Shaw Local’s 175th Anniversary: A Legacy of Journalism and Abolition Benjamin Flower Shaw’s journey with the Dixon Telegraph began not in Dixon but in Rock Island, where he learned the printing trade with the Rock Island Advertiser starting in 1847. By 1851, Shaw had moved to Dixon to visit his sister, Phoebe, who had married attorney Shepard G. Patrick. His arrival coincided with the newspaper’s founding, and Shaw quickly became a key figure under its owner, Charles Fisk. Despite his youth, Shaw brought four years of experience to the role, setting the stage for his future influence. In October 1851, Fisk sold the paper to M. T. Bull and J. F. Hopper, with Bull being a relative of Patrick, Shaw’s brother-in-law. Shaw’s partnership with Bull lasted only weeks before Hopper left, and Shaw became co-publisher with Bull, a shirttail relative. However, by January 1852, John V. Eustace, an attorney in partnership with Patrick, purchased Bull’s share. Eustace became the paper’s proprietor and editor, while Shaw took on the role of publisher, working closely with Eustace. Shaw’s collaboration with Eustace extended beyond professional duties. Eustace’s 15-year-old sister, Anna, captured Shaw’s attention, and their courtship led to marriage in November 1853. The couple had three children: Fred, Eustace, and Lloyd. Their union became a cornerstone of Dixon’s social and journalistic history. Eustace’s legal career eventually led to the sale of the Telegraph to Shaw in April 1854, marking the beginning of a family legacy that would span generations. Shaw’s editorial debut on April 27, 1854, emphasized his role as a “watchman upon the walls,” vowing to expose political corruption without aligning with either the Whig or Democratic parties. This stance, however, was short-lived.#abraham_lincoln #benjamin_flower_shaw #dixon_telegraph #shepard_g_patterson #anna_eustace
Diplomats claim Trump’s special envoy undermined Iran talks A Persian Gulf diplomat with direct knowledge of U.S.-Iran negotiations told MS NOW that Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, misrepresented key details of a critical conversation during talks. The diplomat described Witkoff’s account of the discussions as false, highlighting a stark divergence between the envoy’s public statements and the reality of the negotiations. Witkoff, speaking on Fox News, claimed Iranian negotiators boasted to him that Iran had enough enriched uranium to produce nearly a dozen nuclear bombs. He described the conversation as the starting point of Iran’s negotiating stance, with Iranian officials expressing pride in their ability to evade international oversight protocols. According to Witkoff, the Iranians stated they possessed 460 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium, which could be used to build 11 nuclear weapons. However, the Persian Gulf diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, refuted Witkoff’s account. The diplomat said Iranian officials had actually offered to relinquish the enriched uranium as part of a potential agreement with Trump. They also claimed the uranium was enriched after Trump withdrew from the 2017 nuclear deal under the Obama administration. The diplomat emphasized that Witkoff’s description of the conversation was inaccurate, stating that the envoy had misrepresented the Iranians’ willingness to compromise. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly dismissed the claims, accusing critics of spreading “false, anti-American propaganda.” She asserted that Trump and Witkoff had acted in good faith to address threats posed by Iran, including its nuclear program and support for terrorist proxies.#iran #abbas_araghchi #steve_witkoff #abraham_lincoln #jared_kushner
