow board members decided to order stickers with the organization’s social media information, with plans to
“That’s (social media) how we reach people now, and so I think it’s important that we grab students from Day 1, and put them on track for success — to know what’s going on, to know who they need to reach out to, and to help build that community,” Phelps said. “If we’re all connected, we’re all in communication, community
comes just subsequently.”
The USG executive board is focusing on outreach and connection this semester, Phelps said. But a sticker campaign is just the beginning. The organization is looking to create a larger presence on campus by showing up at student and sporting events, renovating the student center and expanding their existing programs to new locations
and dates.
They’ve started meeting with prominent figures in the community, such as Scott Moller, the new owner of Hangar 9, a beloved bar on the Strip, to “bridge the gap between alumni and community and campus.”
They’re also looking to move Senate meetings to new locations once a semester.
“I’d really like to have a
meeting out at the airport,” Phelps said. “So many of our students, so many of our senators have never even been out to the airport, and I think that’s a shame. That’s such a big part of campus.
It’s such a big recruitment part of campus. It’s important that our Senate, at the very minimum, goes out there and sees what happens out there
USG | 10
WSIU faces uncertainty after public media defunded
Jackson Brandhorst JBrandhorst@dailYEgYptian com
The U.S. Congress voted last month to approve a Trump administration plan that eliminates $1.1 billion in federal funds previously allocated to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and $8.3 billion in select foreign aid programs as part of a $9.4 billion rescission bill. Critics claim that the cuts threaten public access to local news, undermine humanitarian efforts and that it may even violate the First Amendment.
The bill, which has since been signed into law, was backed by U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, a Republican from Murphysboro who represents Illinois’ 12th congressional district. It cuts all federal support for NPR, PBS and all of their member stations — including WSIU in Carbondale.
Without federal funding for public media, the already arid southern Illinois news desert faces the threat of becoming even more bare — but there may be a silver lining.
In what could be the loss of multiple national programming options on WSIU radio and television waves may be an opportunity for the station to ramp up its local coverage — just so long as they have enough money to continue operating.
Of the $9.4 billion that was rescinded in this bill, all $1.1 billion of federal funding for the CPB was cut — $1.4 million of which was set to supplement southern Illinois programming come the start of the new fiscal year.
Proponents of the rescission continually use one word to explain why they voted for these programs to be defunded: “woke.”
Bill cosponsor Rep. James Comer explained that this bill makes cuts to “wasteful, woke spending in the federal government… including funds NPR and PBS have used to push leftist propaganda.”
Bost similarly said in a post on the social platform X that he
WSIU | 3
Attendees dance as the Ivas John Band performs during the re-re-re-opening night of Hangar 9 Aug. 16, 2025 in Carbondale, Illinois. Amilia I. Estrada |
and the continuation of themed nights and special events.
Perlmutter and Moller were motivated to keep Hangar 9 alive after hearing it was closing and as passionate supporters of the iconic Carbondale venue, they stepped in to preserve its legacy. Recognizing Hangar 9’s importance to both the local community and generations of SIU students, Perlmutter and Moller worked to maintain its operations, atmosphere and cultural relevance.
“We both have a passion for SIU and for Carbondale… and knew the importance of Hangar 9. It’s always been a really strong music venue… a place where people of all ages could come and enjoy music and other entertainment events right in the center of Carbondale,” Moller said.
While the space has been polished up, the Hangar hasn’t lost its signature edge. The venue still evokes a familiar feeling, however, Moller said that these changes are just the beginning.
“We just completed Phase 1 (of remodeling) … creating the largest dance floor on the Strip,” Moller said. “Phase 2 will take place next summer — a complete interior renovation of the space.”
As part of the grand reopening weekend, Hangar welcomed the Ivas John Band to the stage on Saturday, bringing their signature blend of blues, roots and Americana along with special guest Bruce Brown.
“Everybody I meet is like, ‘Oh, I was at Hangar this night with
WSIU CONTINUED FROM 1
voted to codify $9 billion in cuts to “woke” foreign aid funding and public broadcasting, stating that, these days, there are “countless” educational programming options for children to consume.
“Tonight (July 16) I voted to codify $9 billion in DOGE cuts to woke foreign aid funding, NPR, and PBS,” Bost wrote. “We are fortunate to live in a time when there are countless educational programming options for kids on television, streaming and the internet. We don’t need taxpayers to foot the bill for politically biased, leftwing broadcasting. I’m proud to help President Trump put a stop to the irresponsible waste in government.”
What Bost refers to as DOGE is the Department of Government Efficiency — a Trump-era government agency originally led by Elon Musk.
DOGE has sniffed out billions of dollars in what it has deemed “waste, fraud and abuse” within USAID and other aid programs — both foreign and domestic — that have been the catalyst for these rescissions.
What Bost and other proponents of the bill, formerly called the Rescissions Act of 2025, deem “woke foreign aid” are funds earmarked for refugee assistance, gender-confirming care, media support abroad and “DEI”-related spending as evidence of excessive, ideologically driven allocations.
One of Illinois’ two U.S. Senators,
my friends… Everybody has a favorite story,’” Moller said. “We want to continue those. Life is mostly about experiences and relationships, and this is a place where people can come with their friends and have fun.”
