First human West Nile Virus case of 2014 confirmed in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Public Health has confirmed the state’s first case of human West Nile virus. A woman in her 70’s became sick in July, the Chicago Department of Public Health reported. Last year, a total of 117 cases were reported, including 11 deaths. West Nile virus has now been reported in 32 Illinois […]
Read More →The Metro Independent celebrates one year
The first story posted on metroindependent.com was at 9:55 p.m. on Aug 14, 2013. Twelve months later, more than 1,200 stories have appeared. The support The Metro Independent has received in the past year has been staggering. From the first day, community leaders, police and fire departments, elected officials, school officials, coaches, players, parents, business […]
Read More →Fairness for Fairmount continues fight to bring gaming to Fairmount Race Track
On a recent evening about 15 people gathered in the Collinsville Township Senior Center to discuss how they can help save Fairmount Race Track. Spearheaded by the Collinsville Chamber of Commerce, those gathered for the Fairness for Fairmount meeting included officials from the City of Collinsville and Collinsville Township, horse owners and concerned citizens. For […]
Read More →Fairview Heights police chief calls rumors of possible looting at mall unfounded
Fairview Heights Police Chief Nick Gailius issued a statement Tuesday in response to “low-level” social media chatter about planned looting at St. Clair Square. Gailius called concerns being expressed that it is not safe at the Fairview Heights mall “wildly inaccurate.” “There has been no protesting, no looting, and no indications of any problems there,” […]
Read More →State to host medical cannabis town hall meeting in Collinsville Thursday
Eight months after the Illinois Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act went into effect and eight months before the first dispensaries are expected to open, the State of Illinois is hosting three town hall meetings to answer questions about the program. Collinsville will host the first town hall, at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 14 […]
Read More →Collinsville considered as possible site for medical cannabis dispensary
A group interested in opening a cannabis dispensary in Collinsville approached the City last month to initiate discussions, officials have confirmed. The discussions are in the very early stages, City Manager Scott Williams said. “We have had preliminary discussions with a vendor who contacted us,” Williams said. “We responded to questions about zoning and licensing.” […]
Read More →Prenzler responds to allegations about his day care business
Marleen Suarez, candidate for Madison County Treasurer, released a statement Monday criticizing the history of failed inspections at a St. Louis day care owned by current treasurer, Kurt Prenzler. “While Mr. Prenzler is running around other counties warning of ‘patterns’ in his slander of innocent public servants, he failed to correct alarming problems in his […]
Read More →Madison County Treasurer’s employees at center of complaint get big raises
Madison County Treasurer Kurt Prenzler put his words to action when he recently gave large raises to two office employees accused of taking part in politically motivated work on taxpayer time. Prenzler told The Metro Independent on June 3 that work done by an employee in his office to assist with the investigation of St. […]
Read More →Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge closing delayed by almost a year
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that the work previously planned to start in August on the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge has been postponed. The bid submitted to rehabilitate the bridge deck was considerably higher than IDOT had budgeted. The planned work will be revised and the work put out for bid later this […]
Read More →New Chain of Rocks Canal Bridge to open to westbound traffic on July 11
The new Chain of Rocks Bridge will welcome its first cars on July 11, when the westbound lanes of the Interstate 270 structure are open to traffic. Under construction since 2011, the Illinois Department of Transportation plans to open the bridge fully by the end of September, when it will be opened to eastbound traffic. […]
Read More →No internet, no problem: New concealed carry application process announced
The Illinois State Police announced Monday a way for residents to obtain a concealed carry permit if they do not have access to the internet. Applicants can contact the department’s Firearms Services (FSB) Customer Service Center phone line at 217-782-7980 and provide the same concealed carry license application information that is currently required through the on-line process. […]
Read More →Madison County treasurer referred for investigation, calls charges political
It is still not clear what Madison County Treasurer Kurt Prenzler hoped to accomplish when he held a press conference in front of the St. Clair County Administration building on May 30. Prenzler presented results of an analysis that at least two of his staff members helped compile while working in the Madison County Treasurer’s […]
Read More →New Illinois ticket quota law does not eliminate ticket quotas
By John Layton and Roger Starkey When Governor Pat Quinn signed into law Senate Bill 3411 on Sunday, June 15, he touted it as part of his agenda to maintain integrity in local government. State Representative Jay Hoffman, of Swansea, said the new law eliminates arbitrary quotas. “Arbitrary quotas on the number of tickets that […]
Read More →Escaped prisoner captured in Colorado
***Updated at 4 p.m. Friday, June 20*** Turhan Robinson’s escape lasted less than 12 hours and ended only a few blocks from where it started. The prisoner, charged with murder and armed robbery in the killing of Kenneth Deal on May 19 in Madison, Ill., was on his way back to Madison County from Las […]
Read More →New test added to newborn screening in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Public Health will test all babies born in Illinois hospitals for severe combined immunodeficiency, or SCID, and other immunodeficiencies. SCID is an inherited disorder that causes improper development of white blood cells that are the primary defense against viruses, bacteria and fungal infections. People with SCID are very susceptible to recurrent infections […]
Read More →Police report second false home invasion in Collinsville in three months
Five police organizations rushed to the scene of a reported home invasion at 2 a.m. Friday in the 1100 block of Hampstead Court, in Collinsville. Someone called 911 and reported that a woman was being dragged from her house by men dressed in black, wearing masks. When officers from Collinsville, Maryville, Caseyville, the Madison County […]
Read More →Area crime wrap: Man hits stopped motorcycle, charged with pot possession
Alton man’s night goes up in smoke after possession charges Evan J. Turner, 19, of Alton, was charged June 6 with a felony charge of unlawful possession with intent to deliver cannabis after crashing into a stopped motorcycle. On Tuesday, June 3, at approximately 6:03 p.m., the Madison County Sheriff’s Office responded to a traffic […]
Read More →Ameren Illinois installs IntelliRupters to interupt power disruptions
When spring arrives, the leaves are on our trees, the flowers are blooming in our yards and, more often than we would like, the power is out in our homes. To combat the power of nature that sometimes leave us powerless, Ameren Illinois is installing new technology and improving its infrastructure. This is part of the company’s $3.5 […]
Read More →Two Collinsville residents charged following federal sting
Two Collinsville residents have been charged after a federal sting operation intended to stop abuse of the Medicaid program in Illinois. Angel D. Jones, 50, and Lawrence M. Thigpen, 53, were two of 14 indictments announced by United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Stephen R. Wigginton, and Gerald Roy, special agent in charge, […]
Read More →Prenzler used taxpayer money to investigate fellow treasurer, says part of duties
When Madison County Treasurer Kurt Prenzler stood in front of the St. Clair County Administration Building at 1 p.m. Friday, he strongly insinuated, but stop short of accusing, St. Clair County Treasurer Charles Suarez of wrongdoing while in office. That Prenzler and some staff members compiled the information distributed to the media using Madison County […]
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