James Fuller
Daily Herald
Illinois, United States
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Past articles by James:
First Elgin cannabis dispensary may open this summer, but some neighbors not so high on it
Elgin's planning and zoning commission planted the seeds this week for the city to have its first retail cannabis dispensary open to the community this summer. But the immediate neighbors of the dispensary location, including two existing businesses that cater to children, aren't as high on the idea. → Read More
Kane County state's attorney push for raises to fuel new tax discussion
Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser is pressing the county board to boost the salaries in her office ASAP to keep attorneys from leaving. But there's no money to do that in the long term. Mosser's pressure will force the county board to once again debate the idea of tax increases. → Read More
Interest in Elgin police surges following hiring process change
Elgin officials are seeing the greatest interest in becoming a police officer since before COVID and the murder of George Floyd. Chief Ana Lalley is attributing it to the recent switch to allowing people with a high school diploma or GED to apply rather than requiring a college degree. → Read More
Will Kane County sell historic government center property?
Kane County officials will begin in-depth consideration of the sale of the government center campus on Batavia Avenue in Geneva. It's a decision complicated by the historic nature of the property and a multimillion-dollar cost to taxpayers. → Read More
Why Kane County officials could push for wealthier people over age 65 to get tax break
A jump in Social Security benefits may push some local seniors out of a coveted property tax exemption. Some Kane County officials are trying to change that. → Read More
Fentanyl use in illicit drug supply continues to fuel rise in fatal Kane County overdoses
The rate of opioid deaths in Kane County doubled in the last decade, and county officials are trying to determine a multi-pronged approach to bring the numbers down. → Read More
Kane County poised to ease campaign contribution limits
County board members will vote next week on a change to an ethics ordinance first created in 2010. → Read More
Kane County poised to ease campaign contribution limits
With a third Kane County state's attorney ruling the county board's ethics ordinance incompatible with state law, a new county board is poised to undue campaign contribution limits put in place to restrict the influence of money on county politics. → Read More
Kane County eyeing first property tax increase in a decade
The amount of property tax money residents give to Kane County may increase from $7.47 to $33.35 next year, depending on the outcome of one of several remaining decisions county board members have to make about the 2023 budget. → Read More
Kane Co. health director says worst of the pandemic is over as schools open
Kane County public health officials did not raise fears over the potential for more COVID outbreaks as schools reopen this week despite the county remaining in a "high" level of community transmission. → Read More
Elgin police chief voices opposition in final task force meeting
The final meeting of Elgin's community task force on policing showed opposition by city law enforcement to some of the key aspects of the citizen recommendations, which will now go before the city council. → Read More
Republican county board members torpedo plan for new sales tax in Kane County
Kane County Republicans outmaneuvered Democrats on the county board this week to kill a plan that could have created a new county sales tax. The money would have funded state-mandated justice reforms. It's unclear where that money will come from now. → Read More
Racial division on Elgin police task force cloud final stages of its work
Having debated and voted on some 64 recommendations for how to improve the relationship between minority groups and the Elgin Police Department, the city's citizen's task force on policing is ready to move on to its next phase. → Read More
Elgin mass shooter denied medical release
A gunman who murdered two people and wounded 16 others at an Elgin pub 21 years ago has been denied medical release from prison. → Read More
Elgin developments would double traffic near Otter Creek Elementary School
The second of two Elgin residential development projects that will double the traffic on the southwest side's Hopps Road faced opposition this week from long-time residents near Otter Creek Elementary School. → Read More
After nearly 20 years of planning, more than 3,000 homes coming to west side of Elgin
One of the larger housing developments in Elgin's recent history will break ground this fall after 20 years of planning. Once complete, the project, nearly 20 years in the making, will expand the city's west side with more than 3,000 single-family homes and apartments. → Read More
Elgin mass shooter seeks medical release from prison
Victims' families opposed to request. → Read More
Costs to end cash bail in Kane Co. drop, but officials still eyeing possible new sales tax
Kane County will spend the month of June trying to find money to pay for $21.4 million in new judicial system costs coming over the next three fiscal years. The added expense is mostly to hire more county staff to handle the implementation of the state's SAFE-T ACT. → Read More
Facing reelection, Kane County Board shuns raises, but others get pay hikes
Kane County Board Members voted against giving themselves raises, but they did vote to keep the health insurance benefits they receive despite being part-time employees. In a related move, the sheriff, clerk and treasurer will all receive raises and cost-of-living pay increase each of the next four fiscal years. → Read More
With rise in COVID-19 hospital numbers, Kane County officials advise graduation precautions
After a drop in COVID-19 cases to start the spring, Kane County Public Health officials are dealing with an upswing in May that is resulting in hospital stays and calls to take precautions at school graduations. → Read More