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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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Lincoln-Way Support Staff Union Rejects Tentative Contract Agreement

LW210 Board of Education Meeting | October 16, 2025 Article Summary: Members of the Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 support staff union have voted down a tentative five-year contract...
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Parents, Mayor Raise Concerns Over Special Education Services at Manhattan 114 Board Meeting

Manhattan School District 114 Board Meeting | October 8, 2025 Article Summary: Parents of a special needs student, supported by a statement from Manhattan's mayor, addressed the Manhattan School District...
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Manhattan Awards Over $1.3 Million in Bids for Major Water Main Upgrades

Village of Manhattan Board Meeting - October 7, 2025 Article Summary: The Manhattan Village Board awarded three separate contracts totaling over $1.38 million for significant water infrastructure projects, including improvements...
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Will County Board Committee Passes Contentious ‘Live and Work Without Fear’ Resolution on 4-3 Vote

Will County Legislative Committee Meeting October 7, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Legislative Committee on Tuesday narrowly passed a controversial resolution affirming the county's commitment to ensuring all residents...
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Will County Shapes 2026 Federal Agenda, Prioritizing Health, Housing, and Workforce Funding

Will County Legislative Committee Meeting October 7, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Legislative Committee on Tuesday began finalizing its 2026 Federal Legislative Agenda, formally adopting key priorities that include...
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IDOT Plans to Invest Over $1.3 Billion in Will County Roads Through 2031

Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting October 7, 2025 Article Summary: The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has allocated over $1.3 billion for road and bridge projects in...
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Committee Advances 50% Increase in Mental Health Levy on 4-3 Vote

Will County Finance Committee Meeting October 7, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Finance Committee on Tuesday narrowly approved a proposed $12 million levy for the Community Mental Health Board,...
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Looming State Energy Bill Threatens to Further Limit County Control Over Solar and Wind Projects

Will County Legislative Committee Meeting October 7, 2025 Article Summary: A state energy bill likely to be considered during the fall veto session or next spring could further strip Will...
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Controversial Immigrant Rights Resolution Postponed by Will County Board After Heated Debate

Will County Executive Committee Meeting October 9, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Executive Committee voted to indefinitely postpone a contentious resolution titled "Declaring Will County's Commitment to Ensure Communities...
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Will County’s Gas-to-Energy Plant Reports Nearly $460,000 Net Loss Amid Operational Setbacks

Will County Finance Committee Meeting October 7, 2025 Article Summary: Will County's Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) plant at the county landfill posted a net loss of nearly $460,000 for the...
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Will County Sees 50% Drop in Opioid Deaths, But Alarming Rise in Suicides

Will County Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting October 2, 2025 Article Summary: Will County is experiencing a dramatic 50% reduction in opioid overdose deaths compared to last year, a...

Events

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Education

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In Month of ‘Tragic Loss,’ Manhattan School District Mourns Students and Former Board Member

Manhattan School District 114 Meeting | November 12, 2025 Article Summary:Manhattan School District 114 is grieving the recent deaths of two junior high students, Danny Bayles and Chance Hunnicutt, and...
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Manhattan D114 Projects Flat Tax Rate Despite Higher Levy Request, Plans Abatement

Manhattan School District 114 Meeting | November 12, 2025 Article Summary:Manhattan School District 114 officials presented the tentative 2025 tax levy, which includes a higher request to capture value from...
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Meeting Summary and Briefs: Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees for October 2025

Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025 The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees took major steps on two significant, long-term projects during its October 15...
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JJC Celebrates “Future Wolves” Partnerships with Joliet and Troy School Districts

Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article SummaryJoliet Junior College celebrated its "Future Wolves" initiative by issuing proclamations honoring its inaugural partnerships with Joliet Public...
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JJC Receives Surprise $1.9 Million from IRS Employee Retention Credit

Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article SummaryJoliet Junior College has received an unexpected $1.9 million windfall from the federal Employee Retention Credit (ERC), a...
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JJC Advances ERP Modernization with New Vendor and Two-Year Budget

Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article SummaryJoliet Junior College is entering the next phase of its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system overhaul, with the...
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JJC Authorizes Land Buy for Grundy County Expansion, Secures Site in Morris

Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article SummaryThe Joliet Junior College (JJC) Board of Trustees has authorized negotiations for a land acquisition to build a...
Meeting-Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 for October 16, 2025

LW210 Board of Education Meeting | October 16, 2025 The Lincoln-Way District 210 Board of Education meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2025, was dominated by news that the district's support...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Manhattan School District 114 for October 8, 2025

Manhattan School District 114 Board Meeting | October 8, 2025 The Manhattan School District 114 board meeting on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, featured extensive public testimony from parents detailing significant...

