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Matt Achenbach, 36, stands with his cows just outside Eastman. He’s concerned about the dwindling number of family-operated farms in the area. “It costs too much money to go out and buy an operation,” Achenbach said. “Your debt load is going to be so big it’s ridiculous. You almost have to inherit it. And that’s where family farms are becoming extinct, becoming corporations, everything’s just getting bigger. I’d like to see a small farm, one family operation not have to hire anyone, be able to work by itself.” Achenbach said he’ll be voting for Trump. Photo by Caroline Kubzansky.
By CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN For Illinois Press Association
It was a rich sample of blue-collar Wisconsin: farmers markets and the farms stocking them, parks, ice cream shops, gas stations, and, when COVID-19 protocols were followed, local party offices.
From Aug. 13 to 29, Caroline Kubzansky (left) left no hay bale unturned as she navigated the virus and country roads to gauge and report the political temperature in the far reaches of the swing Badger State that flipped blue in the 2020 presidential election.
The 21-year-old University of Chicago fourth-year student and managing editor of the school’s newspaper, The Maroon, insisted one thing go on the record after she recounted the surreal experience during a phone interview Dec. 15.
“I want to underline three times that I would not have done it if I didn’t think I could keep 6 feet away, outside, and do it safely,” she said.
As part of her internship with WisPolitics, she scoured Kenosha County before driving to Winnebago County (now a Covid-19 hotbed southwest of Green Bay), where she covered a Trump rally in an airport hangar. Next she covered ultra-rural white Crawford and Adams counties near Madison, before making the 7-hour journey through mostly deep-red country to Sawyer County, a traditional bellwether in the Northwoods.
“It was very lonely,” Kubzansky said. “It wasn’t, ‘Reporter settles in with the community.’ It was ‘Reporter draws a 6-foot bubble.’ I got groceries once.”
She did some door-to-door canvassing, “attempted” meeting sources at local bars, “although that’s sort of cliched,” she said, and felt her skin crawl at some places where COVID-19 protocols were not being followed.
Kubzansky was grateful to the university’s Institute of Politics for footing the AirBNB bills so she could feel safe in single-person lodging.
But she still thought critically about the trip before hitting the road.
“I seriously considered the implications and the example it set for me to be traveling under these circumstances,” she said. “I’m someone who very strongly subscribes to social distancing. So I took a gallon of hand sanitizer and stood on a lot of sidewalks 6 feet away from people.”
A mannequin models a mask at the Adams Flea Market. Photo by Caroline Kubzansky.
Kubzansky spent 3 days in Kenosha County canvassing sidewalks and searching country homes and farms for locals she could talk to safely.
“Fortunately it was summer, so a lot of people were outside in their yards,” she said. “I’d just approach them and ask if they’d be willing to talk to me about politics and bills that affect them.”
Two days after she left the county, a police officer shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back, and the national media swarmed the City of Kenosha.
“People were really eager to turn it into a political football,” Kubzansky said, with an edge in her voice. “It made me sad that so much of it was about how Kenosha would vote. I met a lot of people in the couple of days leading up to that, and I could guess how they were responding to the unrest there. Having gotten to know a lot of people pretty closely, I was really sad to see this happening, knowing they were really freaked out.”
Her report on the state of the county includes a half-dozen sources from various walks of life and political leanings, from the chairs of the county’s parties to a former columnist, a former Democratic
Senate candidate, and a writer and customer language analyst up in arms over “the left … condoning violence as an expression of emotion.”
“She knows the difference between parachuting in for a story, and having spent a little bit more time there,” said Melissa Navas (left), the IOP’s career development director and a mentor to Kubzansky. “In political journalism, you’ll have people fly in and go to a local diner. At her heart, she cares about communities. She knows she needs to immerse herself in a place and not make assertions.”
That’s the job, Kubzansky said. She said she read some national pubs “just as sanity checks,” but mostly stuck to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and, of course, WisPolitics.
“This is what the local media exists to do,” she said.
As polling in Kenosha County began to tilt toward Donald Trump, Kubzansky reached out to another mentor to further assuage her anxiety.
The previous summer, she’d interned for The Iowa Project, where she met David Yepsen, a veteran political reporter and a fixture in Iowa public TV.
“He provided a long-lens view on the whole thing. He’s known the Iowa political scene since 1976,” Kubzanky said. “He’s a lovely dude who’s invested in seeing younger folks come up in journalism.”
It’s immediately evident in a conversation with Kubzansky that she’s hard-wired for journalism. Over the past 2 years, she’s regularly surprised Navas in her first-floor office on campus.
“She’ll just pop into my office with this intensity,” Navas said. “I can tell in her eyes that she wants to talk about a story, or journalism ethics, or anything that isn’t sitting right with her.”
Kubzansky has been involved with The Maroon “since [she] stepped foot on campus as a freshman,” and since being voted in as managing editor days before the pandemic hit, has stepped up and become a mentor herself.
“She’s got this incredible mind for structure and organization, but also for encouragement,” Navas said.
