West Central Reporter

From Prairie State Wire

Property tax trouble?

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

Have a story you’d like to share concerning your property tax bill?

Borrowers in default on student loans after attending colleges in West Central Illinois

By LGIS Newsfeed | Aug 14, 2018

Western Illinois University, Macmurray College and Illinois College are among four-year universities in Illinois that reported borrowers defaulting on school loans they started repaying in 2014, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of federal data.

11 fire agencies from West Central Illinois receive fire safety funds

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jul 25, 2018

The Brown County Fire Protection District was among 11 firefighting agencies in West Central Illinois to receive state grants this week for safety equipment.

From Prairie State Wire

St. Louis-Metro East has top ‘underwater’ mortgage rate among Illinois’ largest MSAs

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

Among Illinois’ most populous urban centers, the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Metro East, posted the highest percentage of mortgages that owe at least 25 percent more on their loans than their property is worth, according to a home equity analysis by ATTOM Data Solutions.

From Prairie State Wire

Private colleges in Illinois report 4.5 percent of borrowers defaulted on student loans

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

Three colleges in Chicago had the highest default rates among private colleges in Illinois for borrowers who started repaying student loans in 2014 and defaulted on those loans by the end of 2016, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: 28 percent of mortgages in Piatt County considered ‘equity-rich’

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

Among Illinois counties, Piatt, Moultrie and Monroe had the highest percentage of property owners with mortgages who have at least 50 percent equity in their homes, according to an analysis by ATTOM Data Solutions looking at home equity at the end of the first quarter.

West Central Illinois teacher singled out as tops in state

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jun 20, 2018

A Virginia Elementary School teacher was among scores of honorees from throughout Illinois who were recognized as tops in their fields – from health to dance to foreign language – during an annual awards luncheon held Tuesday in Normal.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: 16.1 percent of Illinois property owners are ‘equity rich’

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

In Illinois, owners of more than 393,000 properties with mortgages have at least 50 percent equity in their homes, according to an analysis by ATTOM Data Solutions looking at home equity at the end of the first quarter.

Davidsmeyer voted no on budget critics say is filled with ‘gimmicks’

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jun 5, 2018

State Rep. C. D. Davidsmeyer was one of just 20 Illinois House and Senate members to oppose a “smoke and mirrors” budget plan that isn’t really balanced, according to the Illinois Policy Institute.

From Prairie State Wire

Capital budget includes $1.5B for statewide transportation construction

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

Road construction and wastewater loans top the list of projects funded by Gov. Bruce Rauner's 2019 capital budget.

From Prairie State Wire

Report: Rauner's $7.8B capital budget mostly funds transportation, commerce, environmental protection projects

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

Under Gov. Bruce Rauner's $7.8 billion capital budget proposal, the Illinois Department of Transportation would receive $2.7 billion and two other agencies would receive more than $1 billion each toward capital projects.

Analysis: McDonough County foreclosure rate ranks among bottom 20 Illinois urban areas

By LGIS Newsfeed | May 25, 2018

McDonough County in the Macomb Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) recorded the 19th lowest foreclosure rate for Illinois MSAs during the first quarter of the year, according to an ATTOM Data Solutions analysis of property data.

From Prairie State Wire

2,614 borrowers in default on student loans after attending private colleges in Illinois

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

Columbus College Chicago, DePaul University and Roosevelt University, all based in Chicago, reported the largest share of borrowers at private higher education institutions who defaulted on school loans they started repaying in 2014, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of federal data.

Triopia Elementary's Kimberly Gallegos wins prize in contest showing hazards of radon gas

By LGIS Newsfeed | May 18, 2018

Kimberly Gallegos's poster created to raise awareness of the health dangers of radioactive radon gas won second place in a recent contest, earning the Triopia Elementary student $150.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: College softball in Illinois grosses $19.6 million

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

DePaul University softball tops the list of highest grossing programs in Illinois, reporting more than $1.3 million – or $63,791 per athlete – in 2016, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of the latest federal data.

From Chambana Sun

Analysis: U of I fraternity, sorority property taxes rose 61 percent in two years

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

Fifty-eight University of Illinois fraternities and sororities will pay $814,000 more in property taxes this year than they did in 2015, according to Champaign County Assessor data analyzed by the Chambana Sun.

From Prairie State Wire

Public colleges, universities in Illinois report 10.7 percent default rate on student loans

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

At Kennedy King College, 26.3 percent of borrowers who started repaying student loans in 2014 defaulted on those loans by the end of 2016, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of the latest disclosure from the U.S. Department of Education.

Calhoun County clerk, Brown County Board member publicly oppose graduated income tax

By LGIS Newsfeed | May 16, 2018

In an open letter to the General Assembly, 65 local government officials, including Calhoun County Clerk Rita Hagen and Brown County Board Member Chad Kunkel, asked state legislators to block attempts to scrap the state’s flat income tax in favor of a graduated tax structure.

City of Carthage reaps more than $402,000 for housing projects

By LGIS Newsfeed | May 11, 2018

The City of Carthage received a $402,480 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for housing projects, the DCEO said today.

City of LaHarpe awarded water distribution grant

By LGIS Newsfeed | May 11, 2018

The city of LaHarpe will use a $500,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for water distribution improvements, the DCEO said Thursday.