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NEWMAN PLAYER IS ONE Cool country, and a lot more FOR THE RECORD BOOKS A9-12
BOYS BASKETBALL, B1
dailyGAZETTE Thursday, January 28, 2016
SERVING ROCK FALLS, STERLING AND THE SURROUNDING AREA SINCE 1854
CHALLENGER
History lesson in the making
ILLINOIS| STATE OF THE STATE
A work in progress Rauner says there’s still time to make historic strides toward compromise for the people of Illinois SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner used his State of the State address Wednesday to make another case for changes he says would make Illinois more competitive, even as he acknowledged that huge opposition from Democrats has prompted a record budget stalemate and crippled social services and other programs. Rauner touched on many of the same agenda items he’s pushed unsuccessfully for the past year: imposing term limits on lawmakers, freezing property taxes and allowing local governments to strip unions’ collective bargaining rights. He also attempted to show he’s taking a more bipartisan approach to 2016, saying again that he will back Democratic Senate President John
Cullerton’s plan to overhaul Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension system and referencing Cullerton’s call for school funding reform in saying he wants to direct more money to classrooms. “All of us in this chamber had a difficult year together in 2015 as we debated a budget with structural reform,” Rauner said. “But it is not too late for this General Assembly to make historic progress for the people of Illinois.” But his roughly 40-minute speech made clear that the battle lines over a budget impasse about to enter its eighth month haven’t changed. And Democrats – almost all of whom refrained from joining Republicans in applauding the governor – were quick to criticize.
LOCAL LAWMAKER REACTION
Divided they stand on speech
Local teachers reflect on a moment both tragic and teachable BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
BY PAM EGGEMEIER peggemeier@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5570 @pam_eggemeier
The area’s Republican legislators saw Gov. Bruce Rauner’s State of the State address Wednesday as a starting point for bipartisan progress on the budget impasse, while the area’s lone Democratic legislator said the speech was a missed opportunity. GOP State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, said Rauner’s second State of the State speech, which called for mutual respect, targeted some of the governor’s high-priority issues that have some backing on both sides of the aisle.
SPEECH CONTINUED ON A7
LOCAL CONTINUED ON A7
“If each of us commits to serious negotiation based on mutual respect for our co-equal branches of government, there’s not a doubt in my mind we can come together to pass a balanced budget alongside reforms. If we work together, Illinois can be both compassionate and competitive.” Gov. Rauner, delivering his State of the State speech
AP
STERLING SCHOOLS
Public invited on a journey of Discovery School survey results available today BY CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN cheimerman@saukvalley.com 815-625-3600, ext. 5523 @CHeimerman_SVM
STERLING – Taylor Jackson was happy to provide input on her school district’s Community Feedback Survey. Twice, even. As a Sterling High School teacher, and also as a mother – of kindergartner Luke, preschooler Noah and 8-month-old Emily – she took the survey twice. This
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TODAY’S EDITION: 24 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 162 ISSUE 35
Sterling High School social studies teacher Taylor Jackson helps her son, Luke, 5, with his homework Tuesday evening at home.
morning, you’ll be able to see the survey’s results as its third phase, “Discovery,” kicks in. You’ll also get a sneak peek into the district’s planning process. “As a teacher, it allowed us to share some insight about what’s going on in our own classrooms, and highlight some positives that have been happening,” said Jackson, 32. DISCOVERY CONTINUED ON A5
INDEX
ABBY ................... A8 BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ...............B6
Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com
CROSSWORD....B12 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 PLAN!T ............A9-12
If you saw the flames, the sudden and complete carnage, you likely remember where you were and what you were doing when the Challenger space shuttle exploded 30 years ago today. Fortunately for three Sauk Valley educators, both current and former, they weren’t gathered around the TV with their students when the tragedy claimed the lives of seven astronauts, More including on the Christa McAuChallenger liffe, a science Learn and teacher from Live – The Concord, New author reflects Hampshire, on where he on Jan 28, was on the 1986. fateful day of G e o r g i a the Challenger Pearson, who tragedy. will retire after Page A4 this school year after What We teaching sciThink – ence in Dixon Despite that for 42 years, fateful day in had a plan1986, we can ning period take solace that morning from the fact and watched that “touching it live at Madithe future” and son School. “reaching for The plan the stars” conwas to have tinue to inspire her students Americans of watch replays. all ages. That plan Page A6 changed when Online she and other extra – Read faculty saw this story at the explosion. saukvalley. “We were com to see just so dumba collection founded,” of AP photos Pearson said. from the Chal“I was planlenger shuttle ning to refer explosion. to it the rest of the day. It just seemed so out of the realm of possibilities. We had this feeling that nothing was going to go wrong. It was like, ‘No. No. You’re kidding. Oh, my God.’” She was grateful to not have watched along with her kids. “That would’ve been horrendous, and I have no idea how some people handle that,” she said. The way administration handled it was to tell its teachers not to talk about it with the kids. Not until their parents had. Sterling Mayor Skip Lee, then teaching junior level chemistry in Rock Falls, also had a planning period that day. CHALLENGER CONTINUED ON A4
Today’s weather High 37. Low 19. More on A3.
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