Navas swelled with pride when The Maroon published a story on the campus shutting down the day before the announcement was made. The coverage during the pandemic in general was top-shelf.
But the relentless coverage also exposed the ironic weakness Kubzansky shares with most dogged journalists.
“Sometimes, I have to remind her to just take a deep breath,” Navas said. “I don’t want her to burn out on it early. She is hard-wired to be a journalist. She has this curiosity that will serve her well, and has served her well so far.”
Kubzansky did the interviews for this piece from her parents’ house in Washington, D.C. She said she chose to attend the University of Chicago, “because I’m a big nerd.”
“I got to Chicago and took one look at what I saw,” she said. “I saw a lot of other people who put a lot of stock into books.”
Because the university doesn’t have a J-school, she’s majoring in English and philosophy.
The novels she’s read over the years lend to morals and “say something about the best way to live,” she said. Before arriving in Chicago, she mostly read long-form journalism in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and the like.
Being assigned to the development beat - “which I kidded and called the gentrification beat,” she said - and covering emotionally charged topics like the proposed extension of the Green Line on Chicago’s South Side, her focus has become hyper-local.
Kubzansky is enamored with the public square-focused City Bureau, and she calls working for Block Club, which covers all aspects of the city’s underserved neighborhoods, “a dream of mine.”
She’s also moved by news that hits hardest in the rural Midwest: from the dairy crisis and the defund-the-police coming home to roost, to brain drain and indiginous people’s role in local civic machines.
So living and working in, say, St. Croix County along the Wisconsin-Minnesota border would work as well as staying in the city that’s captured her heart.
“It would be tough from a personal perspective, but I need work,” she said. “And I’d definitely go work in St. Croix County over CNN in a heartbeat.”
LEFT: Virgil Miller, models the masks he purchased on Main Street. He takes a dim view of President Trump. “[Trump] has no respect for people, no respect for women, no respect for anyone but himself,” Miller said. Photo by Caroline Kubzansky.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2025 Contact Information: Kevin Hunsperger, executive director of public information & marketing (618) 634-3270 kevinh@shawneecc.edu
OPINION A Degree of Agreement: Why Illinois needs the Community College Baccalaureate By Dr. TIM TAYLOR President, Shawnee Community College
ULLIN, Illinois - In today’s divided political climate, finding common ground often feels out of reach. But every so often, a solution comes along that bridges red and blue, reflects the values of both parties, and speaks directly to the needs of everyday Illinoisans. The Community College Baccalaureate (CCB) is that solution. It’s a policy bold enough to carry the red banner of fiscal responsibility and local control, the blue banner of equity and opportunity, and – here in deep Southern Illinois – the maroon of community commitment and practical action. At Shawnee Community College, we know firsthand what’s at stake and what’s possible. For Illinois – especially in rural and underserved regions – allowing select community colleges to offer applied bachelor’s degrees is not just smart policy; it’s a necessary evolution in how we serve our students, meet workforce needs, and build resilient local economies. The case for the CCB is compelling under both traditional Republican and Democratic values. When policy reflects both fiscal restraint and expanded opportunity, local control and equitable access, it deserves broad support. A Conservative Case for the CCB: Efficiency, Self-Reliance, and Local Empowerment The Republican platform has long championed local governance, fiscal responsibility, and workforce self-sufficiency. The CCB embodies each of these principles. At Shawnee Community College, located in deep Southern Illinois, we serve a geographically large district where students often commute 30 to 60 miles to attend class. For many, relocating to attend a university is simply not an option. By offering applied bachelor’s degrees in high-need areas like operations management, data science, and allied health, we can help students advance their careers and incomes – without increasing state bureaucracy or taxpayer cost. We already have much of the infrastructure, faculty, and community trust. The CCB allows us to use existing resources more efficiently, giving place-bound students a pathway to prosperity that reflects the realities of their lives and responsibilities. It’s a cost-effective, locally governed solution that aligns perfectly with conservative principles. A Progressive Case for the CCB: Equity, Access, and Economic Justice From a traditional Democratic perspective, the CCB aligns with long-standing priorities around social mobility, educational equity, and economic empowerment. Community colleges enroll the majority of first-generation college students, students of color, adult learners, and low-income residents in Illinois. Yet these same students face systemic barriers to completing a four-year degree – barriers made worse in rural districts like ours where the closest public university is 45 miles away. Many are working parents or caregivers who cannot uproot their lives to finish their education elsewhere. The CCB helps level the playing field by delivering bachelor’s degrees directly into the communities that need them most. It’s a practical step toward reducing disparities in degree attainment and building a more inclusive economy – not just in Southern Illinois, but in dozens of rural and underserved regions across the state. Addressing the Critics: Common Concerns, Real-World Rebuttals Despite broad support, several criticisms are often raised. While worth considering, each falls short under scrutiny – especially when viewed through the lens of real communities like ours. “It’s mission creep for community colleges.” Not at all. Community colleges were created to serve local needs – and those needs have evolved. Offering applied bachelor’s degrees in targeted workforce fields does not change our mission; it fulfills it more fully. We are not trying to become research universities. We are working to meet