Education
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...
Meeting Briefs: Manhattan School District 114 for July 9, 2025
Junior High Announces Mascot Debut, Community Events: Manhattan Junior High School is preparing to introduce its new mascot, “Demo,” at the PTO’s Back to School Bash on August 15 from 5:00...
JJC Trustees Approve Contentious FY26 Budget After Heated Debate, Failed Postponement
The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a $322.3 million budget for fiscal year 2026, but not before a tense debate that saw a motion to postpone...
Lincoln Way District 210 Approves $2.1 Million Budget Amendment, Maintains Strong Financial Position
Lincoln Way Community High School District 210 board members unanimously approved an amended fiscal year 2025 budget Thursday night that increases the district's operating surplus to $2.1 million while maintaining...
JJC’s ‘12x12x12’ Initiative Boosts College Credits, Increases Matriculation Rate
Joliet Junior College’s ambitious "12x12x12" initiative is yielding significant results, leading to more high school students earning college credits and a greater percentage of them choosing to attend JJC after...
District 210 Approves Administrative Restructuring, Staff Salary Increases
Lincoln Way Community High School District 210 board members approved administrative restructuring and salary increases for non-union clerical support staff during closed session actions Thursday night. The board unanimously approved...
Will County Board Meetings
Will County Reports Progress in Opioid Fight, Highlights New FDA Labeling Rules
Article Summary: Will County is seeing a reduction in opioid overdose deaths and is expanding access to the reversal drug Narcan, health officials reported. The department also drew attention to...
In-House Staff Completes Major Renovations at Will County Adult Detention Facility
ARTICLE SUMMARY: Maintenance staff at the Will County Adult Detention Facility recently completed extensive renovations in-house, including a new control center and the full restoration of a 48-cell housing unit, saving...
Will County Advances Truck Repair Facility Plan on Manhattan Road Despite Resident Objections
Article Summary: A proposal to rezone nearly 14 acres on Manhattan Road for a truck repair facility advanced after receiving a recommendation for approval from the Will County Land Use...
PZC Grants Variance for Oversized Garage in Joliet Township, Reversing Staff Recommendation
Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a variance for a Joliet Township homeowner to build a garage addition that exceeds the county's size limits. The...
Will County Public Works Committee Approves Over $1.1 Million in New Agreements for 80th Avenue Project
ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee authorized two agreements totaling over $1.1 million for the ongoing reconstruction and widening of 80th Avenue between 191st and 183rd Streets....
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Legislative Committee for August 5, 2025
The Will County Board’s Legislative Committee focused on shaping its advocacy efforts at both the state and federal levels during its August 5 meeting. The primary discussion centered on crafting...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Capital Improvements & IT Committee for August 5, 2025
The future of several key county facilities dominated the Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee meeting on Tuesday. A major topic of discussion was the ongoing buildout of the...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Land Use & Development Committee for August 7, 2025
The Will County Land Use & Development Committee tackled two contentious zoning cases during its August 7 meeting, denying a special use permit for a landscaping business in a residential...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Planning and Zoning Commission for August 5, 2025
The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission backed two controversial projects at its August 5 meeting, unanimously approving a large-scale landscaping business on a residential lot in DuPage Township despite...
Illinois News
Governor to evaluate tax proposal for Bears stadium in Arlington Heights
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker is not ruling out tax legislation to help the Chicago Bears move forward with...
Illinois quick hits: Report shows rate of businesses leaving state
By The Center SquareThe Center Square Report shows rate of businesses leaving state Illinois businesses are moving to other states at triple the rate they did before the pandemic, according...
DCFS denies claim that agency uses uncertified interns to investigate families
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A state lawmaker says he has documentation to show that the Illinois Department of Children and Family...
Illinois quick hits: State-based health insurance marketplace approved
By The Center SquareThe Center Square State-based health insurance marketplace approved Beginning Nov. 1, Get Covered Illinois will officially become Illinois’ health insurance marketplace. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and...
Judge denies Madigan’s motion to remain free pending appeal
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – U.S. District Court Judge John Robert Blakey has denied former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s request to...
Trump takes aim at Chicago crime, no-cash bail while singling out Pritzker
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – President Donald Trump says Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is incompetent, that he may send the national guard...
WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Monday Aug. 11th, 2025
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 reviews the latest...
National News
Report: New York No. 2 in nation for inbound tobacco smuggling
By Chris WadeThe Center Square New York remains one of the top states for inbound tobacco smuggling, according to a new report, which attributes the robust underground market to the...
Trump delays China tariffs by 90 days
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The deadline to enact further reciprocal tariffs against China will be extended by 90 days, President Donald Trump announced Monday night. “[China] continues to take...
Kennedy visits Atlanta’s CDC
By Kim JarrettThe Center Square U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Atlanta's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention days after a police officer died in...
Trump declares ‘Liberation Day’ in D.C., calls in National Guard
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square “Liberation Day” arrived Monday in Washington, D.C., as declared by President Donald Trump. The president declared a crime emergency in the district and said the...
Judge denies Trump DOJ request to unseal Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury records
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The Trump administration is facing another setback in attempting to curb backlash over its chameleonic handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, with another federal judge...
FAA partners with college to train next generation air traffic controllers
By Ashley Olds |The Center Square To expand specialized training under the Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative, the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Monday that the...
The U.S. Department of Education launches nationwide tour
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The Department of Education launched a national tour this month in its continuing efforts to dismantle the agency and revert power back to the states....
