EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) — A federal judge has blocked an effort by East St. Louis to regain control of its public housing agency. The East St. Louis Housing Authority has been under the control of the Department of Housing and Urban Development since 1985. The Belleville News-Democrat reports the city’s lawsuit also asked for the return of a Section 8 program that was recently transferred to St. Clair County. U.S. District Judge David R. Herndon found the court lacked jurisdiction to rule on the lawsuit, saying laws give HUD the authority to take over poorly managed local agencies. HUD had filed a motion asking for the lawsuit to be dismissed. The attorney for East St. Louis says the city will likely appeal.