About 29 percent of Duquoin Elementary School students passed annual math assessments in 2017 and 71 percent of students failed.

About 27 percent of Duquoin Elementary School students passed annual English language arts assessments in 2017 and nearly three quarters of students failed.

Academic results data released recently reveals 28 percent of Duquoin Elementary School students are considered on track for the next grade level.

About 15 percent of Duquoin Middle School students passed annual math assessments in 2017 and 85 percent of students failed.

About 30 percent of Duquoin Middle School students passed annual English language arts assessments in 2017 and 70 percent of students failed.

Academic results data released recently reveals 22 percent of Duquoin Middle School students are considered on track for the next grade level.

Three local businesses – covering the fields of health care, real estate and communications – are finalists for the debut of the Marion Chamber of Commerce's Distinguished Business Award.

Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois is being honored with the Marion Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award for 2017 because of its key role in the region's economic growth.

An awards banquet and charity silent auction sponsored by the Marion Chamber of Commerce and others will be held Friday, Jan. 19 at The Pavilion, according to a press release from the chamber.

Chester City Council met Monday, Dec. 4.

Columbia City Council met at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Waterloo City Council met at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Waterloo City Council met Monday, Dec. 4.

Sparta Community Unit School District #140 Board of Education met 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 1.

Sparta Community Unit School District #140 Board of Education met Thursday, Oct. 26.

Sparta Community Unit School District #140 Board of Education met Wednesday, Nov. 8.

City of Chester City Council met 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 2.

A Jackson County health official has been picked to be part of an organization that focuses on mental health and addiction treatment and aims to provide members with educational and other resources.

The IAA Foundation is accepting applications for scholarships from agriculture students and Illinois Farm Bureau members and their children, according to a news release on the Benton/West City Area Chamber of Commerce website.

Paul Jacobs fears what the state of Illinois could look like come the 2020 census.