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...
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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...
Manhattan Township

Manhattan Township to Fight State Consolidation Bills, Citing Threat to Local Services

The Manhattan Township Board is mounting a formal opposition to a series of state bills that officials believe threaten the existence of township governments across Illinois. During their monthly meeting...
Manhattan Township

Massive Battery Storage Facility Proposed in Manhattan Township, Could Be “Largest in Illinois”

A proposal for a 15-acre battery storage facility that could be the "largest substation in Illinois" is under consideration in Manhattan Township, a project that could reshape a portion of...
Manhattan Township

Proposed Bruns Road Rodeo Sparks Concerns Over Safety, Zoning, and Past Violations

A proposal to host a large, multi-weekend rodeo on Bruns Road has raised numerous red flags for the Manhattan Township Board, which cited concerns ranging from public safety and zoning...
Manhattan Township

Soltage Solar Farm Clears County Committee; Township Eyes Aesthetic Improvements

The proposed Soltage Solar Farm has passed a key hurdle, gaining approval from the Will County Land Use Committee in a 5-1 vote, Manhattan Township Supervisor James 'Jim' Walsh reported...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Briefs: Manhattan Township for March 11, 2025

Dial-A-Ride Service to be Absorbed by County: The Southwest Dial-A-Ride service is being absorbed by the larger Will County Dial-A-Ride service, which is offered through PACE. Township officials expressed hope that...
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Manhattan Police Reports

Disclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely an accusation, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. On March 5, officers stopped Leal Acosta, Julio C (25)...
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Manhattan Fire District Advances New Station Construction, Approves $210,000 Ambulance Replacement

The Manhattan Fire Protection District is moving closer to breaking ground on its new fire station, with construction documents expected to be complete next month and a potential groundbreaking scheduled...
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Former Peotone Firefighter Mike Shivers Recommended for Fire District Board Position

The Manhattan Fire Protection District board unanimously recommended Mike Shivers to fill a vacant trustee position left by the recent death of Trustee Bill Osborne. Shivers, a former Peotone Fire...

Education

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JJC Foundation Director Kristin Mulvey to Retire After 25 Years of Transformative Leadership

Joliet Junior College Meeting | November 12, 2025 Article Summary:Kristin Mulvey, the longtime Executive Director of Institutional Advancement and the JJC Foundation, was honored by the Board of Trustees as...
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Lincoln-Way 210 Switches to Under Armour for Athletic Apparel

Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | November 20, 2025 Article Summary: The Lincoln-Way District 210 Board of Education has approved a new 3.5-year agreement with BSN and Under Armour...
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JJC Board Approves Grundy County Land Purchase Amid Heated Debate

Joliet Junior College Meeting | November 12, 2025 Article Summary:The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees voted 6-2 to approve a real estate contract for a new campus in Grundy...
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Support Staff Urge Lincoln-Way 210 Board for ‘Fair Contract’ During Public Comment

Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | November 20, 2025 Article Summary: Three members of Lincoln-Way District 210's support staff addressed the Board of Education, voicing frustrations over working without...
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JJC Board Censures Trustee Broderick Twice, Denies Request to Restore Good Standing

Joliet Junior College Meeting | November 12, 2025 Article Summary:In a series of contentious votes, the Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees censured Trustee Maureen Broderick for two separate alleged...
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Lincoln-Way 210 Receives Clean Audit, Financial Profile Score Downgraded to ‘Review’

Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | November 20, 2025 Article Summary: Lincoln-Way District 210 received a clean, unmodified opinion for its Fiscal Year 2025 audit, the highest rating possible....
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JJC Receives Clean Audit, Reports $21.6 Million Increase in Net Position

Joliet Junior College Meeting | November 12, 2025 Article Summary:Joliet Junior College received a "clean unmodified audit opinion" for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the highest level of...
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Lincoln-Way 210 to Purchase 31 Buses, Citing Major Savings Over Leasing

Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | November 20, 2025 Article Summary: The Lincoln-Way District 210 Board of Education approved the purchase of 28 yellow school buses and three white...
Meeting Briefs

Manhattan School Board Honors Top Student-Athletes and Academic Achievers

Manhattan School District 114 Meeting | November 12, 2025 Article Summary:The Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education celebrated student excellence by recognizing three cross country state qualifiers and three...

Will County Board Meetings

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Frankfort Turns to County for Wildlife & Dangerous Animal Control

Will County Board Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: The Village of Frankfort has entered into a two-year agreement with Will County Animal Protection Services to handle calls regarding bats...
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Crete “Group Care” Home Approved for Senior Living

Will County Board Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board unanimously approved a special use permit for a senior group care home in Crete Township. The facility...
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New Bar Approved in Frankfort Despite Board Opposition

Will County Board Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board narrowly approved a special use permit for a new bar in Frankfort Township, paving the way for...
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County Takes Over “Central Will” Dial-A-Ride in Major Consolidation

Will County Board Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board approved an intergovernmental agreement to absorb the "Central Will" Dial-A-Ride system into the county-wide "Access Will County"...
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Board Denies Appeal for “Tiny Home” RV Living in Crete

