Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Manhattan Fire Protection District Board of Trustees for July 11, 2025

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Manhattan Fire District Awards Initial Bids for New Station, Re-bids Four Items to Cut Costs

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Report Finding Few Trucks Littering Sparks Debate on Cleanup Responsibility

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Will County Health Department Seeks $1 Million to Avert ‘Drastic’ Service Cuts from Expiring Grants

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Will County Public Works Committee Unveils 25-Year Transportation Plan, Projects $258 Million Gap

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Health Department Seeks $1 Million Levy Increase to Prevent “Weakened System”

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Will County Leglislative Committee Opposes Federal Push for Heavier, Longer Trucks

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Will County Advances Truck Repair Facility Plan on Manhattan Road Despite Resident Objections

Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary: Manhattan Village Board for August 5, 2025

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Village Board Approves Comprehensive Update to Employee Personnel Manual

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Manhattan Awards $537,907 Contract for Hanover Estates Road Resurfacing

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Manhattan to Enact Local 1% Grocery Tax, Replacing State Revenue Stream

Events

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01 Sep
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Manhattan
19 Sep
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Education

MH 114 SB July 9, 2025

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...
MH 114 SB July 9, 2025

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...
MH 114 SB July 9, 2025

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

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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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JJC Board Meeting Highlights Tensions Over Legal Bills, Trustee Conduct

An otherwise routine vote to approve monthly bill payments ignited a tense exchange at the Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday, revealing ongoing friction over redacted legal invoices,...

Will County Board Meetings

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Report Finding Few Trucks Littering Sparks Debate on Cleanup Responsibility

Article Summary: A Will County report found that a very small percentage of waste-hauling trucks are the source of litter on roadways near the county landfill, sparking a debate among...
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Will County Receives Detailed Update on Landfill Expansion Investigation

Article Summary: The Will County Landfill Committee received a comprehensive technical update on the site investigation for the planned horizontal expansion of the county landfill, confirming the project remains on...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Landfill Committee for August 7, 2025

The Will County Landfill Committee on Thursday heard a detailed technical update on the ongoing investigation for the county landfill expansion, confirming that the complex project remains on schedule. Consultants...
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Will County Health Department Seeks $1 Million to Avert ‘Drastic’ Service Cuts from Expiring Grants

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Health Department is requesting an additional $1 million in county funding for its 2026 budget to prevent the elimination of 11 critical staff positions, warning...
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Will County’s “First-in-Nation” Veterans Center to House Workforce Services, Sparking Debate

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The new Will County Veteran's Assistance & Support Center will also become the home for the county's Workforce Services department, a move officials say will save approximately $250,000 in...
WCO-Finance-Aug-5.2

Improved Vendor Service Creates $1.2 Million Shortfall in Sheriff’s Medical Budget

ARTICLE SUMMARY: The Will County Sheriff’s Office is facing a more than $1.2 million shortfall in its budget for inmate medical services, a problem officials attribute to an ironic cause:...
WCO-PZ-Aug-5.1

Will County Public Works Committee Unveils 25-Year Transportation Plan, Projects $258 Million Gap

ARTICLE SUMMARY: Will County officials have presented "Our Way Forward 2050," a new long-range transportation plan that provides a 25-year vision for infrastructure projects while forecasting a $258 million shortfall in...
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Will County Animal Protection Services Seeks New Facility Amid “Gaping Wound” of Space Crisis

Article Summary: Will County Animal Protection Services is seeking approval for a new facility, telling a county committee that its current building is critically inadequate for housing animals, leading to...
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Board Confronts Animal Services Crowding, Explores Future Facility Options

ARTICLE SUMMARY: Will County officials are grappling with an ongoing animal housing crisis that has overwhelmed the county’s Animal Protective Services facility, prompting discussions about expansion, new construction, or even repurposing...

Illinois News

Governor to evaluate tax proposal for Bears stadium in Arlington Heights

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...
Illinois quick hits: Judge denies Madigan's motion; legislator urges action on DCFS interns

Illinois quick hits: Judge denies Madigan’s motion; legislator urges action on DCFS interns

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Judge denies Madigan's motion U.S. District Court Judge John Robert Blakey has denied former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s motion to...
Illinois quick hits: Pritzker sends bill back to legislature; cannabis loans announced

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker sends bill back to legislature; cannabis loans announced

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzker sends bill back to legislature Gov. J.B. Pritzker has used an amendatory veto to correct formatting errors with legislation seeking...

National News

Multiple briefs filed with Texas Supreme Court in Abbott lawsuit against Wu

Multiple briefs filed with Texas Supreme Court in Abbott lawsuit against Wu

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Multiple individuals have filed amicus briefs with the Texas Supreme Court in response to an emergency writ of quo warranto petition filed by Texas Gov....
Pasco Mayor Pete Serrano to take Trump appointment as Eastern WA U.S. attorney

Pasco Mayor Pete Serrano to take Trump appointment as Eastern WA U.S. attorney

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square President Donald Trump has nominated Pete Serrano – mayor of Pasco, Wash. – to be the next U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington....
President Trump hosts Armenia, Azerbaijan for peace treaty signing

President Trump hosts Armenia, Azerbaijan for peace treaty signing

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square President Donald Trump hosted the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House Friday to sign what is reportedly the first peace deal both...
Trump, Putin to meet next week

Trump, Putin to meet next week

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square More than three years after Russia invaded Ukraine, progress in achieving peace in the region could be on the horizon as President Donald Trump has...
Bill would codify Trump's executive order banning 'woke' debanking

Bill would codify Trump’s executive order banning ‘woke’ debanking

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square In light of President Donald Trump signing an executive order that effectively bans politically-driven debanking, a Kentucky lawmaker plans to introduce legislation codifying fair access...
'All hands on deck:' Burrow says AWOL Democrats being pursued to be arrested

‘All hands on deck:’ Burrow says AWOL Democrats being pursued to be arrested

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Speaker Dustin Burrows gaveled in the Texas House Friday and no quorum was reached after the fifth day. One hundred state representatives are needed for...
Dems say EPA cancelling $7B community solar grants 'illegal,' but ignore law

Dems say EPA cancelling $7B community solar grants ‘illegal,’ but ignore law

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The Environmental Protection Agency has announced it will claw back $7 billion in already earmarked funds from the Solar for All community grants and then...
Attorney argues IL should honor TX warrants for absconding Dems

Attorney argues IL should honor TX warrants for absconding Dems

By Greg BishopThe Center Square An Illinois state senator acting as local counsel for the Texas Republicans wanting to have that state’s warrants for absconding Democrats recognized by Illinois says...
Parental rights groups concerned over DEI in Denver teacher contract

Parental rights groups concerned over DEI in Denver teacher contract

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square As Denver Public Schools move forward with finalizing a new teacher contract, parental rights groups are raising concerns about inclusion of diversity, equity, and inclusion...