Screenshot 2025-11-01 at 11.28.53 AM

Mokena Approves ‘Emerald Social’ Restaurant and Outdoor Entertainment Venue

Screenshot 2025-10-25 at 12.43.06 PM

Will County Health Department Pleads for $1 Million to Avert ‘Weakened Public Health System’

Screenshot 2025-10-25 at 12.42.59 PM

Will County Committee Grapples with $8.9 Million Budget Gap After Contentious 0% Tax Levy Vote

Screenshot 2025-10-25 at 12.42.59 PM

Will County Committee Grapples with $8.9 Million Budget Gap After Contentious 0% Tax Levy Vote

Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Mokena School District 159 Board of Education for October 15, 2025

Meeting-Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Frankfort Township Board for September 8, 2025

Screenshot 2025-10-17 at 3.15.09 PM

Regional Office of Education Highlights School Safety, New Learning Programs in Update

Screenshot 2025-10-17 at 11.24.23 AM

Lincoln-Way to Purchase New Buses, Add Smaller Vehicles to Address Driver Shortage

mokena school district 159.4

Mokena 159 Board Adopts New Policies on AI, Student Support Despite Dissent

mental health awareness day bipolar disorder anxiety stress emot

Will County Board Compromises on Mental Health Levy, Approves $10 Million After Debate

Screenshot 2025-10-17 at 11.31.38 AM

Lincoln-Way Board Honors Students with Perfect ACT Scores, Music Educator of the Year

frankfort township graphic

Frankfort Township Board Denies Permit for New Bar on St. Francis Road

Events Calendar

Events Calendar Graphic

Sensory Take & Make: Dinovember Foam Sticker Craft

Events Calendar Graphic

Bloom Art Paint Night

Events Calendar Graphic

Veteran’s Day

Events Calendar Graphic

Card Crafting with Kathy Congreve

Events Calendar Graphic

Adult Book Discussion

Events Calendar Graphic

Good Eats Adult Book Bag Registration

Events Calendar Graphic

Sound Bath with Gail Morales

Events Calendar Graphic

One-on-One Technology Help

Events Calendar Graphic

Take and Make Fall Bookmark

Events Calendar Graphic

Family History Exploration: A One-on-One Taster Session

Events Calendar Graphic

Sensory Take & Make: Thankful Tree Craft

Events Calendar Graphic

Library Board of Trustees Meeting

Events Calendar Graphic

One-On-One Technology Help

Events Calendar Graphic

Thanksgiving Holiday – Closed

Events Calendar Graphic

Bloom Art Paint Night

Events Calendar Graphic

Sensory Take & Make: Magic Color Scratch Snowflake Ornaments

Education

LW-SB-AUG.2

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...
mokena school district 159.5

Mokena School District Terminates Contract with Evans and Sons Blacktop Over Project Deficiencies

MOKENA, Ill. – The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to terminate its contract with Evans and Sons Blacktop for the playground and parking lot improvements...
Mokena Intermediate School

Mokena District 159 Highlights Strategic Progress, Sets Sights on Advanced Learning and Data Systems

MOKENA, Ill. – Mokena School District 159 administrators presented their annual Strategic Plan review to the Board of Education on Wednesday, showcasing a year of significant progress in curriculum, facility...
mokena-jr-high-school

District 159 Approves $173,700 Window Shade Replacement Project for Summer 2026

MOKENA, Ill. – The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education has authorized the district to seek proposals for a large-scale window shade replacement project at three schools, slated for...
mokena-elementary-school

Mokena Junior High to Get New Hot Water Heaters After Failures

MOKENA, Ill. – The Mokena School District 159 board has approved an emergency expenditure of up to $34,500 to replace two failing hot water heaters at Mokena Junior High School....
mokena school district 159.5

District 159 Board Gets First Look at FY26 Budget Draft, Education Fund Deficit Noted

MOKENA, Ill. – The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education received its first look at the fiscal year 2026 budget this week, kicking off a two-month process of review...
Meeting-Briefs

Meeting Summary: Mokena School District 159 Board for July 16, 2025

The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education took several significant actions at its July 16 meeting, including terminating a contract for summer construction work due to performance issues and...
JJC-Graphic-Logo

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...
Screenshot-2025-07-06-at-9.50.39-AM

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...

Will County Board Meetings

Screenshot 2025-10-25 at 10.49.32 AM

Crete Township ‘Tiny Home’ Owner Appeals Permit Denial

Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | October 21, 2025 Article Summary: A Crete Township property owner has appealed to the Will County Planning and Zoning Commission after being...
Screenshot 2025-10-25 at 10.49.23 AM

Senior Shared Housing Facility Recommended for Approval in Crete Township

Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | October 21, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended approval for a special use permit that would...
Screenshot 2025-10-25 at 12.43.06 PM

Will County Health Department Pleads for $1 Million to Avert ‘Weakened Public Health System’

Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | October 21, 2025 Article Summary: Leaders and board members from the Will County Health Department made an impassioned plea for $1 million in county...
Screenshot 2025-10-25 at 10.49.15 AM

Frankfort Township Board Objects, but County Commission Recommends Bar with Video Gaming

Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | October 21, 2025 Article Summary: Despite a formal objection from the Frankfort Township Board, the Will County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended...
Screenshot 2025-10-25 at 12.42.59 PM

Will County Committee Grapples with $8.9 Million Budget Gap After Contentious 0% Tax Levy Vote

Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | October 21, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board Finance Committee held a contentious debate over how to close an $8.9 million budget shortfall...
Screenshot 2025-10-25 at 12.42.59 PM

Will County Committee Grapples with $8.9 Million Budget Gap After Contentious 0% Tax Levy Vote

Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | October 21, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board Finance Committee held a contentious debate over how to close an $8.9 million budget shortfall...
Screenshot 2025-10-25 at 10.48.48 AM

New Lenox Solar Farm Proposal Advances with Conditions, Following Village and Forest Preserve Input

Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | October 21, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for a 62.7-acre commercial solar energy facility in...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board for October 16, 2025

Will County Board Regular Meeting | October 16, 2025 The Will County Board took major action on property taxes at its meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2025, narrowly voting to...
30 MPH Speed Limit

Will County Board Approves New 30 MPH Speed Limit for Frankfort Township Road

Will County Board Regular Meeting | October 16, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board approved a new 30 MPH speed limit for a section of 78th Avenue in Frankfort Township,...

Illinois News

Illinois House Speaker: 'Mr. Trump, tear down this fence!'

Illinois House Speaker: ‘Mr. Trump, tear down this fence!’

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The speaker of the Illinois House has compared a fence outside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in...
Energy cost concerns loom as legislators look at policy changes

Energy cost concerns loom as legislators look at policy changes

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois legislators are set to begin the fall veto session Tuesday with some worried electric rate increases...
PJM exit: A price solution or power move?

PJM exit: A price solution or power move?

By Lauren Jessop | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Surging electricity demand, an aging grid, and generation sources retiring faster than new ones can be...
Broadview, Illinois reduces ICE protest zone after ‘chaos,’ 15 arrests

Broadview, Illinois reduces ICE protest zone after ‘chaos,’ 15 arrests

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The village of Broadview, Illinois is reducing the area where protesters can stage near the Immigration and...
Illinois’ ‘F’ grade leaves taxpayers on the hook for billions, watchdog says

Illinois’ ‘F’ grade leaves taxpayers on the hook for billions, watchdog says

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Budget gimmicks, pension debt and late financial reports are leaving Illinois taxpayers in the dark, according...
Illinois quick hits: Chicago Jewish Alliance on peace developments; Blue Ribbon Schools announced

Illinois quick hits: Chicago Jewish Alliance on peace developments; Blue Ribbon Schools announced

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Chicago Jewish Alliance on peace developments The Chicago Jewish Alliance has offered a response to the release of 20 hostages held...
WATCH: Trump’s emergency Guard appeal denied; Fiscal Fallout reviews state salaries

WATCH: Trump’s emergency Guard appeal denied; Fiscal Fallout reviews state salaries

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 gets to the...
Appeals Court rejects Trump administration bid to lift TRO in Illinois

Appeals Court rejects Trump administration bid to lift TRO in Illinois

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has denied the portion of the Trump administration’s emergency motion...
IL lawmakers could address energy prices, transit, taxes during veto session

IL lawmakers could address energy prices, transit, taxes during veto session

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois General Assembly’s fall veto session begins Tuesday, and taxes are expected to be part of...

National News

Johnson: Republicans 'have plans' to 'fix' Obamacare

Johnson: Republicans ‘have plans’ to ‘fix’ Obamacare

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square As the ongoing government shutdown enters its third week, Republican leaders are reminding Democrats that by blocking the House-passed funding bill, they are also delaying...
MIT rejects White House education demands

MIT rejects White House education demands

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square The Massachusetts Institute of Technology refused to sign the White House agreement that would grant federal funds linked to the administration's demands. The Trump administration...

WATCH: Trump touts ‘historic’ ‘Peace Summit’ as world leaders convene in Egypt

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square President Donald Trump is celebrating a historic, whirlwind trip to the Middle East that concluded with a “Peace Summit” in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, of over...
U.S. consumers to pay 55% of tariff costs, Goldman Sachs says

U.S. consumers to pay 55% of tariff costs, Goldman Sachs says

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square U.S. consumers will end up paying the bulk of the cost for President Donald Trump's tariffs, according to a report from Goldman Sachs. The report...
JPMorganChase to invest $10B in U.S. firms key to national security

JPMorganChase to invest $10B in U.S. firms key to national security

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square JPMorganChase said Monday it would invest $10 billion in industries tied to U.S. national security as part of a decade-long plan to help protect the...
Louisiana: Voting Rights Act 'balkanizes' competing racial factions

Louisiana: Voting Rights Act ‘balkanizes’ competing racial factions

By Nolan MckendryThe Center Square Louisiana will argue on Wednesday at the U.S. Supreme Court that part of the Voting Rights Act is “is inconsistent with the letter and spirit...
Democrat Mills to challenge Collins with for U.S. Senate

Democrat Mills to challenge Collins with for U.S. Senate

By Chris WadeThe Center Square Maine's Democratic Gov. Janet Mills is expected to announce a bid for the U.S. Senate with a challenge to Republican Sen. Susan Collins in next...
Some New York school districts spend almost or more than $100,000 a student

Some New York school districts spend almost or more than $100,000 a student

By Mark StricherzThe Center Square A half-dozen school districts in New York state report spending more than $70,000 per student, with two districts spending almost or more than $100,000, an...
Trump delivers message of peace, hope during historic Knesset address

Trump delivers message of peace, hope during historic Knesset address

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Hope and joy dominated the streets of Israel on Monday as 20 hostages were freed, and President Donald Trump addressed the State of Israel. The...