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East Central Reporter

Thursday, April 17, 2025

News from February 2016

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Charleston zoning board to consider proposed code changes on drive-in uses

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 11, 2016

The Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals & Planning (BZAP) will consider proposed changes to the City of Charleston Unified Development Code text concerning drive-ins and their uses during its regular meeting at 7 p.m. today in City Council Chambers, 520 Jackson Ave.

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Charleston council will release transcripts of closed-session meetings

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 11, 2016

The Charleston City Council voted to release transcripts of closed-session meetings and to destroy any audio or video recordings of these meetings at its regular meeting on Jan. 19.

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The Illinois government pension scam

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 11, 2016

It’s the giant debt you didn’t know you had. And it’s silently eating away at the value of you home, of every home anywhere within the borders of Illinois. Public employee pension debts aren’t just a financial catastrophe for Springfield. Today, they represent an existential crisis for virtually every municipality in the state.

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Mattoon council amends 'Knox Box' ordinance

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 10, 2016

Mattoon’s City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance amending a municipal code related to property “Knox Boxes” -- a rapid entry lock box system required of certain public buildings -- during its Jan. 5 meeting.

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Kim Krause to present artist’s talk at Eastern Illinois University

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 10, 2016

Regional artist Kim Krause will present a lecture at 7 p.m. Thursday in the atrium of Brainard Gallery on the  Eastern Illinois University campus.

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Oblong board of trustees discuss Spring 5K, other village business

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 10, 2016

The village of Oblong's board discussed the upcoming Spring 5K run during its Feb. 3 meeting.

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Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce serves up lively renditions at 2016 awards event

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 10, 2016

Complete with an emcee, dueling pianos and lively song renditions, the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its “Keys to Success” 2016 Dinner and Awards Ceremony recently.

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Mattoon honors veteran city worker, awards bids for street repair materials

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 10, 2016

The Mattoon City Council awarded bids for street project materials, approved plans the the Heritage Park Project and honored a veteran city worker at its Feb. 2 meeting.

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Illinois state employees make 27 percent more than private-sector peers

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 10, 2016

A study conducted last year by a national non-partisan, non-profit public policy organization found that overall employees of the state of Illinois are paid on average 27 percent more than those doing similar jobs in the private sector.

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Village of Oblong Board of Trustees greets Scouts, grants approvals at recent meeting

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 10, 2016

Boy Scouts, bills, and new business led the Village of Oblong Board of Trustees’ agenda at its recent meeting.

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Good deeds, donations discussed at Lawrenceville City Council’s recent meeting

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 10, 2016

Free food for famished families, along with infrastructure updates, topped the list for the Lawrenceville City Council as it gathered for its recent regular meeting.

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Lawmakers opting out of state pension program to ease Illinois' financial burdens

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 9, 2016

Gov. Bruce Rauner and Senate President John Cullerton (D-6th District) may have agreed on a plan to solve the pension debacle by giving workers a choice in retirement benefits, but some legislators have taken a different approach to solving the pension crisis – not accepting a state pension.

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Layoffs looming, Reggie Phillips pushes for bipartisan efforts to help EIU finances

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 9, 2016

With Eastern Illinois University (EIU) recently announcing plans for layoffs and furloughs, incumbent state Rep. Reggie Phillips (R-110th District) is pushing for bipartisan efforts to help fund higher education in Illinois more effectively.

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Illinois Chamber of Commerce supports legislative redistricting amendment

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 9, 2016

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce said recently it is supporting the Independent Maps campaign to put a legislative redistricting map amendment question on the November ballot.

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'Passing the FACT Act is critical,' says IL civil justice group

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 9, 2016

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and fellow members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday on the proposed Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act (S. 357), which passed the U.S. House last month.

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Pharmaceutical Care Management Association advocates solutions to reduce drug costs

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 9, 2016

Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) President and CEO Mark Merritt offered several market-based solutions for escalating drug prices during his testimony presented Thursday before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

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Perma-Seal's Laura Ann Spencer named 2016 Woman of Influence

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 9, 2016

Laura Ann Spencer of Perma-Seal Basement Systems Inc. has been named a 2016 Woman of Influence award winner by the American City Business Journal, a parent company of the Chicago Business Journal.

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Phillips details reasons for pursuing second term as 110th district's state representative

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 4, 2016

Incumbent Reggie Phillips, state representative of the 110th district and construction company owner, is hoping to further promote business growth, education and economic reform for his district, which covers all or parts of Coles, Cumberland, Clark, Edgar, Crawford and Lawrence counties.

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International enrollments on the rise at Eastern Illinois University

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 4, 2016

Eastern Illinois University has experienced significant growth in the number of international students and graduate students enrolled for the spring 2016 semester.

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Charleston Carnegie Public Library asks community to help strategize its future

By East Central Reporter Reports | Feb 3, 2016

The Charleston Carnegie Public Library has asked the local community to contemplate what the library’s future should hold.