Government
Monroe County OKs budget
The “double-edged sword” of increased tax revenues, which Monroe County Treasurer Kevin Koenigstein pointed out in March during his first quarterly budget review of Fiscal Year 2022, has found its…
Read MoreColumbia talks ‘home rule,’ passes levy
The Columbia City Council approved a tax levy and special use permit, discussed park rules and seated a new alderman, but a majority of the meeting was dedicated to the…
Read MoreWaterloo honors good neighbor
The Waterloo City Council on Monday night celebrated a good neighbor and approved a handful of measures. Chuck Green, a longtime member of the Waterloo Sports Association, was presented a…
Read MoreChanges made to SAFE-T Act
Lawmakers on Thursday passed an amendment to the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform’s provisions that will eliminate cash bail when the calendar hits 2023. The measure expands the list of…
Read MoreNew judicial circuit created
Most counties in Illinois have been preparing for implementation of the SAFE-T Act at the beginning of 2023, with many trying to anticipate challenges courts and jails will face when…
Read MoreElection filings begin Monday
The window to file petitions for candidacy in the April 2023 municipal elections opens this coming Monday and continues through Dec. 19. Several people have picked up election packets for…
Read MoreColumbia has new alderman
The Columbia City Council on Nov. 21 voted unanimously to confirm the appointment of Michael Lawlor to the open aldermanic seat created by the resignation of Mark Roessler in late…
Read MoreCounty talks FY23 budget
After department-level hearings last month, a special meeting Nov. 7 and a regular meeting Monday morning, the Monroe County Board of Commissioners is nearly ready to approve the county budget…
Read MoreColumbia shares updates
Last Wednesday, Columbia city officials and department directors addressed members of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce to provide a “state of the city.” Columbia Mayor Bob Hill said Columbia is…
Read MoreGenerators across the county
The Monroe County Emergency Management Agency has been pushing to install generators in community centers around the county for the sake of disaster preparedness. Monroe County Public Safety Director Kevin…
Read MoreSt. Clair County races run close
A number of contested races in St. Clair County were still up in the air as of press time last Tuesday, which was election night. Now, the winners of those…
Read MoreIllinois amendment projected to pass
Illinois voters have approved a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing workers the right to organize and engage in collective bargaining. Estimates compiled by multiple media outlets projected Tuesday that the ballot…
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