City Council Agenda

 Here is the city council agenda for tonight. One noticeable item  is the resolution enacting a 1% grocery sales tax to replace the one the state is eliminating. Last year, the state eliminated its 1% sales tax on groceries but left it up to municipalities to enact a local grocery sales tax if they should wish. It appears Carbondale does wish.

Since Carbondale has one of the highest sales tax rates in the state outside of Chicago, It certainly would be nice if the recently elected city council members would start pushing to lower sales taxes to something closer to the state average of 8.85%.

Storyboard

 Looks as if if the Evolve apartment complex on S. Illinois quietly changed its name to Storyboard. All the signing on the building now reads Storyboard with a new marquee as well.

National Protests

There were protests scheduled in every state against the Trump administration's tariffs and cuts to the federal government. About 200 people braved the weather April 5 to line West Main from the railroad tracks to University avenue
 

Council Election Results

 1741 ballots were cast in yesterday's city council election, about 14% of registered voters in the city. Dawn Roberts, Nathan Columbo and Brian Stanfield secured seats on the council, beating Lee Fronabarger and James Endicott. Incumbents LaCaje Hill and Ginger Rye-Sanders, who ran for second terms as write in candidates, did not receive enough votes to appear in the final results.

Student Visa Revoked

 Looks like Homeland Security and/or the Secretary of State found something amiss at SIUC as as least one international student had their visa revoked. I noticed the protestors about Palestine did not show up this past Sunday for their regular protest at the corner of Main and Illinois.  Maybe the two are connected.

Molly Parker on Carbondale

 In case you missed it, SIUC graduate and journalism instructor Molly Parker wrote this long piece on the decline of SIUC and Carbondale in general, the potential for turnaround and how Trump' cuts could further affect the university and city.

Psychic Shop

 Sign says "Psychic Shop" will open in the old S. I. Pawn location on West Walnut, with tarot readings and I assume other new age paraphernalia.