Murphysboro Mayor Will Stephens joins The Morning Newswatch.

SIU President Randy Dunn stopped by the studio to discuss the higher education funding plans debated by state lawmakers, as well as the recent graffiti on SIU's Faner Hall regarding a protest organized by an anonymous student group.

Illinois State Senator of the 59th Senate district Gary Forby spoke with Tom Miller this morning before heading to the senate committee hearing concerning cuts to Southern Illinois University and the unsolved budget impasse.