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Mokena Fire Board Appoints Surdel as Commissioner, Increases Office Coordinator Hours

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Mokena Fire District Invests in Station Upgrades, Modernizes Security with Digital Key System

Meeting-Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Mokena Fire Protection District Board of Trustees for July 8, 2025

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Mokena Fire Board Appoints Surdel as Commissioner, Increases Office Coordinator Hours

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Mokena Fire District Invests in Station Upgrades, Modernizes Security with Digital Key System

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

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

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

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

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Mokena Junior High to Get New Hot Water Heaters After Failures

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

Meeting-Briefs

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

Events Calendar

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Take and Make Dried Fruit Bookmark

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Open MahJong Program

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

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High School Book Club (Book Discussion) – A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

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Adult Book Discussion

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High School Book Club (Book Pick-Up Begins) – The Three Musketeersby Alexandre Dumas

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Stitch Fix: Fiber Arts Group

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Pokémon TCG: Battle | Learn | Trade (B.L.T.)

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Introduction to Water Bath Canning presented by Emily Paster

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Walk and Talk Book Club

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Walk and Talk Book Club

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Sensory Take & Make: First Day of School Apple Craft

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Sound Bath with Gail Morales

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Open MahJong Program

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Library Board of Trustees Meeting

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One-On-One Technology Help

Education

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Lincoln-Way Board Approves Special Education Co-op Budget Amid Concerns Over Rising Costs

Article Summary: The Lincoln-Way District 210 Board of Education approved the Fiscal Year 2026 budget for the Lincoln-Way Special Education District 843 cooperative, while officials expressed concern over significant cost...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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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...

Will County Board Meetings

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Solar Farm Access Approved for Manhattan-Arsenal Road

The committee granted access approval for a solar farm development on Manhattan-Arsenal Road approximately 1,000 feet east of Cherry Hill Road. The MCH Solar 1 project, developed by Soltage LLC,...
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Will County Finance Committee Meeting Briefs

Budget Transfers Approved: The Finance Committee approved transferring $18,643 within the Supervisor of Assessments budget to move funds from software licensing to computer hardware purchases. Animal Protection Services Funding: Committee...
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Public Works Committee Briefs

Major Projects Update: Construction continues on several major projects including the 80th Avenue expressway overpass, Laraway Road widening near Cedar Road, and Bell Road improvements. The Bell Road project at...
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Capital Improvements & IT Committee Briefs

Bed donation program: Will County donated old beds from Sunny Hill Nursing Home to Joliet Junior College and Project Cure after the nursing home received all new beds for residents....
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Health Department Receives Budget Boost, Sunny Hill Admission Policy Updated

Board approves funding increases and policy changes for county health services The Will County Board approved budget appropriations for the health department and updated admission policies for Sunny Hill Nursing...
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Will County Board Meeting Briefs Package

COUNTY APPOINTMENTS Fire Protection District: Board approved county executive appointments to Manhattan Fire Protection District board. Agricultural Committee: Approved appointment to Agricultural Area Committee with Member Judy Ogala abstaining due...

Illinois News

Governor defends mental health mandate, rejects parental consent plan

Governor defends mental health mandate, rejects parental consent plan

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, who represents the 15th Congressional district in southeastern Illinois, is reintroducing legislation...
Illinois quick hits: Arlington Heights trustees pass grocery tax

Illinois quick hits: Arlington Heights trustees pass grocery tax

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Arlington Heights trustees pass grocery tax Arlington Heights village trustees have approved a one-percent tax on groceries. Since Gov. J.B. Pritzker...
Plan launched to place redistricting amendment before voters in 2026

Plan launched to place redistricting amendment before voters in 2026

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Two former U.S. Cabinet members have launched a new effort to stop Illinois politicians from drawing their...
Illinois GOP U.S. Senate candidates point to economy, Trump gains

Illinois GOP U.S. Senate candidates point to economy, Trump gains

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Economic issues are front and center for Republican U.S. Senate candidates in Illinois. Former Illinois GOP Chairman...
Lawmaker criticizes $500 student board scholarships amid lowered K‑12 standards

Lawmaker criticizes $500 student board scholarships amid lowered K‑12 standards

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois student leaders serving on state higher education boards will now receive $500-per-semester scholarships under a...
Illinois news in brief: Work begins on $1.5 billion O'Hare expansion; Police catch man accused of road rage, shooting

Illinois news in brief: Work begins on $1.5 billion O’Hare expansion; Police catch man accused of road rage, shooting

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Work begins on $1.5 billion O'Hare expansion A new round of construction has begun at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. Airline...
Soaring utility bills, solar federal tax credit cuts dominate Illinois energy debate

Soaring utility bills, solar federal tax credit cuts dominate Illinois energy debate

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Energy prices and clean energy policy took center stage during a senate energy and public utilities...
Illinois quick hits: Pritzker signs crypto regulations

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker signs crypto regulations

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzker signs crypto regulations Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed two laws to regulate cryptocurrency. Senate Bill 1797 requires cryptocurrency companies to...
Trucking industry leader: New law may drive business out of Illinois

Trucking industry leader: New law may drive business out of Illinois

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A trucking industry leader says more businesses may leave Illinois after the signing of Senate Bill 328....

National News

Pacific region sees higher inflation than national average

Pacific region sees higher inflation than national average

By Jamie ParsonsThe Center Square Inflation in the Pacific region was higher than the national average in July due to larger annual gains, according to a report from Common Sense...
Legislative committees advance CA redistricting legislation

Legislative committees advance CA redistricting legislation

By Dave MasonThe Center Square Legislators, taxpayers and others debated passionately Tuesday for several hours as Democratic-led election committees in the California Assembly and Senate advanced congressional redistricting legislation. The...
California schools protect students from ICE agents

California schools protect students from ICE agents

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square California schools are providing resources for students if immigration officials visit their campus. As students get ready to go back to school, Southern California schools...
White House touts D.C. crackdown; no timeline on National Guard deployment

White House touts D.C. crackdown; no timeline on National Guard deployment

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square More than a week after President Donald Trump declared “Liberation Day” in Washington, D.C., his administration is touting the operation as a success as more...
Security clearances of 37 former, current intel professionals revoked

Security clearances of 37 former, current intel professionals revoked

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The security clearances of 37 former and current intelligence professionals have been revoked, citing abuse of intelligence information, the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard...
USDA reverses use of taxpayer dollars to fund solar panels on farmland

USDA reverses use of taxpayer dollars to fund solar panels on farmland

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Agriculture will no longer subsidize large-scale solar projects placed on farmland or use solar panels manufactured by foreign adversaries in any...
Major U.S. retailer reverses course on tariffs, says prices will go up

Major U.S. retailer reverses course on tariffs, says prices will go up

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A major U.S. retailer that previously said tariffs wouldn't increase prices reversed course on Tuesday, with officials saying they expect "modest" price increases for some...
Some Russia-Ukraine questions answered Tuesday, more remain

Some Russia-Ukraine questions answered Tuesday, more remain

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The White House has helped open the channels of communication between Russia, Ukraine and the rest of Europe, but the details of any resolution to...
30 charged in TdA drug trafficking, murder-for-hire and firearms offenses

30 charged in TdA drug trafficking, murder-for-hire and firearms offenses

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square As part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to pursue violent criminal foreign nationals, two federal indictments were made public charging 30 people, including several...