COVID death count muted

The state classification of COVID deaths has long been a contentious subject, and speculation is now causing the Monroe County Health Department to stop reporting them.  Monroe County Health Department…

Read More

Man charged in fentanyl death

A Columbia man has been charged in connection with the drug-induced death this past fall of 27-year-old Clayton Augustine of Waterloo.  The charging documents, filed Feb. 9, allege Derek A.…

Read More

State mask mandate ending

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced last Wednesday afternoon that the statewide indoor mask requirement will be lifted starting Feb. 28 – with some notable exceptions. During a press conference in…

Read More