Government
Courthouse confusion for county
The implementation of Illinois’ Pretrial Fairness Act in 2023 and the beginning of the 24th Judicial Circuit this December has created an air of uncertainty for many involved in the…
Read MoreTo forgive or forget college debt relief?
The recent announcement from the Biden Administration concerning a proposed Student Debt Relief Plan has sparked significant controversy. While some emphasize personal responsibility when it comes to taking care of…
Read MoreUnion and employee organization on ballot
An item concerning union organization and labor bargaining in Illinois will be on ballots for the upcoming Nov. 8 general election. The full text of the item can be found…
Read MoreProperty taxes down; bills almost ready
Monroe County Treasurer/Collector Kevin Koenigstein has released 2021 property tax rates along with payment deadlines for taxes payable in 2022. Koenigstein noted overall taxes collected for Monroe County are lower…
Read MoreIllinois to issue tax rebates
Under the Illinois Family Relief Plan passed by the Illinois House and Senate, one-time individual income and property tax rebates will be issued to taxpayers who meet certain requirements. Illinois…
Read MoreNeighbor shreds skate park
The Waterloo City Council on Monday night heard from a neighbor of the skate park about what he termed as “dangerous and illegal behavior” taking place there. Alan Mitan has…
Read MoreZoning OK for ‘grain bin’ BNB
The Monroe County Zoning Board of Appeals approved a special use exception for a “grain bin” bed and breakfast at its meeting last Wednesday night. The request was granted to…
Read MoreMonroe County final multiplier issued
Monroe County has been issued a final property assessment equalization factor of 1.0000 by the Illinois Department of Revenue. The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier,” is the…
Read MoreAll roads lead to Columbia
There was a smorgasbord of action and discussion items on the menu during Monday’s meeting of the Columbia City Council. A common thread in much of the discussion involved roadways…
Read MoreCounty talks dispatching, EMS, warrants
The Monroe County Board met in regular session Monday morning and passed several items relating to county dispatch, emergency medical services and search warrant protocol. The first item approved was…
Read MoreCreekside Estates concerns expressed
Residents of the Creekside Estates subdivision approached the Waterloo City Council on Aug. 1 about concerns with two detention basins near their properties. Scott Gross, a resident of Creekside Drive,…
Read MoreVideo gambling totals rise
Following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown, video gambling in Monroe County is now seemingly bigger than ever before. Based on data from the Illinois Gaming…
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