The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

Normal Oks Tax Hike, Fee Increases

NORMAL - It will cost more to purchase goods in Normal beginning July 1. The City Council on Monday approved a quarter percent increase in the local sales tax, taking the entire tax on goods from 7.5 percent to 7.75 percent - the same as Bloomington.

Task Force Hiring Draws Dissentcouncilman: Main Street Corridor Process has Gone On Too Long

NORMAL - City Councilman Adam Nielsen is questioning the need to hire an outside group to facilitate a Main Street Corridor task force studying a proposed form-based code. Nielsen also believes the entire Main Street Corridor issue has gone on too long.

Pontiac District 429 Board Publicly Supports Superintendent

PONTIAC - The Pontiac Elementary School District 429 board publicly backed Superintendent Steve Graham on Monday night after more than 50 people appeared at its meeting in support of Graham's resignation. A petition circulating in the district claims the superintendent refuses to work with the public and has mismanaged district finances.

Candidates Make Their Last Appealsgubernatorial Hopefuls Urge Voters to Turn Out

SPRINGFIELD - Candidates for top Illinois offices spent Monday traveling across the state to scoop up every last vote. The primary election is today.

Attourney General Teams to Monitor Polls

SPRINGFIELD - Attorney General Lisa Madigan will send teams across the state Tuesday to help monitor polling places. Some 166 teams of assistant attorneys general and investigators will help local election officials investigate claims of fraud. Madigan has assigned 125 teams in Chicago and northern Illinois, and 41 teams in downstate Illinois.

Embezzler Gets Prison for Stealing Tax Moneyex-Clerk Took Funds to Pay for Gambling

SPRINGFIELD - A mountain of gambling debt led Lincoln's former city clerk to steal more than $46,500 in taxpayer money over two years. On Monday, Melanie Riggs was sentenced to three months in a federal prison in connection with the theft, which took place in 2007 and 2008.

Fundraisers Bring in $27,000, Keep Lincoln Vfw Post Open

LINCOLN - Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1756 will remain open. The post home, 915 Fifth St., faced foreclosure and needed to raise $20,000 by the end of January. After a month's worth of fundraisers, the post raised more than $27,000, said Quartermaster Vince Long.

3 ... 2 ... 1 ... Blast Offrebuilt Learning Center Launches After Two Years

NORMAL - The Challenger Learning Center has started launching missions from its new site, nearly two years after formalizing an agreement to join Heartland Community College. On Monday morning, eighth-grader Jackie Walters of Bloomington was among Chiddix Junior High School students involved with "Voyage to Mars" at the Community Education Center.

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Back, Interest Total $60,000 for Police Lieutenantlabor Dispute Pittig City Against Williams Ends with Payment

BLOOMINGTON - A Bloomington police lieutenant received an extra $60,000 in his paycheck last week, ending a labor dispute that started in 2003. Paul Williams received back pay with 7 percent interest. He was promoted to lieutenant Jan. 1.

Daily Digest

NEWS IN BRIEF Church challenge nets Haiti money

Public Safety

In court Ex-guard nets term in prison

Time-Honored Traditionlike Clockwork, Eighth-Graders Produce Art

BLOOMINGTON - Ask for the time at Holy Trinity Junior High School, and you'll find it's Catholic Schools Week. The week also marks the annual clock project, in which eighth- graders produce art projects involving a clock.