Sheila Haggard joins The Morning Newswatch to talk about the Holiday Lights Fair happening at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds now through December 30.

Michael Gauch is the superintendent of the Harrisburg Community Schools District Unit No. 4. He spoke with Tom Miller about the lack of funds K-12 schools in Southern Illinois has received and whether schools like those in Harrisburg will stay open in the 2016-'17 school year.

Gary Williams, the Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Carbondale and Steve Mitchell with Connect SI join The Morning Newswatch to discuss the process underway to build an ultra high-speed broadband internet network in Carbondale, making Carbondale the region's first "Gigabit City."