Hangar 9 employee Carmen Tapley said that the most popular drinks of the weekend were Golden Road Mango Cart and Bud Lite.
Students returning to SIU, longtime locals and first-time visitors alike came to experience the next chapter of one of Carbondale’s most iconic bars.
Trinidy Barrus, a local of
Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, responded to the vote on July 16 with a statement that condemned the actions of congressional Republicans, claiming that the GOP has chosen their loyalty to Trump over the interests of their constituents and the world’s poorest.
“President Trump and congressional Republicans will tell you this vote was about ‘cutting waste’ and ‘improving efficiency.’ But what is efficient about slashing funding for public broadcasting, a critical source of information and emergency alerts to Americans in rural areas?” Durbin asked in the statement.
Carbondale, was seen opening night at Hangar 9 with a group of friends. When asked if she went to the old Hangar 9, Barrus said, “Yes I did. I missed it when they closed.” Barrus went on to describe the bar as “very homey and nostalgic.”
Unlike some other downtown bars, the Hangar is an 18+ bar with an extensive menu that includes mocktails and non-alcoholic beer. “We just want to cater to everyone 18 to 80,” Tapley said.
Staff reporter Yahri Edmond can be reached at yedmond@dailyegyptian.com
the name alludes, is a rescission bill, meaning that it’s not a normal proposition of legislation. Rather, it’s the elimination of legislation that already existed.
Specifically, it’s the undoing of an appropriations bill, or a spending bill.
An appropriations bill is one that allocates federal funding, while a rescissions bill is one that eliminates it. While an appropriations bill grants federal agencies the authority to spend money, a rescission bill takes that authority away, either by
“Whether it be on NPR on the radio station side, or PBS on the television station side, the cost that we incur for programming from those companies — that is what is at risk for us.”
Larry Hunter
WSIU Interim Executive Director
reducing the funds or canceling them entirely, as seen in the Rescissions Act of 2025.
Aug.
Senate, rescission bills cannot be filibustered, and only require a simple majority — 51 votes — to pass. That means the usual hurdles that stall or sink legislation don’t apply.
If the numbers are there — it moves.
The bill first passed the House 214–212 on June 12. The Senate approved a heavily amended version on July 17, and the House officially codified it 216–213 on July 18.
On July 24, it was signed into law.
In the original passage in the House, all present Democrats and two Republicans voted against the bill, while four Democrats and two Republicans didn’t vote at all.
If all absent members had voted with the majority of their party — the bill would have failed, never making it to the Senate.
What this means for public media and WSIU
The bill cuts $1.1 billion from the CPB, which funds public radio and television stations powered by NPR and PBS all across the country.
The entirety of the federal government’s support for CPB will end at the start of FY 2026.
radio station side, or PBS on the television station side, the cost that we incur for programming from those companies — that is what is at risk for us,” Hunter said.
While some public stations across the Midwest subsidize more than 70% of their broadcast budgets with federal funds, WSIU’s already thin staffing costs are covered through a mix of local fundraising and university support.
“My staff is covered with funds that we raise locally and from money that the university gives us,” Hunter said. “So there is not a concern about losing staff here. Honestly, we’re pretty lean already — I don’t have a lot of redundancy in staff.”
WSIU’s Jeff Williams, Brad Palmer, Brian Sapp and Leah Lerner are expected to continue producing local news for southern Illinoisans, which will be necessary now more than ever in order to fill the inevitable gaps in programming.
Bost could not be reached to further elaborate on how the passage of this bill benefits his constituents in southern Illinois, however he is currently going on tour touting the “Big Beautiful Bill,” or H.R.1, the massive spending bill that became a law just before the rescissions act. How it passed
The Rescissions Act of 2025, as
The process of proposing and passing a rescission bill is different than that of an appropriation bill. It falls under a special fasttrack procedure laid out in the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which was designed to check the president’s power to withhold congressionally approved funds. Unlike most legislation in the
Local stations, especially those in rural areas, could face serious financial trouble and may even shut down.
WSIU has historically relied on the federal government for 24% ($1.4 million) of its operating budget — a loss that Interim Executive Director Larry Hunter said will hit programming the hardest.
“Whether it be on NPR on the
“If I don’t have the national production to supplement my day, I’m gonna have to find it somewhere else to fill out my programming,” Hunter said, adding that a shift toward more local production could actually help serve southern Illinois students and communities better.
“In this area, it’s like a news desert,” he said. “Radio stations have gone to music formats and quit covering news, but we still feel like the news is the most important to us.”
WSIU radio currently runs popular
Community members and students fill the floors as the Ivas John Band performs during the re-re-re-opening night of Hangar 9 Aug. 16, 2025 in Carbondale, Illinois. The venue’s return brought live music and dancing back to the longtime downtown staple. Amilia I. Estrada | aestrada@dailyegyptian.com
Customers gather at the bar during the re-re-re-opening night of Hangar 9
16, 2025 in Carbondale, Illinois. The longtime music venue and bar reopened under new ownership after being closed for seven months.
NPR shows like “The 21st Show,” “Here & Now,” “Fresh Air” and “All Things Considered” as well as other independent programs like “Marketplace,” “The Daily” and “Think.”
