Posted 10:30 a.m. Fri., June 19 - The good news continues in Granite City, where about 600 laid-offsteelworkers will be back at work by Tuesday as the re-opened U.S.Steel plant continues to ramp up to make steel again. The mood of the workers is "ecstatic,'' said union president DanSimmons. U.S. Steel surprised the presidents of union localslast week with its unexpected decision to restart the idled plant,where 1,600 workers were laid off in December, followed by another 400in February.

Updated 7:10 p.m. Fri., June 12 - About 30 or 40 laid-off steelworkers should be back on the job early next week as U.S. Steel's Granite City Works plans to resume at least limited operations, according to the local United Steelworkers. Operations would begin at the plant as soon as possible. Maintenance workers will be among the first called back and should be notified over the weekend.

Posted 11:58 a.m. Thurs., June 11 - Word that SunCoke Energy has started to hire for its new coke-making facility in Granite City could mean little -- or everything -- to more than 2,000 laid-off workers from the idled U.S. Steel plant next door. U.S. Steel has a 15-year agreement to buy the coke and steam produced at the new plant. Does that mean that the U.S. Steel plant, and its laid-off workers, will be working again soon?

Posted 11:25 a.m. Tues., May 19 - Harry Briggs, superintendent of the Granite City school district, was a high-school student there in the '60s when jobs at the steel mill were plentiful. Today, Briggs tries to make sure that Granite City students are educated for college and a variety of careers, while the district itself prepares to adjust to a future of decreasing tax revenue from the plant.

Posted 11:14 a.m. Tues., May 12 - Ron Laboray was born in Granite City, left and has returned. One of a number of people working to revitalize Granite City's downtown, Laboray sees great possibilities in turning the steel town's downtown into a hub of art and culture. For starters, he's organized an exhibit of student photography, which was displayed at Granite City's City Hall.

Posted 9:06 p.m. Sun. May 10 - In good times, Gateway Regional Medical Center is Granite City's third-largest employer, but recent layoffs in the steel industry have bumped the 950-employee facility into first place. The hospital hopes its move-up in the rankings will be short-lived.

Posted 10:43 a.m. Fri. May 8 - Granite City Mayor Ed Hagnauer (left) knows that the city has taken its lumps. But Granite City also has a lot going for it as well, he says, especially its plans for downtown revitalization. The plans include a movie theater and recreation center. While it has its critics, Hagnauer sees the development as helping to keep young people around.

Posted 12:28 p.m. Wed., May 6 - Brenda Whitaker serves lobster bisque and fruited chicken salad and hosts tea parties for birthday girls in her Granite City tearoom that could pass for a country cottage. A former steelworker, Whitaker appreciates both the heritage and the modern-day importance of the city's industrial roots. As a business woman and alderwoman, she's working toward revitalization of Granite City's downtown. Fourth in a series.

Posted 6:20 p.m. Fri., May 1 - Last hired in, first to be laid off -- that was the reality for a group of laid-off United Steelworkers who were furloughed during the first wave of steel industry cuts in Granite City last November. Their job now is to guide 2,000 of their colleagues to agencies and programs that can help them deal with the financial pressures of unemployment.  Third of a series.