The Elgin city council voted unanimously to finalize an agreement to work with seven other communities and DuPage County in a coalition that will work to block the merger between the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern freight railroads. The group has already filed their objections with federal regulators. The communities say freight train traffic could triple if the merger goes through.
Suburban officials are worried the proposed merger of two major rail companies would mean more frequent freight trains, which they say could take as long as 10 minutes to clear an intersection.
Elgin residents and small businesses can now subscribe to a community solar program to receive credits on their ComEd accounts that could save them about $100 a year. The program allows participants to support solar power without installing rooftop panels.
Elgin could receive about $600,000 from a national opioid settlement with three distributors and manufacturer Janssen, which is owned by Johnson & Johnson. The funds can be used locally for drug abatement and treatment caused by the opioid epidemic. Illinois will receive approximately $790 million.
About 50 friends and former co-workers gathered on the lawn of Susan Fortner s Elgin home Friday to wish the former longtime secretary at Elgin High School a happy 88th birthday.