critical labor shortages and support economic development in our own backyards. “It will duplicate programs offered by universities.” In many parts of Illinois, including our district, there is no university offering these programs nearby, or the university is not producing enough graduates to meet local demand. In fields like cybersecurity, emerging digital technologies (AI, VR, MR, etc.), nursing and teacher education, the shortage is not theoretical – it’s real and immediate. We don’t need duplication; we need complementary capacity. The CCB builds it, affordably and effectively. “Community colleges can’t maintain bachelor’s-level quality.” We already exceed quality expectations in the associate-degree programs we offer, many of which are subject to professional accreditation, licensure standards, and employer review. CCB programs would be subject to regional accreditation and state oversight, just like university programs. In other states, such as Florida and Washington, community college bachelor’s degrees have shown strong outcomes in both employment rates and student satisfaction. “It’s an unfunded expansion that risks existing programs.” In fact, CCB programs are typically self-sustaining through tuition, grants, and private sector partnerships. They are carefully scoped to ensure they don’t drain existing resources but rather add value to the institution and to the community. At Shawnee, for instance, offering a local applied bachelor’s degree in operations management; entrepreneurship could retain students currently lost to out-of-district options while attracting new adult learners who never would have enrolled otherwise. “Why not just improve transfer pathways?” We support strong transfer pathways and have dozens of articulation agreements. But in practice, only a small percentage of community college students who intend to transfer actually complete a bachelor’s degree. Barriers include distance, cost, childcare, and job constraints. The CCB provides another ladder—not a replacement, but a realistic option for the many students for whom transfer isn’t viable. A Call to Act – Together In rural Southern Illinois, our challenges are not unique – they are simply more visible. We face shortages of nurses, teachers, and skilled professionals. We serve students who are hardworking, resourceful, and determined – but often one barrier away from dropping out. The Community College Baccalaureate is not a threat to the university system. It is not a partisan stunt. It is a practical, bipartisan solution that puts education, workforce readiness, and community prosperity within reach for thousands of Illinois residents. This isn’t about red or blue. And it’s certainly not about politics as usual. It’s about doing what works – locally, responsibly, and urgently – for the people of this state. At Shawnee, we wear maroon with pride. But we believe in a future where red and blue come together to serve the public good. I urge Illinois legislators from both sides of the aisle – along with employers, local governments, and education leaders – to support the CCB. Our students, neighbors, and friends don’t have time to wait for perfection. They need progress. And they deserve the chance to finish what they started – right here, at home. Dr. Tim Taylor has worked in higher education for more than 36 years and serves as president of Shawnee Community College in Southern Illinois. He is a longtime advocate for rural workforce development, educational access, and bipartisan solutions that strengthen local communities.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2025 Contact Information: Art in Motion (773) 820-9426 or (901) 482-9329 ntatum@distinctiveschools.org
Art In Motion High School 9th - 12th students become published authors
Publishing party and book viewing planned
CHICAGO – Art In Motion is proud to announce that 18 of its students have become published authors, with 14 additional students becoming published illustrators, through the national Studentreasures Publishing program. This initiative allowed students in the 10th and 11th grades to conceive, write, and illustrate their own books. Entitled "Ink and Impact," the project began as an extension of a general education writing enhancement activity led by Mr. Paul Grossman, which aimed to refine students' writing abilities and foster creative expression. Special education (Diverse Learner) teacher Mr. Nicholas Tatum, the co-teacher, contributed by initiating the idea to use the Studentreasures Publishing Company and ensuring that diverse learners were fully included and supported throughout the project.
Dr. Maria Freeman, the school’s principal, commented on the project’s success, "Watching our students turn their imaginative concepts into published works has not only filled me with immense pride but has also reinforced our commitment to integrating real-world creative tasks into our curriculum. This achievement speaks volumes about our students' abilities and our faculty’s dedication." Media Invite Only You’re invited to the red carpet for our student authors! A publishing party, book viewing, humanities vanity fair event will take place at 5 p.m. May 16, featuring a book signing and a Humanities Vanity Fair to celebrate this remarkable achievement. For more information on our event or to plan a visit, please call (773) 820-9426 or email ntatum@distinctiveschools.org About Art In Motion Art In Motion, located at 7415 S. East End Ave, Chicago, is a progressive charter school offering a comprehensive education through a unique blend of academic and artistic disciplines. Founded in partnership with the Grammy, Emmy, and Academy Award-winning artist Common, the school is dedicated to empowering students by enriching their educational experiences with deep arts integration. Aimed at fostering both personal and community growth, Art In Motion provides a dynamic learning environment where innovative methods meet traditional learning. About Studentreasures Publishing For more than 25 years, Studentreasures Publishing has helped more than 16 million students across the U.S. and Canada become proud published authors. The program offers free publishing resources, turning student artworks and writings into bound books, helping to boost creativity and writing skills in an engaging and tangible way. Learn more at https://studentreasures.com/. Thank you, Nicholas Tatum, M.Ed. Diverse Learner Teacher Art in Motion