Illinois News

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker signs abortion bills; Operation Purple Heart returns medals

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker signs abortion bills; Operation Purple Heart returns medals

By The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzker signs abortion bills Two bills Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted Friday impact access to abortion procedures. House Bill 3637 shields health care providers from...
WATCH: IL Department of Human Services’ adverse audit draws legislators’ ire

WATCH: IL Department of Human Services’ adverse audit draws legislators’ ire

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A recent adverse audit of the Illinois Department of Human Services is the worst audit seen by...
Illinois prisons to publish annual data on contraband, safety and overdoses

Illinois prisons to publish annual data on contraband, safety and overdoses

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new law requires the Illinois Department of Corrections to publish annual data on contraband, substance...
Commission enacted to aid young IL farmers facing challenges

Commission enacted to aid young IL farmers facing challenges

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted a law launching the Farmland Transition Commission, a lifeline for young farmers...
Appeals court: Serious Chicago police disciplinary hearings must be public

Appeals court: Serious Chicago police disciplinary hearings must be public

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A panel of appellate court judges has ruled Chicago police officers facing serious misconduct allegations must...
WATCH: IL child welfare interns debate heats up; state financial audit released

WATCH: IL child welfare interns debate heats up; state financial audit released

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop talks live with...
Illinois quick hits: CUB challenges Ameren rate hike plan

Illinois quick hits: CUB challenges Ameren rate hike plan

By The Center SquareThe Center Square Disaster proclaimed in three counties A disaster proclamation has been issued for Cook, Jersey and Calhoun counties after severe weather last month. Gov. J.B....
WATCH: Illinois’ FY23 financial audit released amid criticism of tardy reports

WATCH: Illinois’ FY23 financial audit released amid criticism of tardy reports

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois taxpayers can now look at how the state spent their money in the fiscal year that...
Illinois quick hits: Anti-SLAPP bill signed; Chicago schools settles meditation case

Illinois quick hits: Anti-SLAPP bill signed; Chicago schools settles meditation case

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Anti-SLAPP bill signed Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation to protect news media from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP). The...
Director: Nation’s largest outdoor ag show brings economic impact to central IL

Director: Nation’s largest outdoor ag show brings economic impact to central IL

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The nation’s largest outdoor agricultural show is set for next week in Central Illinois. The Farm Progress...

Latest News Stories

Frankfort-Township-Logo-Graphic

Outdoor Bar Expansion Gets Green Light from Frankfort Township

The Frankfort Township Board has approved a special use permit that will allow a bar in an unincorporated area to expand its service outdoors. The unanimous decision was made during...
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Meeting Briefs: Frankfort Township Board for April 14, 2025

The Frankfort Township Board of Trustees met on Monday, April 14, 2025, to address zoning matters and new business. The board took a firm stance against government consolidation, unanimously passing...
Manhattan Township

Manhattan Township Recommends Denial of Bruns Road Rodeo Permit Amid Neighbor Objections

The Manhattan Township Board unanimously recommended that Will County deny a permit for a large-scale commercial rodeo on Bruns Road, following a contentious public hearing where neighbors cited a history...
Manhattan Township

Road Contract Awarded as Township Races Against Bridge Funding Deadline

The Manhattan Township Highway Department has awarded a $91,000 contract for its annual road resurfacing program, while simultaneously facing a critical deadline that puts $500,000 in county funding for a...
Manhattan Township

Manhattan Township Halts Electric Aggregation Program, Citing Poor Pricing

Residents in unincorporated Manhattan Township will no longer be enrolled in a group electricity purchasing plan after the Township Board voted unanimously not to renew its electric aggregation contract. The...
Manhattan Township

Meeting Briefs: Manhattan Township for April 8, 2025

Assessor’s Office to Replace Server, Receives New Tax Multiplier: Assessor Joe Oldani reported that the township’s server is not compliant with current security methods and must be replaced by the end...
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Fire District Receives Clean Audit, Adds 9 New Firefighters Despite Staff Departures

The Manhattan Fire Protection District received a clean audit report for fiscal year 2023 while addressing staffing challenges with nine new part-time firefighters set to join the department at the...
MFPD-Logo-Fire District

Construction Manager Decision Delayed for New Fire Station Project

The Manhattan Fire Protection District has postponed a decision on hiring a construction management company for its new fire station project while fee structures are finalized. Board members met with...
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Manhattan Fire District March 17 Meeting Briefs

Vehicle Updates Progressing: The new Tahoe ordered last year has arrived but will require several months before entering service. The ambulance damaged in December's crash is currently at the body...