Deb Allan News Today

Democrats battled against fellow Democrats in a debate that ultimately saw Kane County adopt new rules that will see the use of union labor for all of the most valuable county construction work.

Neither a gas tax increase nor a property tax hike could muster enough support to be included in the final version of Kane County budget. The board voted to balance its budget with $16 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds and delay solving the deficit that will still exist once all the federal money is gone until after next years election.

Premium Content Subscriber only Interactive street art, innovative honey dispensers, a find-a-pet-sitter service, and an invention making hydraulic flow testing safer. These are just some of the products pitched at an event at Split Spaces in Mackay on Friday night including from the founder of Mackays Laneway Project which beautified the CBD with colourful murals. Qualified art educator Jodie Connolly said she wanted to enrich peoples lives through contemporary art and engaged with Mackay a...

Former Kane County states attorney McMahon appointed to Metra board Joe McMahon Updated 5/14/2021 1:53 PM Former Kane County States Attorney Joe McMahon is the countys newest appointment to the Metra board of directors. The decision comes despite criticism from several county board members about the process, McMahons qualifications and his tenure as states attorney. The county board voted 19-4 Tuesday -- there is one vacant seat on the 24-member board -- to make the appointment. McM...

Kane County Board members to consider raises for themselves, other elected officials   Updated 4/29/2021 9:19 PM Kane County officials will wade into a politically thorny debate of whether to give raises to themselves, or possibly their replacements. County board Chair Corinne Pierog has outlined the raise discussion twice in the last month to various groups of board members.   "Please dont think individually about your own vote; think about future boards," Pierog told board members...

Kane County lifts ban, ushers in marijuana businesses to unincorporated areas Corinne Pierog Updated 4/13/2021 8:44 PM Eight Kane County Board members signaled a change in their views about local recreational-use marijuana operations Tuesday in voting to legalize those businesses in unincorporated areas for the first time. In all, 20 county board members voted to lift the 2019 ban on pot-related businesses as officials now hope to recruit them to the unincorporated area.   Tuesdays...

Premium Content Subscriber only A new initiative to help Queensland entrepreneurs get their foot in the door for commercial opportunities within the mining and resource sector has launched in Mackay. Mine Pitch will deliver four online pitch events throughout the year with the first happening on March 25. Start-ups and scale-ups will be joined by a panel of eight industry representatives that will provide feedback, advice and connections to presenting companies. All parties will have opportu...