Education
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...
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 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 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...
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 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....
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...
Will County Board Meetings
Will County P&Z Approves Crete Solar Farm, Overruling Township’s General Opposition
Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for a new commercial solar farm in Crete Township, moving the project forward despite being informed by staff of...
Will County Board Approves Controversial Recovery Retreat in Crete Township Amid Strong Resident Opposition
Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a special use permit for a long-term residential recovery program on a 68-acre horse farm, despite vocal opposition from Crete...
Will County P&Z: Green Garden Township Variances Granted in Monee
Roy F. Erikson received unanimous approval for two variances for his property at 26409 S. 80th Avenue in Monee. The Will County Planning and Zonning Commission approved reducing the minimum...
Will County P&Z: Manhattan Township Rezoning Approved
The Will County Planning and Zonning Commission unanimously approved a map amendment for a vacant property on South Kankakee Street in Manhattan Township. The request, brought by James and Julie...
Will County P&Z: Green Garden Township Rezoning Approved Amid Concerns Over Lack of a Final Plan
Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved rezoning a large agricultural parcel in Green Garden Township for potential residential development, despite a township official expressing concern...
Zoning Commission Overrules Staff, Approves Greeen Garden Twp Variance for 3-Acre Agricultural Lot
Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a variance for a 3-acre lot in an agricultural zone, going against a staff recommendation to deny the request in...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Executive Committee for August 14, 2025
The Will County Board Executive Committee received a comprehensive update on the county's expenditure of $134 million in federal ARPA pandemic relief funds, learning that 61% of the total has...
Illinois News
WATCH: Illinois’ FY23 financial audit released amid criticism of tardy reports
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois taxpayers can now look at how the state spent their money in the fiscal year that...
Illinois quick hits: Anti-SLAPP bill signed; Chicago schools settles meditation case
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Anti-SLAPP bill signed Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation to protect news media from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP). The...
Director: Nation’s largest outdoor ag show brings economic impact to central IL
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The nation’s largest outdoor agricultural show is set for next week in Central Illinois. The Farm Progress...
Pritzker: Fair maps in Illinois would be ‘disarming’ to Democrats
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says Democrats would be “disarming” if they agreed to fair maps state by...
Illinois quick hits: COVID fraud indictments issued; man sentenced for mailing fentanyl
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square COVID fraud indictments issued A federal grand jury has indicted four Chicago-area individuals accused of fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in...
WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Thursday Aug. 21st, 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 shares comments from...
Illinois trucker warns foreign firms faking logs, dodging rules, risking safety
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After a recent deadly crash in Florida and a crash in Illinois involving semi-trucks, an Illinois...
National News
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
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
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
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
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
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
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...
