Fred Cockrell News Today

The raises include an 11% increase for the county board chairman whose pay hasn’t changed for several years.

What will this mean for your property tax bill?

Historian Jay Moore digs deep into history, yet playing pokes fun at his hometown

The Belleville City Council and St. Clair County Board both voted Thursday night to purchase the property for $2.35 million.

EAST ST. LOUIS – Republicans who allege that population variations of St. Clair County board districts violate the U.S. Constitution didn’t count correctly, board chairman Mark Kern asserts in U.S. district court.

How about sharing? Let the rest of us in on it – you know, the people who pay your salaries, the people you work for, the citizens of St. Clair County. Don’t leave us in the dark. Don’t keep secrets from constituents. Is that really so much to ask? Give us a heads-up, add our names to the memo, throw us a bone. What are we going on about? It’s the latest example of St. Clair County government’s inability, or unwillingness, to embrace transparency. The county’s computer system has no...

BELLEVILLE – Without the benefit of a census, St. Clair County board chairman Mark Kern has drawn 29 voting districts for the benefit of current board members.

District 12, mostly in Shiloh, would look like a backward J on its side. (Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect that a redistricted map under consideration for public hearing on Monday, was withdrawn and replaced).  BELLEVILLE – Without the benefit of a census, St. Clair County board chairman Mark Kern has drawn 29 voting districts for the benefit of current board members.  Democrat Kern withdrew the first version of the map at a meeting on May 24, an...