Washington

The Hengst Foundation has pulled the plug on its proposal to build and operate a 5,000-seat, $12 million amphitheater on a portion of vacant farmland owned by the city of Washington.

A controversial proposal to build a $12 million, 5,000-seat amphitheater on vacant city property off U.S. Route 24 and Nofsinger Road in Washington is apparently off the table.

The Washington City Council on Monday approved a four-year contract for new Police Chief Jeff Stevens, who had served as interim chief for a month following the retirement of former chief Mike McCoy.

History was made Monday in Washington during the city's bicentennial year. Lilija Stevens, the first female mayor in the city's 200-year history, was sworn in by Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman.

Two Washington businesses were given the go-ahead Monday to have video gaming terminals in their establishments. They are The Peak on Summit, 201 S. Summit Drive, and Blue Ox, 120 N. Wilmor Road.

A woman has been charged with aggravated DUI resulting in a death after an incident that killed a pedestrian in Washington last week.

Two years ago, voters in Washington District 52 barely defeated a $20 million referendum to build a new Lincoln Grade School. A similar measure for $23 million passed Tuesday 62% to 48%.

Washington residents knew they'd have a new mayor this year for the first time since 2001. The question was: Who?

The race to see who will be Washington's next mayor has grabbed most of the attention in the city in the runup to the April 1 election, but voters will be making several other decisions.

Alderpersons Mike Brownfield and Lilija Stevens sit next to each other at Washington City Council meetings.