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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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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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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...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Manhattan Village Board for November 4, 2025

Manhattan Village Board Meeting | November 4, 2025 An emotional and lengthy discussion on improving safety along U.S. Route 52 was the central focus of the Manhattan Village Board meeting...
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Manhattan Man Arrested on Six Felony Counts of Child Pornography

Article Summary:A 25-year-old Manhattan man was arrested on multiple felony child pornography charges following a lengthy investigation that began with a tip from law enforcement in Nebraska. Police said evidence...
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Meeting Summary and Briefs: Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board for September 2025

Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board Meeting | September 2025 The Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board of Trustees handled key annual financial duties and updated its personnel policies during its regular...
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Will County Saves $5.7 Million in Bond Refinancing, Maintains High Credit Ratings

Will County Finance Committee Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: A recent bond transaction successfully saved Will County over $5.7 million in future debt payments, while a presentation from the...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Manhattan Park Board for September 2025

Manhattan Park Board Meeting | September 2025 The Manhattan Park Board at its Thursday, September 11, 2025, meeting ratified the emergency purchase of a bucket truck to aid in park...
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Manhattan Approves Purchase of FOIA Redaction Software for Police Department

Manhattan Village Board Meeting | November 4, 2025 Article Summary: To handle a surge in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for body-camera footage, the Manhattan Village Board approved the...
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Library Board Adopts New Cell Phone Stipend Policy for Employees

Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board Meeting | September 2025 Article SummaryThe Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board of Trustees has approved a new policy to provide a cell phone stipend for...
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Manhattan Announces Proposed 6% Property Tax Levy Increase

Manhattan Village Board Meeting | November 4, 2025 Article Summary: The Manhattan Village Board has announced a proposed 2025 property tax levy of $3,828,252, which represents an approximate 6.09% increase...
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State Veto Session Passes Energy Bill Limiting County Zoning, Approves Toll Hike for Mass Transit

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Legislative Committee for November 4, 2025 Article Summary: A state lobbyist reported to Will County that the Illinois General Assembly passed a major energy bill...

Events

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Education

Manhattan School 114 Graphic.2

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...
Manhattan School District 114 Logo Graphic

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

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...
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Crete Township Senior Group Home Gets Unanimous Committee Support

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: A proposal to convert a single-family home in Crete Township into a shared living facility for up...

Illinois News

Illinois quick hits: Illinois U.S. senators split on shutdown vote

Illinois quick hits: Illinois U.S. senators split on shutdown vote

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Illinois U.S. senators split on shutdown vote Illinois U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth differed as the Senate voted to...

WATCH: Pritzker vows to continue battling Trump over ‘abuses’ around public safety

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The war of words continues between President Donald Trump and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker over public safety...
Lawmakers, advocates discuss battery storage, consumer costs in energy bill

Lawmakers, advocates discuss battery storage, consumer costs in energy bill

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois state lawmaker is pushing battery storage legislation, but not all of her Democratic colleagues are...
Illinois quick hits: State Farm sued; ag education grants announced; 'Operation Summer Heat' results

Illinois quick hits: State Farm sued; ag education grants announced; ‘Operation Summer Heat’ results

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square State Farm sued The state of Illinois is suing Illinois-based State Farm insurance, alleging the company refused to comply with a...
WATCH: Frustration mounts with Dept. of Corrections 'unseriousness,' 'timeliness problem'

WATCH: Frustration mounts with Dept. of Corrections ‘unseriousness,’ ‘timeliness problem’

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Department of Corrections has begun scanning prison inmates’ mail, but lawmakers are not happy with...
Illinois audit commission members worried about ‘ghost’ health care networks

Illinois audit commission members worried about ‘ghost’ health care networks

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Concerns about ghost medical insurance networks and zombie state boards and commissions were raised during a review...
Cook County officials warn property tax reform could hurt homeowners

Cook County officials warn property tax reform could hurt homeowners

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are clashing over a Cook County property tax relief plan that restricts the types...
Illinois quick hits: Poll finds mixed reviews for Trump; posthumous medal for Kirk; transit fare increase proposed

Illinois quick hits: Poll finds mixed reviews for Trump; posthumous medal for Kirk; transit fare increase proposed

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Poll finds mixed reviews for Trump President Donald Trump’s economic policies are getting mixed reviews from voters. The Center Square Voters'...
WATCH: Trump: Pritzker should ‘beg;’ Veto Session begins as Madigan reports to prison

WATCH: Trump: Pritzker should ‘beg;’ Veto Session begins as Madigan reports to prison

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 comments from...

National News

Hegseth announces Operation Southern Spear, targeting narco-terrorists

Hegseth announces Operation Southern Spear, targeting narco-terrorists

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Operation Southern Spear, the new title for the Trump administration’s targeting of narco-terrorists in and around Latin America, was announced Thursday by Secretary of War...
Justice Department accuses California of racial gerrymandering in redistricting plan

Justice Department accuses California of racial gerrymandering in redistricting plan

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Justice sued California officials Thursday over the state's redistricting plan, which could help Democrats pick up additional seats in Congress. The...
State Department designates European Antifa groups foreign terror organizations

State Department designates European Antifa groups foreign terror organizations

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The U.S. State Department officially designated four foreign Antifa groups as foreign terrorist organizations, nearly two months after President Donald Trump designated Antifa a domestic...
NetChoice scores legal win in social media warning lawsuit

NetChoice scores legal win in social media warning lawsuit

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square A U.S. District Court recently granted a preliminary injunction against a new Colorado law that would require social media platforms to regularly send pop-up notifications...
Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger draws more support as critics push back

Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger draws more support as critics push back

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square Support is growing for the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern as federal regulators continue reviewing what would become the first transcontinental freight...
TSA agents who worked throughout shutdown to receive $10,000 bonus

TSA agents who worked throughout shutdown to receive $10,000 bonus

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The Department of Homeland Security will issue $10,000 bonus checks to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents who demonstrated “exemplary” behavior and work attendance during the...
Pro-life org invests $80M into 2026 midterms, will reach 10.5M voters

Pro-life org invests $80M into 2026 midterms, will reach 10.5M voters

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America says it will reach 10.5 million voters by its newly announced investment of $80 million into the 2026 midterm election,...
Refilling Strategic Petroleum Reserve begins

Refilling Strategic Petroleum Reserve begins

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square About 1 million barrels of crude oil that will go toward replenishing the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve have been purchased, the U.S. Department of Energy...
Report: Barriers to social mobility largely manmade

Report: Barriers to social mobility largely manmade

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Authors of a new report on social mobility across the 50 states said that barriers to social mobility are largely “man-made” and can be solved...