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
Health Department Opens Second Breast Milk Depot in Bolingbrook
The Will County Health Department has opened its second breast milk depot in partnership with Mother's Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes, expanding access to donated breast milk for...
Lockport Township Solar Farm Gains Committee Approval
The Will County Land Use and Development Committee on Thursday approved a special use permit for a 25-acre commercial solar energy facility in Lockport Township. The project, proposed by Daniel...
Health Department Plans Back-to-School Fair July 12
The Will County Health Department will host a Back-to-School Health Fair Saturday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Community Health Center, 1106 Neal Ave., Joliet. The...
Meeting Briefs: Will County Land Use & Development Committee for July 3, 2025
Green Garden Township Rezoning for Future Subdivision ApprovedThe committee recommended approval of a map amendment for an 81-acre property on South 88th Avenue in Green Garden Township. The applicant, represented...
Will County Public Health & Safety Committee July 3 Meeting Briefs
Grain Dust Complaint Prompts Investigation: Will County resident Tracy Henning of unincorporated Peotone addressed the committee about health problems she attributes to grain dust from a neighboring facility. Henning, who...
Will County Seeks Asian Carp Provision in Federal Legislative Agenda
Will County Board member Julie Berkowicz is pushing to add specific language addressing Asian carp invasion to the county's federal legislative agenda, citing the ongoing threat to local waterways as...
Will County’s Major Capital Projects Hit Key Milestones, VAC Buildout on “Aggressive Schedule”
Will County is making significant headway on several major capital improvement projects, with the new Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) & Support Center in Joliet on an “aggressive schedule” for a...
State Legislative Session Update: Transit, Energy Bills Stall Despite Democratic Control
Illinois lawmakers failed to advance major transit funding and comprehensive energy legislation during the recently concluded spring session, leaving key issues unresolved despite Democratic supermajorities in both chambers, according to...
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....
