City of Jacksonville seeking RFQ for possible STAR Bond district for potential JDC site redevelopment
By Benjamin Cox on October 15, 2026 at 10:58am
The City of Jacksonville is seeking a master developer for a proposed STAR Bonds district aimed at attracting major tourism, retail and entertainment development. The city’s Development Office has issued a request for qualifications under the state’s STAR Bonds program, which allows eligible communities to use sales tax revenue and bonds to help finance major […]
Man sentenced for April standoff near JMS
By Benjamin Cox on October 15, 2026 at 10:50am
A Jacksonville man has pleaded guilty to a felony weapons charge stemming from an hours-long standoff near Jacksonville Middle School in April. 37-year old Thomas M. Loughary pleaded guilty Wednesday in Morgan County Circuit Court to possession of a weapon by a felon. He was sentenced to eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. […]
Kitchen fire on South Main
By Benjamin Cox on October 15, 2026 at 10:36am
A kitchen fire caused damage to a home in South Jacksonville Monday afternoon. According to the Journal-Courier, firefighters from South Jacksonville and Jacksonville responded around 1:45 p.m. to a home in the 1800 block of South Main Street. The homeowner reportedly was doing laundry in the basement when he smelled smoke. He went upstairs and […]
Sangamon authorities seeking Burglary Suspect
By Benjamin Cox on October 15, 2026 at 10:35am
The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a second suspect in a burglary at Mama Lee’s Sandbar on Mechanicsburg Road, east of Springfield. Forty-six-year-old Troy W. Rathbone of Riverton is wanted in connection with the July ninth burglary, when two gaming machines were damaged, resulting in more than 40-thousand dollars in damage. Phillip J. […]
IC Receives Workforce Grant
By Benjamin Cox on October 15, 2026 at 10:31am
Illinois College has received a $3 million federal grant to expand student support and career-readiness programs over the next 5 years. College officials say the Title 3 Strengthening Institutions Program grant will fund a new initiative called COMPASS, focused on helping students from their sophomore year through graduation. The program is said to provide additional […]
Truck driver okay after truck ends up on top of guard rail
By Benjamin Cox on October 15, 2026 at 10:28am
A driver of a panel truck appears to be okay after he allegedly fell asleep at the wheel on Monday morning on East Morton Avenue. Jacksonville Police, local EMS and Jacksonville Fire & Rescue were called to the 800 block of East Morton Avenue at the Mauvaisterre Creek bridge shortly before 7:30 Monday morning. The […]
Ancil Glink Hired for FOIA by the city
By Gary Scott on October 15, 2026 at 10:10am
The Jacksonville city council last night hired a Chicago law firm to help with the crush of freedom of information act, or FOIA requests the city has received in the past three years. Mayor Andy Ezard says the number has jumped from about 400 two years ago, to 684 last year, and just over a […]
Jax Fire to Get a Deputy Fire Chief
By Gary Scott on October 14, 2026 at 5:36am
The Jacksonville city council voted last night to create a new position within the fire department. The council voted 6 to 3 to create a deputy fire chief position. Aldermen and woman Lori Large Oldenettel, Rob Thomas and Aaron Scott voted against it. Oldenettel says the process wasn’t properly vetted. Oldenettel […]
Another six month Extension of the Data Center moratorium in two weeks
By Gary Scott on October 13, 2026 at 11:32am
The Morgan County board this morning decided to vote in two weeks on extending the moratorium on data centers another six months. It came during an acrimonious and raucous meeting at times marked by three people being thrown out of the meeting, and board member Michael Woods calling for chairman Mike Wankel’s resignation. Woods claims […]
IL-97 Upgrades begin
By Benjamin Cox on October 13, 2026 at 9:49am
Drivers traveling west of Springfield should expect lane closures as work begins on an expansion of Illinois Route 97. The Illinois Department of Transportation says crews have started preliminary work along Jefferson Street, west of Veterans Parkway. Initial work includes removing medians, with possible utility relocations and drainage improvements to follow. The larger project will […]