WSIU, like all independent nonprofit NPR affiliates, has to pay NPR to run these programs on their local airwaves. That’s a key part of how NPR funds its national operations — which will become even more important without support from the federal government in the upcoming year.
In an interview with Texas Public Radio, NPR’s President and CEO Katherine Maher pledged to take $8 million of NPR’s own funding to provide relief to affiliate stations that they consider vulnerable to financial trouble.
“Our board of directors at NPR made the decision that we would go ahead and reduce NPR’s own operating budget by about $8 million in the year ahead in order for us to pass along that as fee relief to the most affected stations,” Maher told the NPR affiliate.
Hunter and WSIU have asked NPR for relief amounting to roughly 18% of its operating budget, which, if granted, would be a huge win for WSIU.
“We’ll see how far that money goes,” said Hunter, who mentioned that there are many other stations across the midwest that are much more vulnerable than they are. “Hopefully we can increase what we’ve asked for. We’re hopeful. I would love to see that get to 30% or more. I just don’t know — I don’t know how much we’re gonna be able to negotiate that.”
NPR is still in the process of allocating relief funding to its vulnerable affiliates, and it is unclear when those decisions will be finalized.
On the TV side, WSIU’s PBS programming reaches beyond southern Illinois into Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana and even Iowa through channels World, Create, Kids and HDTV. Hunter said that those too are at risk of downsizing without financial relief from PBS.
“PBS is yet to come through with anything about telling us what their relief might be,” he said. “When I know that, I’ll have a better understanding of how much assistance we’re gonna have and if somebody’s gonna step up to fill that void.”
Hunter said that children’s programming, which Bost said is bountiful elsewhere, is especially under strain.
“We’ve already seen cuts in that (children’s programming),” Hunter said. “We’ll continue to do that as much as we can, but we’re trying to find our way through it.”
The second term Trump administration began scaling back children’s programming on PBS almost immediately after taking office, canceling a previously allocated federal grant that forced 44 affiliate stations to halt “Ready to Learn” PBS Kids programs in May.
Aside from educational television shows, these programming cuts also carry broader public service implications. WSIU’s Emergency Alert System reaches rural communities where residents depend on the station for severe weather warnings and safety information.
“That’s a big part of what we do,” Hunter said. “We will continue to do that, but again, that costs money.”
Sen. Durbin has emphasized multiple times over the last month the importance of emergency alert systems, claiming that this rescissions package “tarnishes America’s reputation as a global leader and further corrodes the institutions that Americans rely on for local news and emergency alerts.”
In anticipation of these rescissions, Durbin had begun visiting with the administrators of local public radio stations in Illinois in an attempt to better understand their needs amid funding cuts.
In a speech on the Senate floor just days after the rescissions bill passed, Durbin highlighted how rural communities rely on public broadcasting in emergencies like active shooter situations and dangerous weather events, citing a conversation that he had with Heather Norman, the president of the Illinois Public Broadcasting Council who works at WIUM in Macomb, in which she explained how their public radio station, one at severe risk of ceasing operations entirely, was the only outlet offering live reporting during an active shooter situation last year.
“You say to yourself, ‘I bet the other radio stations did, too,’” Durbin said during his speech. “But they didn’t… It was a public broadcasting station, the public radio station that kept the people of Macomb and McDonough County safe. To say that you can eliminate that station and it won’t make any difference, whether the warning is about an active shooter, about a tornado, a flood, a fire, public broadcasting is there on the scene doing their job, day in and day out.”
On Aug. 1, both Durbin and fellow U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth penned a letter to Illinois’ public broadcasting stations seeking answers on the impact that these rescissions will have on local communities.
Across the 15 CPB-funded stations in Illinois was supposed to be a total of $12.8 million dollars allocated for the upcoming fiscal year.
In FY 2024, those funds supported both rural and urban stations, as well
as the jobs of 526 people across the state.
“We are deeply concerned that this partisan rescission will force local stations in Illinois to close,” the senators wrote. “Like any business, local radio and television stations must plan their budgets and programming schedules months and years in advance to plan and operate effectively. For decades, stations have relied on the two-year forwardfunded appropriations passed by Congress. Without this funding, stations may face severe financial hardship, and communities could lose access to this source of news.
“We also fear this rescission will undermine the emergency systems that managers rely on to send lifesaving emergency alerts to residents,” the senators continued. “This rescission is especially concerning for rural and underserved communities who may lose their only source of local news and community programming.”
The senators asked in the letter for local stations to identify whether or not there will be reductions in their staff due to the rescission and how they project access to local journalism will be impacted going forward.
For Hunter and WSIU, it’s still not entirely clear what programs will stay, what programs will go and how much money they will have to work with. However, Hunter is confident that he will retain his staff through continued support from the university and community, and that he may even be able to push out more local content as time goes on.
In the absence of some of the national programs that WSIU normally runs, Hunter and his team will have an opportunity to fill those gaps with local news, however his staff is already thin, and with less money for operations, some staffers may find themselves with a change in workload.
Hunter understands the role that WSIU plays in watering what is already a dry spot for local news, so while the times ahead look tough, there is hope that the grass may indeed be greener on the other side.
