Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) expressed condolences on Monday in a press release after learning that former Marion Mayor Bob Butler had passed away.

Many of us take for granted the municipal parks and recreation areas available to ourselves, our children and our children's children, but our lives would somehow be less fulfilled were it not for the work of people like Marion Park District Commissioner Chris Sheffler.

The campaign committee Illinois Republican National Hispanic Assembly owes a $1,425 fine imposed on Aug. 28, 2015.

One campaign committee in Murphysboro has overdue fines amounting to a total of $1,700, records obtained by the Carbondale Reporter show.

The campaign committee Committee to Elect Jennifer Pritchett Williamson County Clerk owes a $5,000 fine imposed on July 23, 2017.

The campaign committee Citizens for Competitive Electricity owes a $75 fine imposed on May 20, 2016.

Campaign committees in Carbondale collectively owe a total of $5,450 in fines, according to records obtained from the Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBE).

Sharon Harris-Johnson has always had a passion for serving her community, and today she draws from her previous work experiences to broaden the impact of her role as Jackson County Treasurer.

Jackson County Board Member Laurie Nehring has been politically involved in the community for years, ever since realizing that personal involvement was the best way to remedy corruption in the state.

Jackson County board member Andrew Erbes says he chose a career of public service due a family legacy and a strong belief that the political process and community service are important to a successful life.

Tabled legislation in the Illinois House that sought to label parental discipline of their children as "bullying" would have gone too far, a Carbondale city councilman said during a recent interview.

If a current Senate bill clears the House and is signed into law, Illinois will join three other states and the District of Columbia in soon paying a minimum wage of $15 per hour.

The state legislature adjourned before taking action on Senate Bill 1597, which would require Illinois consumers to pay a 5 cent fee for every single-use paper or plastic bag, but similar proposals are being considered at the county and local levels.

In a list of the 30 most populous counties in Illinois, Jackson County ranked No. 14 for the rate of abortions performed there in 2017, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

Jackson and Williamson counties accounted for about 82 of the 39,329 abortions performed statewide in 2017, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

The Jackson County board has voiced its opposition to any potential statewide property tax increase.

The U.S. Supreme Court in June ruled that approximately 5 million government workers nationwide should not be forced to pay dues to public employee unions.

After projecting its investments would grow by 6.50 percent, the Herrin Police Pension Fund lost 0.44 percent on its investments in 2016, according to data reported to the Illinois Department of Insurance Pension Division.

Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) made a notable point on Memorial Day about her district.

The Williamson County Firefighters Pension Fund had 4 active participants receiving an average salary of $37,520 in 2016, according to the latest data reported to the Illinois Department of Insurance Pension Division.