Government
FEMA flood map open house in Columbia
Local, state and federal officials are working to reduce the impacts of severe weather and natural disasters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will hold an in-person open house from 5:30-7:30…
Read MoreNew year, new laws
By now, almost everyone in Illinois has heard that Jan. 1 will mark the beginning of a significant change in the state’s criminal justice system – the elimination of cash…
Read MoreOak Hill budget OK; department split
The Monroe County Board finalized Fiscal Year 2023 preparations Monday morning as it approved the budget for the Oak Hill senior living and rehabilitation center. The annual budget for the…
Read MoreWPD residency rule relaxed
The Waterloo City Council on Monday approved an amendment to its residency requirements for police department employees. City ordinance now allows a Waterloo Police Department employee to reside within a…
Read MoreCandidates file for April election
Monday afternoon was the deadline for candidates to file for inclusion on the April 2023 ballot, and Waterloo voters will see its largest number of contested races in recent memory.…
Read MoreColumbia talks projects, funding
The last meeting of the year for the Columbia City Council focused on the future of the city with an emphasis on infrastructure, future projects and a proposed move to…
Read MoreBill would help fight fentanyl epidemic
In her effort to help combat the ongoing fentanyl epidemic hurting Illinois families, State Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) has signed on as a chief co-sponsor for Senate Bill 4221, which…
Read MorePrange praised upon passing
Retired longtime Monroe County Treasurer Merrill Prange passed away Sunday at the age of 74 in his hometown of Fults. Prange served 30 years as treasurer from 1978 to 2008. …
Read MoreMonroe 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…
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