“Well, desert is actually what it (southern Illinois) is,” Hunter said. “It’s a lack of information — a lack of news. A large part of what we do is in trying to cover not just what the university’s up to, but also what the region’s up to.
With five TV stations and three radio stations, that’s a pretty big swath we cut. Providing information on community announcements, covering events in the region, growth in the communities — all of that’s important. I think that’s what you will see lessen over time with cuts like these. With these few stations that are left in the area — you have fewer reporters. Maybe you’ve noticed a lot of stories that are not from the area — stories that are from feeds from northern Illinois or in Missouri — or somewhere that makes you think
it’s a local story, but it’s really not. It’s something far away. We will try to fill our station with local news that’s impactful to our audience in order to combat those news deserts, because those are the stories that we need. Everybody can get their national stuff elsewhere.”
Whether or not that’s the case, only time will tell, and for that to come to fruition, Hunter says will be reliant on public support.
“With broadcasting, there’s no guarantee from year to year what’s gonna happen,” Hunter said. “You never know what funding’s gonna be or how it’s gonna go. We try to be pretty consistent, but coming up short on funding or having to do a drive to help support what we do every day is kind of part of it.”
Hunter said that the station’s university license, support from the SIU Board of Trustees and access to student talent has put WSIU in a better position than some of its peers — but public support may be more critical now than ever before.
“One of the things we say here is that we’re ‘powered by you,’ and now probably more than ever — we are powered by you,” he said.
He reiterated that WSIU is not facing layoffs and will continue its educational mission for both students and the community.
“We can help educate and we can help train,” he said. “That puts us in a better situation than some stations. I know we’re not going to go away. Some stations however… they are very concerned about how they’re gonna be able to sustain themselves once the new federal budget kicks in on Nov. 1.”
Hunter acknowledged that the changing media landscape — including the rise of AI and social media — adds to the uncertainty.
“AI is going to change it even more,” he said. “It’s a tool, but there’s going to be a need for regulation and rules outlining how we use it. I don’t think we’re there yet.”
When asked if he had heard from elected officials like Bost, who voted for the cuts, Hunter said he hadn’t — and doesn’t expect to.
“Who knows if we’ll ever get that answer — but it would be nice. I could tell them how they could help local media survive,” he said. “Do you want to be in an area that doesn’t have any local news or coverage? In my generation, we grew up with that all around us. All of a sudden now it seems like it’s threatened, and that’s scary. It’s scary for everybody — not to have that news and not have that information or not have that public support.”
He added that public perception of local stations is often shaped by national content the stations have no control over.
“You should understand that the local guy sitting in the corner office
may not have any say over that at all,” Hunter said. “We still do a lot of local things that will go away if we can’t continue to have the financial support. And that saddens me.”
Hunter said he’s grateful for the assistance that WSIU has received from the university and its leadership.
“I really feel fortunate that I’m here and that I have the Board of Trustees, the president of the university, the chancellor — all telling me that it’s going to be okay, we’re here for you,” he said. “If I didn’t have that, I would be more concerned. Some stations don’t have that support.”
To further support WSIU and public media in general, Hunter says that the public has to be involved, engaged and that they must continue talking about it.
“We just have to keep looking forward to how we can continue to support public media,” Hunter said. “Financially is the best way you can help us. Talk about how you see things and how this affects you — how the loss of programming may impact you or your family and the information that you have access to. You have to talk about these things. I think that’s most important. My position going forward will be that we will still be asking for support from the local community, maybe more than ever, and that we’ll continue to try and be here for them.”
Durbin made a similar address to the Illinois public amid his Senate speech, which concluded with his opinion that America would be poorer, less free and would have less access to information if the defunding of public broadcasting continues.
“Whether you’re conservative or liberal, MAGA or progressive, whatever you want to call yourself, how could you want an America with less information and fewer choices for sources of that information?” Durbin asked. “The strength of our democracy is in the fact that the American people have access to good, credible information and can make up their own minds… That’s the key to the core of democracy. We attacked it last week when we eliminated support for public broadcasting,” Durbin said.
Listening to WSIU on the radio or watching their shows on TV is completely free. To learn more about the future of their programming, visit WSIU.org.
Editor’s Note: This is the first story of a two part series. The second part will explore the scope of the southern Illinois news desert, the legality of these federal actions and the ramifications of limited access to public information.
News Editor Jackson Brandhorst can be reached via email at jbrandhorst@ dailyegyptian.com and on socials at @jacksondothtml
A newcomers guide to Carbondale
It’s mid-August, and that means college kids have taken over Carbondale once more. To our new Salukis, welcome to Carbondale, and to the returning, welcome back! What you are reading is the Daily Egyptian, the student-ran newspaper. You can find all the local campus and community news each week right here in a 12-page print edition or at dailyegyptian.com. Carbondale is filled with some pretty amazing places, but they might be hard to find right away. My name is Lylee Gibbs, I am the editor-in-chief of the DE, and I was born and raised right here in the 618. Growing up, I spent many of my weekends in Carbondale with my family. I am a senior now, which maybe makes me qualified to give you some recommendations — but I couldn’t do it alone. I have asked my fellow editors and our ad chief to pitch in and give me their favorite spots around town — from restaurants to free activities — and we’ve put it all here in a guide for you. Moving to a new place can be daunting, but the DE editorial board is here to give all the best recommendations to all things Carbondale.