Will County Board Meetings

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Will County Committee Approves Rezoning, Denies Landfill Permit for Former Joliet Beach Club Site

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Land Use and Development Committee on Thursday narrowly approved rezoning the former Joliet Beach...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Land Use & Development Committee for November 6, 2025

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 The Will County Land Use and Development Committee navigated a series of contentious zoning cases on Thursday, November...
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Committee Rejects Rezoning for Fencing Company in Joliet Township

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: Citing incompatibility with the surrounding residential neighborhood, the Will County Land Use and Development Committee unanimously denied...
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County Sales Tax Revenues Strong, Cannabis Funds Dispersed to Community Programs

Will County Finance Committee Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: Will County's key sales tax revenues are on track to meet or exceed budget projections for fiscal year 2025, though...
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Will County Committee Grants Extensions for Crete, Washington Township Solar Projects

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Land Use and Development Committee granted 180-day extensions for two commercial solar energy projects...
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Will County Finance Committee Forwards 1.75% Compromise Property Tax Levy to Full Board

Will County Finance Committee Forwards 1.75% Compromise Property Tax Levy to Full Board Article Summary:The Will County Board’s Finance Committee on Tuesday, November 12, 2025, narrowly approved a series of...
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Will County Committee Denies Appeal for Crete Township ‘Tiny Home’ Permit

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Land Use and Development Committee on Thursday upheld the denial of a temporary use...
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New Lenox Solar Farm Gains County Committee Approval with Conditions

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: A 63-acre commercial solar energy facility on Spencer Road in New Lenox Township received a key endorsement...
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Committee Approves Frankfort Township Gaming Bar on Split Vote

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: Despite an objection from Frankfort Township, a proposed video gaming bar on West St. Francis Road is...

Illinois News

Illinois truckers back federal pause on non-domiciled CDLs, hope state follows suit

Illinois truckers back federal pause on non-domiciled CDLs, hope state follows suit

By Catrina Baker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois truckers are applauding a federal rule and hope the state enforces a pause on non-domiciled...
WATCH: DCFS updates missing children numbers; Budget cuts EO transparency criticized

WATCH: DCFS updates missing children numbers; Budget cuts EO transparency criticized

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 latest...
Illinois quick hits: Armed robbery charges after incident at Senate President's office

Illinois quick hits: Armed robbery charges after incident at Senate President’s office

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Armed robbery charges after incident at Senate President's office A Chicago man has been charged with armed robbery after an incident...
Illinois sports wagers decline after implementation of new tax

Illinois sports wagers decline after implementation of new tax

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Gaming Board has reported a 15% drop in September sports betting, after the state imposed...
Chicago mayor threatens layoffs, property tax hikes if council rejects head tax

Chicago mayor threatens layoffs, property tax hikes if council rejects head tax

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is threatening service cuts, layoffs and property tax hikes if aldermen reject his...
Illinois quick hits: Four officers injured during ICE protest

Illinois quick hits: Four officers injured during ICE protest

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Four officers injured during ICE protest Four state and local law enforcement officers were injured and 21 people were arrested Friday...
Illinois quick hits: Chicago treasurer to boycott U.S. securities to protest against Trump; Governor marks opening of new union training center; Illinois farms expected to lose $67.2 million a year

Illinois quick hits: Chicago treasurer to boycott U.S. securities to protest against Trump; Governor marks opening of new union training center; Illinois farms expected to lose $67.2 million a year

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Treasurer to boycott U.S. Treasury securities to protest against Trump Chicago’s finances may take another hit after City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin...
Illinois quick hits: WARN Act reporting shows 1,600 job losses in October

Illinois quick hits: WARN Act reporting shows 1,600 job losses in October

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square WARN Act reporting shows 1,600 job losses in October The Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act for October reports...
Pritzker, alders oppose Chicago tax plans, property tax hike could be next

Pritzker, alders oppose Chicago tax plans, property tax hike could be next

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As the Chicago City Council considers 2026 budget measures, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed tax hikes continue to...

National News

FAA returns to normal operations after shutdown, launches probe

FAA returns to normal operations after shutdown, launches probe

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Federal Aviation Administration's emergency flight reductions ended Monday after Congress passed legislation funding the federal government last week, but the agency said it would...
Supreme Court declines to hear public prayer case

Supreme Court declines to hear public prayer case

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court declined to decide a case about public prayer in Florida. The case, Cambridge Christian School v. Florida High School Athletic Association,...
Supreme Court to decide immigration asylum case

Supreme Court to decide immigration asylum case

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court will decide a case that would determine at what point an individual seeking asylum "arrives" in the United States. The Trump...
Michigan school board passes controversial sex ed policies

Michigan school board passes controversial sex ed policies

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square After weeks of public backlash, the Michigan Board of Education officially moved forward to adopt controversial new Michigan Health Education Standards Framework. The newly-adopted standards...
Everyday Economics: Jobs data returns as government reopens

Everyday Economics: Jobs data returns as government reopens

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square With the government shutdown finally over, this week brings a double dose of good news: federal workers start receiving paychecks again, and economic data collection...
Supreme Court case could have major effect on 2026 midterms

Supreme Court case could have major effect on 2026 midterms

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up a case that could have an effect on the 2026 midterm elections. The case, Watson v....
Competing crypto plans create 'narrow path' for adoption

Competing crypto plans create ‘narrow path’ for adoption

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Two competing plans seeking to define market structure for digital assets in the U.S. have left a "narrow path" to pass regulations for cryptocurrency. The...
Congress used government funding bill to 'erase' $3.4 trillion in deficits

Congress used government funding bill to ‘erase’ $3.4 trillion in deficits

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Quietly tucked inside Republicans’ funding deal to end the government shutdown is a provision wiping the congressional Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) scorecard, effectively forgiving nearly $3.4 trillion...
Illinois patient relies on ACA tax credits, experts warn they drive higher premiums

Illinois patient relies on ACA tax credits, experts warn they drive higher premiums

By Catrina BarkerThe Center Square President Donald Trump signed a House-passed short-term spending bill late Wednesday, ending the shutdown and keeping the government open through January, notably without the Affordable...