Pikeland families demanding removal of book from High School English curriculum
By Benjamin Cox on October 29, 2026 at 12:22pm
The Pikeland School District is forming a committee to review classroom reading materials after a parent called for the removal of a novel from the curriculum. According to reporting from WBBA Radio in Pittsfield, parent Brian Jacques objected to Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, reportedly assigned in a sophomore English […]
Greene Co. Board Tables Action on Placing County Ambulance Service Out for Bid
By Benjamin Cox on October 29, 2026 at 11:49am
The Greene County Board has put plans to seek bids for ambulance service on hold as discussions continue over the county’s contract with Boyd Hospital. According to River County News, the board met in a special session last Wednesday to consider putting ambulance services out for bid after Boyd Hospital rejected a one-year contract extension. […]
JSD 117 Boundary Changes on the Agenda for November, Building Enclosed with proposed April 2027 completion
By Benjamin Cox on October 29, 2026 at 10:52am
The Jacksonville School District 117 board of education continued with a brief discussion about southern boundary change for the district on Wednesday night. The district had taken up a discussion with members from the Woodson community who would be affected if the southern boundary of the Murrayville-Woodson Elementary district moved north. Superintendent Steve Ptacek recommended […]
Crisis Center Foundation recipient of MacMurray Foundation Community Grant
By Benjamin Cox on October 29, 2026 at 10:38am
The MacMurray Foundation and Alumni Association has awarded a community grant to the Crisis Center Foundation in Jacksonville to support healthy relationship education for teens. The funding helped expand the foundation’s violence prevention programming into Greene County, building on existing outreach in Morgan County. Lessons cover bullying prevention, healthy relationships and teen dating violence, using […]
Authorities Search for Tennessee Escaped Convict, Stolen Truck Found in Marion
By Benjamin Cox on October 29, 2026 at 10:22am
Authorities are continuing their search for an escaped Tennessee prison inmate convicted of murder after a stolen truck connected to the escape was discovered in Southern Illinois. 28-year-old Jacob Allen Morley escaped from the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, late Sunday night. Prison officials say surveillance footage showed Morley breaching the facility’s perimeter fence […]
Joe Page Bridge Community Meeting Scheduled for Nov. 18
By Benjamin Cox on October 29, 2026 at 10:21am
The Illinois Department of Transportation is seeking public input for a fourth time on plans for the Joe Page Bridge in Hardin. IDOT will hold an open-house meeting November 18th from 5 to 8 p.m. at Calhoun High School to discuss a study examining options to rehabilitate or replace the bridge, which carries Illinois 16 […]
Jacksonville Main Street Exec talks Landmarks Illinois’ acquisition of Illinois Main Street organization
By Benjamin Cox on October 29, 2026 at 10:19am
Landmarks Illinois has acquired Illinois Main Street, bringing the statewide downtown revitalization network under a permanent home focused on historic preservation and community development. Jacksonville Main Street Executive Director Judy Tighe says the move could provide much-needed stability after years of changes in state oversight. She says the statewide program has repeatedly been moved between […]
STAR Bond District for Jacksonville
By Gary Scott on October 29, 2026 at 10:02am
Jacksonville’s community development director admits it’s a long shot for the city to get a Star Bond District for the former Jacksonville Developmental Center grounds. The city council Monday night voted to pass a resolution that shows intent for Jacksonville to consider the establishment of a sales tax and revenue Star Bond District. Brian Nyberg […]
Jax Council May Call for Data Center Moratorium
By Gary Scott on October 26, 2026 at 8:08pm
The Jacksonville city council is getting into the data center moratorium business. The council agreed to discuss the moratorium at the next regularly scheduled council meeting in two weeks. Alderman Rob Thomas made the proposal tonight, saying it needs to be done before a site is proposed. Alderwoman Alison Rubin de Celis […]
Six Month Moratorium Extension for Data Centers
By Gary Scott on October 26, 2026 at 10:29am
A much more civil tone was one of the highlights of this morning’s Morgan County board meeting, as commissioners approved a six month extension of a moratorium on data centers in the county. The board voted unanimously to support the moratorium. Commissioner Michael Woods says the board needs to use the time to get more […]