-Lylee Gibbs P.S. lgibbs@dailyegyptian.com
Things to do locally outside of Carbondale:
-The Du Quoin State Fair offers rides, fair food, games, live music and more from Aug. 22 to Sept. 1.
-The Makanda Boardwalk is a quaint shopping strip located at - 20 Makanda Road that offers local art, ice cream and a sculpture garden.
-Marion and Murphysboro, the next towns over both east and west of Carbondale, offer a variety of food and activities.
Sweet treats around town:
-Cool Spoons, a frozen yogurt and ice cream shop that offers a multitude of ice cream and topping choices
-Blend Tea and Crepe Lounge offers sweet and savory crepes along with bubble tea, just walking distance from campus
-Big Chill is totally not a classic Dairy Queen ;) but it is on the Strip and delicious
The best places to study around campus:
~Picnic tables near Campus Lake ~Old Campus in front of Shyrock Auditorium
~Morris Library (specifically the sixth or seventh floor)
The best places to hang out with friends:
-Hangar 9, a popular 18+ bar that offers karaoke and themed nights
-Confluence Books is a bookstore full of thrifted books
-The Thrift Shop is an office-favorite thrift store
-PK’s trivia, if you are over 21, every Wednesday at 8 p.m.
Carbondale Cuisine – The best places to eat around town:
-Quatro’s is one of the most iconic pizza places in town and a staff favorite
-Chango’s is a locally owned fast Mexican restaurant
-China Wok has some of the best crab rangoon, and it’s just a quick walk from the apartments/ towers
-Newby’s is a cheap and fast pizza place
-Pita Alley is a great Mediterranean eatery
-Thai Taste is a local, traditional Thai restaurant that is -Harbaugh’sdeliciousCafe is an office-favorite breakfast place just off campus
-Mary Lou’s Grill is a classic diner on the Strip that is a great option for breakfast
-Sunny Street Cafe is a farther drive from campus but a great breakfast spot
-Booby’s, a local sandwich shop, for a quick bite on the Strip (That inspired the Jimmy John’s chain according to the founder on a podcast)
Our favorite coffee shops:
-Common Grounds is a fan-favorite coffee spot among our staff -DeLytes in Morris Library -Dunkin Donuts is… you already know
-Lost Forest Coffeehouse is a new coffee joint on the Strip
Lost Forest Coffee House opens
AmiliA EstrAdA AEstrAdA@dAilyEgyptiAn com
In a town where college students often drift between crowded bars or cozy coffee shops, one local business is blending both worlds with intention, innovation and a little bit of wild spirit.
Lost Forest Coffee House and Pub officially opened its doors in Carbondale on July 14, offering a unique hybrid space where espresso meets craft cocktails, and board games share the floor with bar stools. It’s nestled inside a completely refurbished space, formerly the Artistic Minds tattoo parlor building. Now owned by two local business owners J.P. Beyler and Brody McCauley, the former tattoo parlor has a new twist.
“We just wanted something we’d actually want to hang out in,” said Beyler, who also co-runs Artistic Minds. “We’ve both owned other businesses, but this was about building a spot with soul. Not a dive bar. Not too upper class. Just something in the middle; fun, friendly, intentional.”
The concept began as a vision of community and evolved into a space where people can sip craft lattes while doing homework, unwind with cocktails infused with fresh ingredients or join a late-night Scrabble tournament. Between the custom-built wooden bar top sourced from a local lumber yard, and the reclaimed materials used throughout the interior, Lost Forest is as much about sustainability as it is about aesthetic.
“We tried to use as much repurposed material as possible,” the co-owner McCauley explained. “Even the bar woods were recycled from the old shop. It’s our way of embracing the southern Illinois vibe.”
From coffee to bloodies
The drink menu balances comfort and creativity. Popular items include the Beekeeper latte, the rich S’mores latte, and a Strawberry Sunrise lemonade that’s already winning over patrons. Cold Blooded Coffee, a locally roasted brand based in Murphysboro, supplies many of the coffee beans making Lost Forest one of only two locations in town to carry it.
For cocktail lovers, the house-made Bloody Mary mix stands out. “We don’t do pre-mix,” Beyler said. “It’s all fresh. It tastes like a country version, brighter, more real.”
The bar plans to expand into food service within the next month or two. The tentative menu includes a variety of breakfast and lunch offerings: waffles, biscuits, muffins, charcuterie plates and eventually venison kebabs.
“We want to embrace the local palate but also push people to try new things,” they said. “A lot of folks here haven’t had deer, and it’s really good meat.”
A space that feels like home
Lost Forest gets its name from the owners’ vision of what once was.
“At one point, this whole area was probably just trees,” Beyler said. “It’s like a ghost of what used to be here before us. I’m a big nature person, and the name just… stuck.”
Though the name evokes something distant, the space feels immediately welcoming. The team includes three baristas, three bartenders and a support staff that’s been described as “really fun, really solid.” And with plans for a beer garden in the parking lot and acoustic nights in the works, the community aspect continues to grow.
