Susan Smith-Harmon
Metro-east community refunding taxes to draw new residents
Monday, 08 April 2013 03:27 Published in Local NewsST. LIBORY, Ill. (AP) - The small, metro-east village of St. Libory is returning a quarter of the property taxes collected from new homeowners.
The Belleville News-Democrat reports that the village is giving back the tax money in an effort to draw young families into its school district. The refund is good for homes built in a certain tax increment finance district and is good for up to eight years. Homeowners apply to receive the refund.
The village has hired an Edwardsville firm called Moran Economic Development to help it boost growth. About 615 people live in St. Libory, which is about 35 miles southeast of St. Louis.
Thomas Henderson is with the Illinois Tax Increment Association in Springfield. He says the village's incentives aren't common.
SKorea: "Indication" NKorea prepping for nuke test
Monday, 08 April 2013 02:46 Published in National NewsSEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korea's point man on North Korea says there is an "indication" that Pyongyang is preparing for a fourth nuclear test.
Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae told a parliamentary committee Monday that "there is such an indication," according to two ministry officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Ryoo was answering a lawmaker's question about increased personnel and vehicle activities at the North's nuclear test site.
Ministry officials cite Ryoo as telling the lawmakers he wouldn't provide further details because they involve confidential intelligence affairs.
South Korean defense officials previously said the North completed preparations for a nuclear test at two underground tunnels. The North used one tunnel for its Feb. 12 nuclear test. The second remains unused.
Israel comes to standstill to remember Holocaust
Monday, 08 April 2013 02:38 Published in National NewsJERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has come to a standstill for two mournful minutes as sirens pierced the air to remember the 6 million Jews systematically murdered by German Nazis and their collaborators during the Holocaust in WWII.
Israelis stopped what they were doing and stood in silence as sirens wailed nationwide Monday at 10:00 a.m.
People stood with heads bowed in reflection. Traffic froze as drivers stopped their cars and stepped outside in respect for the solemn day.
Ceremonies are held around the country. The main wreath laying ceremony is held at the Yad Vashem memorial in Jerusalem.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is marked worldwide on Jan. 27, the date of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp. Israel's annual Holocaust memorial day coincides with the Hebrew date of the Warsaw ghetto uprising.
Latest News
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8

IL lawmaker removes name from gambling expansion bill
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The longtime promoter of expanding Illinois gambling has taken his name from a bill over "perceived conflict of interest" with his law firm. In a stateme...

Man convicted for molesting child
A north county man is headed to jail after a jury convicted him of molesting a child. Richard Williams was found guilty of five charges in all. Williams molested the child, who wa...

Former Rep. Todd Akin to speak in North County this wee…
Controversial politician Todd Akin is in North County to speak at a Republican club's monthly meeting. He will be speak at Yacovelli's Thursday night at 7:30. The event is open to...

Few details after fatal overnight shooting
Still very little information after a man was shot and killed in north St. Louis this morning. Police say they found 20-year-old Jermaine Johnson on the street near the city's bor...

Gov. Quinn throws support behind fracking expansion
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn says he hopes a bill that would kick-start high-volume oil and gas drilling passes "swiftly" through the Illinois House and Senate after a H...

Missouri juveniles in prison for life, still face uncer…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Prison sentences for Missouri juveniles convicted of first-degree murder remain uncertain because lawmakers did not pass a new sentencing scheme before a...

Work stalled at Bridgeton Landfill; additional police t…
For a second day, heavy rainfall has delayed the start of a project at the Bridgeton Landfill. But when work begins to get rid of an odor coming from the landfill--homeowners ...

Tea Party members protest at local IRS office
Blowback against the IRS is becoming more local. Fox 2 reports that members of the Tea Party are holding a rally outside an IRS Office in Town and Country. The protesters are upse...