Will County Board Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board voted 19-2 to uphold a denial of a temporary use permit for a recreational vehicle (RV) being...
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Will County Board Rejects Proposed Tax Hike, Approves 0% Levy Increase in Contentious Vote

Will County Board Regular Meeting | October 16, 2025 Article Summary: In a significant move providing relief to taxpayers, the Will County Board on Thursday, October 16, 2025, voted to approve...
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Green Garden’s Wildflower Farm Granted Second Extension for Rural Events Permit

Will County Board Regular Meeting | October 16, 2025 Article Summary: Bengston Land Management, LLC, operators of The Wildflower Farm in Green Garden Township, received a second 180-day extension from the...
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Will County Board Compromises on Mental Health Levy, Approves $10 Million After Debate

Will County Board Regular Meeting | October 16, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board on Thursday, October 16, 2025, approved a $10 million tax levy for the Community Mental Health...
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Regional Office of Education Highlights School Safety, New Learning Programs in Update

Will County Board Regular Meeting | October 16, 2025 Article Summary: Will County Regional Superintendent Dr. Lisa Caparelli-Ruff updated the County Board on key initiatives, including the installation of shooter-resistant window...

Illinois News

State reps: Pritzker turns 'blind eye' to Chicago’s public safety crisis

State reps: Pritzker turns ‘blind eye’ to Chicago’s public safety crisis

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After Gov. J.B. Pritzker said President Donald Trump was amplifying crime in Chicago, Illinois House Republicans said...
Illinois quick hits: Medicaid coverage for parental home visits; 'Trouble in Toyland' report

Illinois quick hits: Medicaid coverage for parental home visits; ‘Trouble in Toyland’ report

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Medicaid coverage for parental home visits The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has launched new Medicaid coverage of home...
Potential data center in Illinois village raises local concerns

Potential data center in Illinois village raises local concerns

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Residents voice concerns about heavy power use, water demands and the impact of a potential data...

WATCH: Amid GOP governor candidates, Dabrowski says he knows how to fix Illinois

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Republican candidate for Illinois governor says he has the knowledge of what ails the state and...
State law helps Cook County expand immigrant legal defense fund

State law helps Cook County expand immigrant legal defense fund

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Legislation from the Illinois General Assembly has opened the door for Cook County to fund immigrants’ legal...
Illinois quick hits: Trump reacts to Chicago violence; Pritzker increases weight limit for certain vehicles

Illinois quick hits: Trump reacts to Chicago violence; Pritzker increases weight limit for certain vehicles

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Trump reacts to Chicago violence Weekend violence in Chicago’s Loop has drawn the attention of President Donald Trump. A teenager was...
WATCH: Chicago violence and no cash bail; Governor candidate Dabrowski profile

WATCH: Chicago violence and no cash bail; Governor candidate Dabrowski profile

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 shares the reaction...
New Illinois youth center begins housing youth in Lincoln

New Illinois youth center begins housing youth in Lincoln

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) - After a short delay to finalize staffing and safety preparations, the new Monarch Center in Lincoln...
Nearly 550 truck drivers cited for not understanding English in Illinois YTD

Nearly 550 truck drivers cited for not understanding English in Illinois YTD

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The number of English language proficiency violations for commercial drivers in Illinois year-to-date has nearly eclipsed last...

National News

Ukraine agrees to preliminary peace plan; Russian strikes continue

Ukraine agrees to preliminary peace plan; Russian strikes continue

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Ukraine has agreed to a peace deal in hopes of ending the over three-year war with Russia, according to the White House. Following talks in...
Trump administration ends protected status for Burmese nationals

Trump administration ends protected status for Burmese nationals

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square The Trump administration is ending Temporary Protected Status for Burmese nationals, citing improved governance in the country and planned elections next month. The administration said...
Trump designates Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organization

Trump designates Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organization

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square President Donald Trump on Monday issued an executive order to begin the process to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Trump did...
OpenAI launches teachers AI tools for classrooms

OpenAI launches teachers AI tools for classrooms

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square OpenAI has introduced a new free version of ChatGPT for teachers, as artificial intelligence continues to grow within education. The new platform offers educators a...
Federal court blocks Trump from dismantling four agencies

Federal court blocks Trump from dismantling four agencies

By Dave MasonThe Center Square A federal court has issued a permanent injunction stopping the Trump administration from dismantling four federal agencies that deal with issues varying from libraries to...
Beef prices could remain high even as Trump removes some tariffs

Beef prices could remain high even as Trump removes some tariffs

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump removed 40% tariffs on Brazilian food products, including beef, but prices could remain elevated for years as the U.S. cattle industry rebuilds....

WATCH: Supreme Court ruling next year could reshape transgender rights beyond sports

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square In seven weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two cases involving challenges to the constitutionality of laws in Idaho and West...
Federal judge tosses government lawsuits against Comey and James

Federal judge tosses government lawsuits against Comey and James

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square A federal judge ruled against the administration twice Monday, throwing out its cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia...
Duffy, FAA say Thanksgiving holiday air travel should operate smoothly

Duffy, FAA say Thanksgiving holiday air travel should operate smoothly

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square As the Thanksgiving holiday travel rush begins, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is assuring air travelers that they likely will not face the mass delays and...