Already, Lost Forest is offering a 10% military discount and plans to introduce special deals for students, educators and health care workers. There’s also talk of speed dating nights, game tournaments and drink clubs for women who just want to gather, sip, and laugh.
“We just want to do good”
This may be the duo’s first joint venture into the bar and restaurant world, but their intentions are clear.
“It’s been really fun, even when it’s been hard,” Beyler said, referencing setbacks like rusted pipes and doubled renovation costs. “We’re too stubborn to stop. We just want to give the community a place that feels relaxing, comfortable. Where the drinks are good, the food will be good, and people feel like they belong.”
In a city that thrives on rhythm, change and tightknit community, Lost Forest Coffee House and Pub is carving out a space that’s just wild enough to work and just grounded enough to feel like home.
Staff photographer Amilia Estrada can be reached at aestrada@dailyegyptian.com
Women’s Athletics receives anonymous 7-figure donation
Saluki Athletics made public statements to show their appreciation.
Shortly before the start of the Fall 2025 semester, Saluki Athletics received a donation from an anonymous donor to the tune of $4.5 million, all of which was directed toward SIU’s women’s athletic programs.
The donation was made as a contribution to Saluki Athletics’ Salukis Unleashed initiative, a long-term fundraising effort to raise $100 million for supporting SIU’s student-athletes and funding renovations to athletic facilities.
Of the $4.5 million, $4 million is to be allocated toward scholarships for SIU’s female student-athletes, of which there are currently 150 across seven women’s sports. The last $500,000 will go toward renovations for Charlotte West Stadium, home of Saluki Softball. For such a large individual donation,
“This gift uplifts our entire university by showing the incredible power of the Saluki spirit. It provides inspiring support for women’s athletics at SIU and helps ensure our women’s programs continue to thrive,” Tim Leonard, SIU’s athletic director, said. “There are few things more valuable to an athletics department than financial support for our athletes.”
“This generous donation is more than just a facilities gift, it’s an investment in our female student-athletes, our program and the future of college softball,” Jen Sewell, the head coach of Saluki Softball, said. “$4.5 million dollars is a powerful statement about the importance of women’s athletics. It’s not just an investment in facilities, it’s a vote of confidence in our female athletes, their potential and the future
of women’s sports.”
Sewell also expressed her gratitude directed toward the anonymous donor in a post to X that read, “To our donor, SIU Softball is truly humbled by your extraordinary gift to women’s athletics. Your generosity is a powerful investment in our players and their experience as it fuels our athletes and inspires us all. Thank you for believing in the strength and power of women in sports.”
The donation also garnered attention from SIU Chancellor Austin Lane, who also took to X to voice his thoughts.
“This is an incredible donation! Many students will be impacted by the provided scholarships and facility upgrades to our softball stadium,” Lane wrote.
Sports Reporter Nick Pfannkuche an be reached at npfankuche@dailyegyptian.com.
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Again, the more you know, the more connected you become. So we’re looking to do that, maybe as well, host one out at Banterra in one of their big box rooms or conference rooms.”
For the fall semester, USG plans to expand its late-nite food truck program. Five food trucks will now be in the Thursday rotation, and picnic tables, speakers and lights will be set up. On Friday, Aug. 15, food trucks were present following the annual Light Up the Lake event. Students can expect to have this option following even more campus events.
The organization has also spent the summer working to condense their internal document of funding guidelines to just two pages, in hopes that the funding process will be less nerve-wracking and confusing for RSOs.
“We took all of the inundating information from our document and condensed it to a document that we’re
gonna give to our RSOs, that is, like, from top to bottom, what the process looks like in very short, plain terms, just the information they need,” Phelps said. “And then that second page is what we’re going to evaluate it on. So much like you would receive in a class, it’s almost like a rubric. In this category, we’re looking at this…Hopefully this will set a precedent for next administrations, how they can evaluate for funding, making it more concrete and less changing from year to year.”
The executive board’s main priority for the summer, however, was to begin renovations of the fourth floor of the Student Center. Currently, they’ve created a floor plan and began fundraising, with an ambitious goal of having the space completed and presentable by Homecoming.
When students enter the floor, they’ll be greeted by a reception room. To the left, there will be two smaller rooms: a podcast room, where any student can check out an SD card and use the equipment, and a lactation room for
nursing mothers. The main space of the fourth floor will consist of a game space in the back and moveable furniture in the front.
“The idea behind this is to have one wall with a TV for watch parties, things like the Dawg Pound, when they want to see the Dawgs on the road, having a big space that is completely movable and multiple to how they want the space to look like,” Phelps said of the front portion. “Having that space open, it’s also a great thought for students if you have a weird gap in your class (or) you’re a commuter, having that space that fits you, you can watch Netflix up there, you can study up there.”
The floor plan also includes a small kitchenette with a fridge and microwave and a conference room with a whiteboard wall, TV and view of Thompson Woods.
Abby Tate, vice president of student affairs, said plans have changed as the project progressed, but she thinks students are ultimately going to love the space. As a journalism student and
staff member of WSIU, Tate was tasked with designing the podcast room — drafting the AV proposal, picking paint colors and finding furniture. She said there is going to be trial and error, but the plan currently is to have a checkout system at reception.
