Government
Columbia counters in water war
The City of Columbia has filed a response to an April 11 complaint for declaratory judgment entered by the City of Waterloo in regards to water service rights between the two…
Read MoreRain delays Creekside Park project
It seems fitting that the oft-delayed Creekside Park project in the northwest part of Columbia is once again facing a setback. After beginning excavation work in earnest in late March,…
Read MoreLate water sample for Waterloo
The City of Waterloo was notified by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency of a violation in mid-April regarding another late sample from its new water treatment facility. Waterloo Mayor Stan…
Read MorePritzker seeks third term
Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday he’s running for a potentially historic third term as governor in 2026. During his announcement speech in Chicago, Pritzker said he is running to “protect”…
Read MoreTax bills explained
Tax bills for 2024 payable in 2025 should arrive in local mailboxes by next week at the latest, according to Monroe County Treasurer Kevin Koenigstein. As of press time, the…
Read MoreColumbia awards façade grants
After a busy first half of 2025, June has been relatively calm for Columbia aldermen. Apart from items on the consent agenda, Columbia City Council only had two other items…
Read MoreGas tax hike, other changes begin July 1
On July 1, several new laws and tax changes are set to go into effect across Illinois. The updates were passed during the 2024 and 2025 legislative sessions and signed…
Read MoreRep. Schmidt seeks third term
State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) announced this week his intention to seek a third term in the Illinois Legislature. Schmidt represents the 114th District, which covers Cahokia Heights, East St.…
Read MoreTopics du jour for Waterloo
The Waterloo City Council approved a land annexation and a union contract during its regular meeting Monday night, but has also discussed topics ranging from chickens and bees to solar…
Read MoreCounty property tax dates set
Friday marks the official beginning of summer, but mid-June has recently been the time when property assessments were released. This year, however, with assessments released in February, Monroe County Treasurer…
Read MoreSplash pad barn coming soon
Last week’s meeting of the Waterloo Park District Board had little on the agenda with summer in full-swing, though commissioners did discuss the recent opening of the Waterloo Community Splash…
Read MoreGrocery tax decision looms
The state’s 1 percent grocery tax ends Jan. 1, 2026, but local governments can choose to retain it without asking residents for permission. Governor JB Pritzker signed HB3144 into law…
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