Western Courier

The bubbling of chili echoed in the Macomb American Legion Thursday night, as a crowd of more than 200 people gathered. The event marked the first Western Illinois University chili cook-off. The university agriculture council held the event, which had been in planning for over two months.… Post the First Comment

A crowd of about 300 people walked in and out of the Grand Ballroom of the Western Illinois University Union Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the 34th annual Summer Camp Job Fair. The fair was sponsored by the recreation, park and tourism administration department, and was held to try and provide students with work this summer and try and provide camps with good workers.…

Senate Bill 3186, a piece of legislation adding sexual orientation to Illinois' Human Rights Act, was signed Jan. 21 by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, illegalizing discrimination against gays in matters of housing, employment, public accommodations and credit. When the law goes into effect June 1, sexual orientation will be added to the list of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (with regard to employment), age 40 and over, marital status, physical or mental handicap, military service or unfavorable military discharge, which are included in the Illinois Human Rights Act.… Post the First Comment

If life experiences can be translated into novels, then Kenneth Hawkinson, professor and chair of Western Illinois University's communication department, has many waiting to be written. Hawkinson has recently published "The Oil in the Lamp," released by Publish America in November 2004.… Post the First Comment