“Students can just get an SD card and then they can just record literally whatever they want, put that on streaming if they want, if they just want it for them and their friends they can keep it, and then they just have to return the SD card, make sure their equipment is still good, and then they’ll be good to go,” Tate said. “It will be open to anyone at all.”
A fundraiser for the fourth floor project opened on July 16, 2025. On Aug. 8, Alex Baughman, the USG Chief of Staff, told the Daily Egyptian that $100,000 had been raised of the $250,000 goal.
“I would call that ahead of schedule, to be perfectly honest about it,” Baughman said. “We’ve had some generous donors.”
Baughman has another goal in mind for this semester: recruiting senators. He said they currently have 24 senators returning, but there are 50 seats available in total, delegated to colleges, organizations and at-large. If interested, students can send an email to usg@siu. edu.
“If they are eligible and we have a spot for them, I’ll work on getting them a seat,” Baughman said. “Because one of the things that (former) President (Penny) Bordewick did so well last year was having a vibrant and full Senate for almost the entirety of her term, which is incredibly impressive with some of the turnover that we see at USG just because of December graduations or other things that come up over the course of a year in college, and so we really want to continue that and make sure that our Senate is full so that everybody is represented.”
Deputy Editor Carly Gist can be reached at cgist@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @gistofthestory
Hybrid Halloween: Carbondale to shut down the Strip for Homecoming, Halloweekend
Will Elliott WElliott@dailyEgyptian com
For the first time since 1996, Carbondale is shutting down the Strip for Halloween.
On July 5, Molly Hudgins, the executive director of the Southern Illinois University Alumni Association, confirmed to a crowd of cheering alumni that three blocks of U.S. 51 — known locally as the Strip — will be closed for Halloween, with supervision from the city of Carbondale.
On Oct. 24, the stretch of Illinois Avenue from West College Street to West Walnut Street will close starting at 11 a.m. with family-oriented fun beginning shortly afterward. In the late afternoon, businesses along Illinois Avenue will partake in kids’ trickor-treating, with live music starting at 4:30 p.m. The lineup is not yet confirmed, but Hudgins says it will feature iconic Carbondale bands and acts meant to draw students, all on two different stages with a variety of genres.
The conversation of bringing Halloween back to Carbondale has been brought up by alumni, faculty and students who have heard about or experienced Carbondale’s fun — and chaotic — Halloween history.
After years of raucous Halloween parties that got out of hand in the ‘80s and ‘90s, SIU and the city of Carbondale made efforts to tamp down on the wild celebrations, instituting mandatory university closures, a ban on keg sales and the forced closure of bars along the Strip during the holiday weekend.
As Carbondale’s party mindset relaxed — and student populations shrank — the school and the town have slowly peeled back the regulations with little incident.
When Hudgins first came back to the Alumni Association, people
kept asking if Halloween would ever come back.
“When I returned to the Alumni Association two years ago, one of the things that people kept saying to me was that it would be great to bring back the fun — to bring back Halloween and do this again,” Hudgins said.
The Alumni Association shut down the Strip for a concert during Homecoming weekend last year, using it as a way to test the waters for this year’s closure. They partnered with the city of Carbondale in October 2024 to
1970s often contained thousands of people from all corners of the state crammed onto the Strip. But the events were mostly familyfriendly, and while parties were large, things didn’t get out of hand until the late ‘70s — when a reported crowd of more than 700 people blocked traffic on Illinois Avenue and flipped a car.
In 1980, legendary comedian John Candy filmed the Halloween party that year for his TV special “Roadshow.” Playboy magazine also rated SIU as one of the nation’s top party schools in one
“You say ‘SIU’ and others say ‘party school’ and then the conversation turns to the Halloween parties, I think they should have Halloween — but with a lot of security.”
Kelly Fark, SIU Alum
close down the Strip so the iconic Jungle Dawgs could play their final live set.
“As we began to plan Homecoming this year, one of the things that fell into our favor was that Homecoming fell on the date that traditional Halloween weekend would fall on,” Hudgins said. “In partnership with (the Student Programming Council), Student Affairs themed Homecoming this year to be ‘Spooktacular.’ It’s a Halloween theme that led into the opportunity to close down the Strip in the name of Halloween.”
Carbondale Halloween was traditionally held the weekend before the holiday on Oct. 31, until tricks and treats turned to riots and restrictions in the 1980s and ‘90s.
Halloween celebrations in the
of their issues, but that wasn’t the only issue the parties picked up.
According to a 2021 Daily Egyptian article, property damage, theft and people flipping cars were only a few of the crimes committed when the parties were at their peak in the ‘80s. Some partygoers would jump off business roofs and into the crowd, while others clashed with law enforcement.
In a 2023 interview with WSIU, John Jackson, a former SIU administrator, said a partygoer was killed by a train during one Halloween celebration.
Partygoers were not just SIU students and Carbondale residents — people came from universities across the state and from neighboring states. In 1985, tens of thousands of people were
partying in downtown Carbondale, resulting in dozens of injuries and thousands of dollars in property damage. Everything reached an inflection point.
SIU and the city put their feet down in the late 1980s, banning alcohol sales during the week of Halloween while SIU simultaneously held events aimed at drawing students away from the Strip. For those who decided to party on the Strip, they were watched by police in riot gear, waiting to clear people off of the Strip by force.
