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Mokena Park District Increases Spending Authority to Align with New State Law

Kong

Mokena Police Department Welcomes First K-9 Officer, Kong

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Mokena Approves ‘Emerald Social’ Restaurant and Outdoor Entertainment Venue

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

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

Events Calendar

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Sensory Take & Make: Dinovember Foam Sticker Craft

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Bloom Art Paint Night

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Veteran’s Day

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Card Crafting with Kathy Congreve

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Adult Book Discussion

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Good Eats Adult Book Bag Registration

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Sound Bath with Gail Morales

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One-on-One Technology Help

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Take and Make Fall Bookmark

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

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Sensory Take & Make: Thankful Tree Craft

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Library Board of Trustees Meeting

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One-On-One Technology Help

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Thanksgiving Holiday – Closed

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Bloom Art Paint Night

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Sensory Take & Make: Magic Color Scratch Snowflake Ornaments

Education

Meeting Briefs

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

Mokena School District 159 Board of Education Meeting | October 15, 2025 The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education's October 15, 2025, meeting was marked by several contentious votes...
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Lincoln-Way to Purchase New Buses, Add Smaller Vehicles to Address Driver Shortage

LW210 Board of Education Meeting | October 16, 2025 Article Summary: Lincoln-Way District 210 plans to update its transportation fleet by purchasing 28 new gasoline-powered school buses, three activity buses,...
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Mokena 159 Board Adopts New Policies on AI, Student Support Despite Dissent

Mokena School District 159 Board of Education Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article Summary: The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education adopted a series of policy updates addressing topics from...
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Lincoln-Way Board Honors Students with Perfect ACT Scores, Music Educator of the Year

LW210 Board of Education Meeting | October 16, 2025 Article Summary: Lincoln-Way District 210 celebrated exceptional academic and faculty achievement by formally recognizing nine students who earned a perfect composite...
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Mokena 159 Receives Clean Audit Report, Earns State’s Highest Financial Recognition

Mokena School District 159 Board of Education Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article Summary: Mokena School District 159 has received the State of Illinois' highest financial rating after an independent audit...
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Lincoln-Way Support Staff Union Rejects Tentative Contract Agreement

LW210 Board of Education Meeting | October 16, 2025 Article Summary: Members of the Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 support staff union have voted down a tentative five-year contract...
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Mokena School Board Approves Pacts with Unions to Address Bus Driver Shortage

Mokena School District 159 Board of Education Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article Summary: Mokena School District 159 will offer paid CDL training and stipends to teachers and staff who volunteer...
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Mokena 159 Board Approves Increased Cost for Junior High Storage Shed Amid Budget Debate

Mokena School District 159 Board of Education Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article Summary: The Mokena School District 159 Board of Education approved a cost increase for a new storage shed...
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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...

Will County Board Meetings

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Health Department May Seek Property Tax Increase to Maintain Critical Services

The Will County Health Department is grappling with significant budget shortfalls as multiple federal grants have been terminated or reduced, potentially forcing the agency to seek additional property tax revenue...
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Crete Township Solar Project Approved Despite Township Objections

A 21-acre commercial solar project in Crete Township received a favorable recommendation from the Will County Land Use and Development Committee on Thursday, despite an official objection from the township....
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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...
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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...
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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

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...
Meeting-Briefs

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...
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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...
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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...

Illinois News

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker to sign tax, toll increases to bail out transit

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker to sign tax, toll increases to bail out transit

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzker to sign tax, toll increases to bail out transit Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he looks forward to signing public transit...
IL Senate approves Department of Corrections director despite fierce opposition

IL Senate approves Department of Corrections director despite fierce opposition

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Despite a myriad of ongoing issues at the Illinois Department of Corrections, state senators approved the nomination...
Report: PJM power grid electrification faces bumpy transition

Report: PJM power grid electrification faces bumpy transition

By Lauren Jessop | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The nation’s power grid is entering a new era of soaring demand – the full extent...
Early morning vote advances Illinois’ 'Terminally Ill Patients Act,' sparks outcry

Early morning vote advances Illinois’ ‘Terminally Ill Patients Act,’ sparks outcry

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A controversial bill allowing terminally ill patients in Illinois to self-administer life-ending medication passed the legislature...
WATCH: IL lawmakers pass consequential bills early Halloween

WATCH: IL lawmakers pass consequential bills early Halloween

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 powers through on...

WATCH: Trick or treat: IL legislators pass tax increase, decoupling bill early Friday

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois taxpayers are waking up Halloween morning to tax increases after the conclusion of fall veto session...

Noem refuses Pritzker enforcement pause request, IL passes sanctuary enhancement

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Both the executive and legislative branches of Illinois government have made attempts to address federal immigration enforcement...

WATCH: Energy bill opponents say increases IL electric bills by $8 billion passes

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers have passed wide-ranging energy legislation, but opponents say it will lead to higher electricity bills....
Illinois quick hits: IL taxpayers have highest pension debt obligations in U.S.

Illinois quick hits: IL taxpayers have highest pension debt obligations in U.S.

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Report: Illinois taxpayers have highest pension debt obligations in U.S. According to a new Reason Foundation report reviewing over 300 public...

National News

Everyday Economics: Rate cut debate: Reading mixed signals in a fragile economy

Everyday Economics: Rate cut debate: Reading mixed signals in a fragile economy

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square The Federal Reserve cut interest rates last week, but the decision was far from unanimous. Two members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) dissented...
Arizona looks to legal immigration with Trump's border security

Arizona looks to legal immigration with Trump’s border security

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square As President Trump approaches the one year mark in office, apprehensions at the southern border have dropped significantly. States along the southern border, including Texas,...
Ranchers decry beef imports from Argentina, expert says good start

Ranchers decry beef imports from Argentina, expert says good start

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Consumers feeling the pang of high beef prices at the grocery store may see some relief from a plan to import beef from Argentina but...
Lawmakers introduce bills to slash their own pay during government shutdowns

Lawmakers introduce bills to slash their own pay during government shutdowns

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With the ongoing government shutdown dragging on for a record-breaking period of time, U.S. lawmakers are introducing bills to make shutdowns as painful for Congress...
Trump considers military action to stop Christian genocide in Nigeria

Trump considers military action to stop Christian genocide in Nigeria

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square President Donald Trump has directed the Department of War to prepare for possible action in Nigeria to target Islamic militants committing genocide against Christians. “If...
94% of sanctioned scholars suffered from free speech attacks

94% of sanctioned scholars suffered from free speech attacks

By Tate MillerThe Center Square A Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression survey shows that 94% of sanctioned university scholars have experienced a negative impact following the attacks on their...
Illinois soybean farmers face uncertainty amid MAHA push against seed oils

Illinois soybean farmers face uncertainty amid MAHA push against seed oils

By Catrina BarkerThe Center Square Illinois soybean farmers face a potential market shakeup if public sentiment, and eventually policy, turns against seed oils, experts warn. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now...
Family-based visa quotas cause system backlogs

Family-based visa quotas cause system backlogs

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square One of the most prevalent ways for immigrants to gain legal status in the United States is through family-based visas. However, backlogs in the system...
After 50 years of struggles to save Spotted Owl, FWS plan is to kill 500k Barred Owls

After 50 years of struggles to save Spotted Owl, FWS plan is to kill 500k Barred Owls

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The Spotted Owl is again in the headlines again. U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., filed a resolution to reverse a Biden administration plan to kill...