Granite Citizen

Local news & storytelling for Granite City, IL. Biweekly business profiles, heritage features, community stories. Where Art & Industry Meet.

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

In grade school I won a contest and went to the Press-Record office to have my picture taken. I knew the newspaper mattered. It closed in 2012 after 109 years. America's lost a third of its papers since I was born.

What happens next should worry us all. https://t.co/soKf10bdxf

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

"How many permanent jobs after construction?"
"Who pays for grid upgrades?"
"What are the noise limits - and who enforces them?"

A citizen's checklist for data center proposals. Part 5 of 5.

https://t.co/cpZEYrxea0

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

Naperville: 5,000+ signatures opposing a data center
Sangamon County: 26 football fields, calls for moratorium
Michigan: Ballot initiative in two weeks

Granite City isn't alone in asking these questions. Part 4 of 5.

https://t.co/hbEBkGsMn3

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

"If data centers raise regional rates anyway, why not host one and get the tax benefits?"

Fair question. Complicated answer.

Part 3 follows the money - through electric bills, grid costs, and tax breaks that may be less generous than they appear.

https://t.co/PEtu64JO1t

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

Data centers are pitched as job creators.

Reality: 50-200 permanent employees typical. Apple's $1B facility? <100 jobs.

Steel built Granite City with thousands of workers across generations. Data centers are not steel.

Part 2 of 5.

https://t.co/N9A7ew56on

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

What is a data center? What do they need to operate? Why is everyone suddenly talking about them?

Part 1 of 5 on what Granite City should know.

https://t.co/hy7x4RPSHL

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

Route 66 turns 100 this year. Granite City sits on the Last 100 Miles in Illinois - and we've always been part of the journey.
Here's what the Mother Road's centennial means for us: https://t.co/oB3atxeS87

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

Why Granite Citizen? Read why below. Coming over the next 3 days: (1) A piece on Route 66 and (2) the start of a 5-part series on data centers and the pros & cons for Granite City to consider. Tell a friend. https://t.co/RZKjKwgsSG

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

Great news for Granite. Downtown Y renovations are underway. #WeLoveGC https://t.co/WRL4bNBnRZ

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

Congratulations, Warriors! #WeLoveGC

[Granite City Warrior Hockey Club @gcwhockeyclub]

Introducing the 1st Annual High School Hockey New Year Challenge Tournament Champions!!!! Your Varsity Granite City Warriors!!! @GCSportsTicker #618hockey

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

Downtown Granite City, Arts District. Smokestacks of US Steel Granite City Works in the background. #GraniteCityIL #62040

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

Happy new year, Granite City, IL 62040!

[GCHS Sports Ticker @GCSportsTicker]

Tuesday night at 5pm, the Board of Education will be hearing a proposal to join the South 7 Conference for the 2019-2020 school year.

[GCHS Sports Ticker @GCSportsTicker]

Congratulations Lady Warriors Soccer, winners of the White Division in the St. Louis Soccer… https://t.co/xrohkGDC4a

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

Patriots in the Park essay winners presented awards at City Hall Tuesday evening http://t.co/D3OC6vTW1I

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

Kool Beanz Cafe downtown celebrates 1 year today #GrowGranite http://t.co/EJr5QizvNT @growGranite @KoolBeanzCafe1

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

Granite City named a "Most Progressive" energy savings city by @AmerenIllinois http://t.co/Y5K99CY4pr #GrowGranite

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

Funding the future: A take on the school funding referendum http://t.co/HfW1cz667o @GraniteCity #GraniteCity

[Granite Citizen @GraniteCitizen]

City Hall during the day, with snow. Love @GraniteCity. #GraniteCity #62040 #STL