“One of the officers walked past me and Maced me,” said SIU alumnus Ray Lisiak, who attended the ‘94 party. “I was just sitting on a set of stairs as the whole place was getting cleared out, and I wasn’t a part of that riot, but people were doing mosh pits, getting crazy and crowd surfing.”
That year, in response to a 10 p.m. curfew, partiers stormed the Strip, flipped cars and threw trash cans through windows, Lisiak said.
In 1995, the tradition had one last big stand that led to 14 arrests. Then, the Halloween turmoil died down.
Salukis still partied on through the rest of the ’90s and into the early 2000s, even with a five-day break during Halloween weekend mandated by SIU. They gathered at house parties in secret, known as “Unofficial” Halloween. During the 2010s, the City of Carbondale slowly lifted its Halloween bans in response to the party atmosphere calming down.
Unofficial Halloween parties still go on to this day, as many places within city limits still host their own events. One of those places is Sigma Chi, a fraternity located two blocks from where the Strip is shutting down. President
Griffin Crear said the Strip shutting down should not affect attendance for their Unofficial Halloween parties — which they still plan to host.
“Honestly, I don’t think the Strip shutting down will have a negative impact as far as attendance goes,” Crear said. “I still think a lot of people will go to Unofficial parties and then go to Levels later.”
Alumni may have pushed for the shutdown of the Strip for Halloween, but they also pushed for strong security during the event. Kelly Fark, a 1996 graduate of SIU, said that she’d like to see safety prioritized.
“You say ‘SIU’ and others say ‘party school’ and then the conversation turns to the Halloween parties,” Fark said. “I think they should have Halloween — but with a lot of security.”
Carbondale law enforcement will be present at the Strip during the event, but City Manager and Police Chief Stan Reno declined to reveal the number of officers.
“The Carbondale Police Department will provide additional staffing in the area of the event to ensure the safety of all attendees,” Reno said. “Our officers will have a visible presence and are focused on maintaining a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone.”
Reno said the city’s goal is to create a fun, inclusive, nostalgic and safe atmosphere.
“The City, SIU and the planning committee are committed to continuing that success by organizing a safe, welcoming event that celebrates both Homecoming and Halloween,” he said.
Videographer Will Elliot can be reached at welliott@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @cameramanwill06
Carbondale bakery builds legacy with famous tres leches cakes
Yahri Edmond YEdmond@dailYEgYptian com
Nina’s Panadería, an authentic Guatemalan and Mexican bakery located on Main Street in Carbondale, continues the legacy of their traditional recipe baking that began under its former name, La Única. What started as a family tradition in the kitchen has turned into one of the area’s most beloved dessert spots, thanks to the BranHerrera family’s dedication — and their unforgettable tres leches cakes. Tres leches cake is a soft sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk — evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream.
At the heart of the operation are Karína Herrera and Oscar Bran, who, alongside their two daughters, Saraí Bran and Gaudy Bran, have earned a devoted following for their signature sweets. The family’s bakery has become a local favorite, known especially for its rich, moist and perfectly balanced tres leches cakes that draw customers from neighboring towns.
“May God bless everyone who comes to this place to taste the flavors we offer,” Oscar Bran said.
Gaudy Bran, who manages the day-to-day business, credits her mother Karína’s recipes and years of experience as the foundation
of their success. Karína, originally from a family of skilled home cooks, continues to carry on the tradition of the tres leches cake and other pastries with textures and flavor until it achieved the indulgent profile it’s now known for.
“This is a blessing,” Karína Herrera said. “It’s a business that was already here, but now we’re happy to carry it forward. I ask God to give us the strength so that, together with them, we can move forward with this bakery.”
Supporting the business behind the scenes is Karína’s sister, Darís Herrera, and her husband, Domingo Valdez, a trained pastry chef who often collaborates with the family for special custom orders and seasonal specialties.
“My parents are the new owners. As I mentioned earlier, they are continuing the legacy that my aunt — my mom’s sister — began a few years ago,” Gaudy said.
The bakery remains a familyrun effort, with Saraí helping during busier seasons and Valdez contributing his culinary expertise to new items. But it’s the tres leches cake that keeps customers returning — whether it’s for a small occasion, a big occasion or just a sweet end to the week.
The family hopes to expand their
Darís Herrera walks freshly baked meringues to display boxes for customers Aug. 2, 2025 at Nina’s Panadería in Carbondale, Illinois. The bakery features a variety of traditional Latin American sweets made fresh each morning. Amilia I. Estrada | aestrada@dailyegyptian.com
reach soon, possibly offering online orders or a second location. Still, they say the most important ingredient will always remain the same: love.
“We’re hoping to continue providing great service here and serving the community with the best pastries and cakes you truly love —
especially the tres leches,” Gaudy said.
News Reporter Yahri Edmond can be reached at yedmond@dailyegyptian.com
WEEKLY CROSSWORD
by Frank Virzi
Move-in Madness
*Answers on page 9
"Boo"
Ashleigh Porter brings her little sister’s items to the side Aug. 13, 2025 at Thompson Pointe in Carbondale, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual