Manhattan Police Report
Disclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely an accusation, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. On August 2, 2025, officers responded to the...
Manhattan PTO Presents $20,000 Donation to District Schools
Article Summary: The Manhattan Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) presented a $20,000 donation to the Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education, continuing its tradition of providing substantial financial support to...
Will County Executive Proposes $791 Million Budget Focused on Stability Amidst Economic Uncertainty
Article Summary: Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant presented a balanced $791 million budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026 that aims to maintain services and prepare for potential economic challenges without...
Will County P&Z: Manhattan Township Rezoning Approved
The Will County Planning and Zonning Commission unanimously approved a map amendment for a vacant property on South Kankakee Street in Manhattan Township. The request, brought by James and Julie...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Manhattan Village Board for August 19, 2025
The Manhattan Village Board held a brief meeting on August 19, 2025, with the primary action being the approval to donate a surplus village truck to a local non-profit. The...
Manhattan School District 114 and Teachers Union Finalize New Contract
Article Summary: After months of negotiations, the Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education has unanimously approved a new collective bargaining agreement with its teachers and support staff. The approval...
Manhattan Village Board Donates Surplus Truck to Local Animal Rescue Ranch
Article Summary: The Manhattan Village Board has officially declared a 2007 Ford F-150 pickup truck as surplus property, unanimously voting to donate the vehicle to the Triple H Ranch, a...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Manhattan Fire Protection District Board of Trustees for July 11, 2025
At a special meeting on July 11, the Manhattan Fire Protection District Board of Trustees took decisive action to advance its new fire station project. The board moved forward with...
Citing Liability Concerns, Will County Committee Postpones Vote on Septic System Ordinance
Article Summary: The Will County Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee postponed a vote on updating its sewer and sewage disposal ordinance after a member raised significant concerns about the county's liability...
Will County Moves to Repeal Obsolete 1972 Fire Hydrant Ordinance
Article Summary: An ordinance from 1972 regulating the placement and specifications of fire hydrants in Will County is set to be repealed after the Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee approved its...
Manhattan Fire District Awards Initial Bids for New Station, Re-bids Four Items to Cut Costs
Article Summary: The Manhattan Fire Protection District board approved most construction bids for its new fire station during a special meeting, but will re-bid roofing, flooring, overhead doors, and landscaping...
Education
Manhattan PTO Presents $20,000 Donation to District Schools
Article Summary: The Manhattan Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) presented a $20,000 donation to the Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education, continuing its tradition of providing substantial financial support to...
Lincoln-Way Board Approves Special Education Co-op Budget Amid Concerns Over Rising Costs
Article Summary: The Lincoln-Way District 210 Board of Education approved the Fiscal Year 2026 budget for the Lincoln-Way Special Education District 843 cooperative, while officials expressed concern over significant cost...
Lincoln-Way Board Reviews $162 Million Tentative Budget, Projects Deficit Due to Bus Purchase Timing
Article Summary: The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education reviewed a tentative $162.5 million budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which includes a 5.48% increase in operating expenses...
Manhattan School District 114 and Teachers Union Finalize New Contract
Article Summary: After months of negotiations, the Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education has unanimously approved a new collective bargaining agreement with its teachers and support staff. The approval...
Manhattan 114 Explores Fifth-Grade Athletics as New Superintendent Lays Out Vision
In his first official report to the Board of Education, new Manhattan School District 114 Superintendent Dr. Damien Aherne outlined his initial priorities and introduced a significant proposal to expand...
Manhattan 114 Board Hires New Teachers, Accepts Staff Resignations
The Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education approved the hiring of four certified teachers and three non-certified staff members for the upcoming school year during its meeting on July...
District 114 Approves Federal Plan as Construction Nears Finish Line
The Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education took a key step in securing federal funding for the next fiscal year and received positive updates on the final stages of...
Will County Board Meetings
Will County expands safety initiatives across facilities
Will County has implemented new safety protocols and training programs across its facilities, including the selection of department safety monitors and participation in community health education events. Each county department...
Leglislative Committee Meeting Briefs
Federal Grant Deadline Extended: The Surface Transportation Reauthorization deadline has been extended to May 30 for policy submissions, with both House and Senate committees actively seeking stakeholder input ahead of...
Speed Limits Reduced on Two Township Roads
The committee approved new speed zones for two township roads based on engineering studies showing current limits exceed safe driving speeds. Offner Road in Green Garden Township will have a...
Will County Finance Committee Approves Juvenile Detention Center Upgrades
Committee votes to keep facility operational, moves forward with compliance modifications Will County Finance Committee members voted unanimously Monday to recommend keeping the River Valley Detention Center operational and making...
Major Grade Separation Projects Advance with Engineering Contracts
The committee approved two significant engineering agreements for major railroad overpass projects totaling over $4 million. TranSystems Corporation received a $4,003,256 contract for construction engineering services on the Lorenzo Road...
County Authorizes Condemnation for Francis Road Project
The committee authorized the State's Attorney's Office to proceed with condemnation cases for right-of-way acquisition needed for Francis Road improvements between Gougar Road and Interstate 80. Eight property parcels are...
Solar Farm Access Approved for Manhattan-Arsenal Road
The committee granted access approval for a solar farm development on Manhattan-Arsenal Road approximately 1,000 feet east of Cherry Hill Road. The MCH Solar 1 project, developed by Soltage LLC,...
Illinois News
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
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
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
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
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
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
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....
National News
Dow hits record high after Fed Chair hints at September rate cuts
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The Dow Jones Industrial Average clinched a record high Friday for the first time this year hours after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell hinted that...
WATCH: Newsom optimistic about redistricting despite poll
By Dave MasonThe Center Square Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday said he’s proud of how quickly the California Legislature passed a congressional redistricting proposal that he signed, but he was...
Newsom meets with Danes, talks about Trump but not 2028
By Dave MasonThe Center Square California Gov. Gavin Newsom came to his hometown of San Francisco Friday to talk about the state’s new green energy partnership with Denmark. But another...
CA bill to give interest on insurance payments to homeowners
By Jamie ParsonsThe Center Square The California Legislature this week passed a bill to give at least 2% of interest on insurance payments to owners of homes that need rebuilding...
DOJ releases Maxwell interview transcripts, audio; described Trump as ‘gentleman’
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday released the audio and transcript interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell, “in the interest of transparency,” in which she claims...
Erik Menendez denied parole; brother appears before board
By Dave MasonThe Center Square Lyle Menendez faced a California Board of Parole hearing Friday, after two commissioners Thursday evening denied parole to his younger brother Erik Menendez after a...
After cutting union contracts, VA redirects $45M to veterans
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officials announced Friday that the agency is redirecting nearly $45 million from public union costs to care for veterans. "VA...
