Government
Columbia hires new city administrator
The Columbia City Council approved the hiring of a new city administrator during its meeting on Monday night. The new hire is Douglas Brimm, a Dupo native who has served…
Read MoreNational park effort for Cahokia Mounds
Efforts to make the Cahokia Mounds a national park are nearing the finish line, with legislation recently introduced in Congress by Illinois lawmakers. Mounds in Monroe County are included in…
Read MoreNew I-255 exit gets $33M
The Illinois General Assembly passed a $45 billion capital plan earlier this year and some of that money will be coming to this area. Although the state is still determining…
Read MoreLost court fines being sought
cuit Clerk Lisa Fallon settled into her newly elected position in late 2016, she assumed responsibility for managing a mountain of court transaction records. Included was a largely undefined roster…
Read MoreBelt legacy felt among local Democrats
Although she has not served as an officer in more than two years, the work Jeannine Belt did during her time on the Monroe County Democratic Central Committee is still…
Read MoreConcern locally over cannabis legalization
Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 1438 into law last Tuesday, making recreational marijuana legal in Illinois starting Jan. 1. “Legalizing adult-use cannabis brings an important and overdue change to…
Read MoreReitz evaluates first session
State Rep. Nathan Reitz (D-Steeleville) was only in Springfield for the final 16 days of the legislative session, but he still passed several bills and voted on numerous critical proposals. …
Read MoreCounty board hears flood update
The threat of flooding on the Mississippi and Kaskaskia rivers is by no means over, but the Mississippi is dropping steadily and is predicted to continue to do so. The…
Read MoreSchimpf reviews historic session
State Sen. Paul Schimpf (R-Waterloo) recently took stock of the historic legislative session that concluded in Springfield on June 2. In a session that saw the General Assembly raise the…
Read MoreIngold appointed to Columbia Plan Commission
Amid public comments, a failed motion and questions of parliamentary procedure, Peter Ingold, owner of the Sunset Overlook, was appointed to the Columbia Plan Commission. The initial motion to approve…
Read MoreHouse OKs graduated income tax
Illinois voters will get to vote in 2020 on how they want their income taxed after the Illinois House of Representatives passed a joint resolution constitutional amendment on Memorial Day…
Read MoreRetired Monroe County judge dies
Retired longtime Monroe County Circuit Judge Dennis J. Jacobsen of Waterloo passed away May 4 at the age of 76. Jacobsen, a Democrat, was elected Monroe County State’s Attorney in…
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