News

Although they're facing budget cuts, universities and community colleges have said they're willing to begin taking on employees' pension costs.

The house agriculture committee and the Senate have both passed versions of a new five year farm bill. Congress passed a 9 month extension to the current farm bill last year, but the he lack of long term farm bill is affecting conservation programs.

A judge ruled Kay Hill lost the election for second ward alderman in Macomb to Western Illinois University student Steve Wailand. But Hill is not giving up her fight over the seat.

A significant anniversary will be celebrated in Fort Madison May 17-18.

A controversial decision by the Lee County Board of Supervisors seems to have boosted interest in a property tax auction held in Fort Madison.

The Illinois Road Fund aggregates billions of dollars every year to build and repair highways, but a new report from Illinois' auditor general said more than half the money is going for employee salaries and benefits as well as paying off bonds.

The April explosion at the West, Texas, fertilizer plant that killed 14 people, injured about 200 others and destroyed dozens of homes was so powerful it could be felt 50 miles away, registering as a 2.1-magnitude earthquake. The blast should continue to rumble throughout the country since its owner apparently didn’t disclose the dangers there, and the government agencies responsible for protecting the area also failed.

The deadline for the USDA’s Ag census is at the end of the month. It's conducted every 5 years and collects information on land prices and ownership as well as agricultural practices.

The head of the Lee County Board of Supervisors is defending the hiring of a consulting firm for an upcoming project.

The Macomb Public Library is inching closer to the local fundraising goal as part of the plan to build an addition to its Carnegie building.