By AP/KWMU
East St. Louis, Ill. – A judge on Monday said the Casino Queen in East St. Louis can serve alcohol at midnight on New Year's Day.
The boat sued last week after Mayor Carl Officer said he would not renew any liquor license when they expire January First. Officer says he has no choice because the City Council has not given him money to hire liquor inspectors.
The judge said the current liquor license shall remain valid until another hearing in January. While the casino can serve on New Year's Eve, it's not clear whether the city's 68 other liquor license holders can serve champagne at midnight.