Education
Enrollment Report Sparks Board Discussion on Lowering Kindergarten Class Sizes
Summit Hill School District 161 | October 15, 2025 Article Summary: An enrollment update presented to the Summit Hill 161 board revealed that kindergarten class sizes are averaging between 20...
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,...
Summit Hill 161 Board Approves Longevity Pay Bumps for Non-Certified Staff
Summit Hill School District 161 | October 15, 2025 Article Summary: The Summit Hill District 161 Board of Education has approved a longevity-based pay increase for all non-certified staff, excluding...
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...
Summit Hill 161 Explores Switch to MacBooks for Teachers, Plans Pilot Program
Summit Hill School District 161 | October 15, 2025 Article Summary: Summit Hill School District 161 is considering a district-wide switch from Microsoft Surface laptops to MacBook Airs for its...
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...
Summit Hill 161 Sees Major Gains on State Report Card
Summit Hill School District 161 | October 15, 2025 Article Summary: Summit Hill School District 161 has achieved significant academic growth, with preliminary 2025 state assessment data showing proficiency rates...
Will County Board Meetings
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Land Use & Development Committee for November 6, 2025
Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 The Will County Land Use and Development Committee navigated a series of contentious zoning cases on Thursday, November...
Committee Rejects Rezoning for Fencing Company in Joliet Township
Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: Citing incompatibility with the surrounding residential neighborhood, the Will County Land Use and Development Committee unanimously denied...
County Sales Tax Revenues Strong, Cannabis Funds Dispersed to Community Programs
Will County Finance Committee Meeting | November 2025 Article Summary: Will County's key sales tax revenues are on track to meet or exceed budget projections for fiscal year 2025, though...
Will County Committee Grants Extensions for Crete, Washington Township Solar Projects
Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Land Use and Development Committee granted 180-day extensions for two commercial solar energy projects...
Will County Finance Committee Forwards 1.75% Compromise Property Tax Levy to Full Board
Will County Finance Committee Forwards 1.75% Compromise Property Tax Levy to Full Board Article Summary:The Will County Board’s Finance Committee on Tuesday, November 12, 2025, narrowly approved a series of...
Will County Committee Denies Appeal for Crete Township ‘Tiny Home’ Permit
Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Land Use and Development Committee on Thursday upheld the denial of a temporary use...
New Lenox Solar Farm Gains County Committee Approval with Conditions
Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | November 6, 2025 Article Summary: A 63-acre commercial solar energy facility on Spencer Road in New Lenox Township received a key endorsement...
Illinois News
Illinois sports wagers decline after implementation of new tax
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Gaming Board has reported a 15% drop in September sports betting, after the state imposed...
Chicago mayor threatens layoffs, property tax hikes if council rejects head tax
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is threatening service cuts, layoffs and property tax hikes if aldermen reject his...
Illinois quick hits: Four officers injured during ICE protest
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Four officers injured during ICE protest Four state and local law enforcement officers were injured and 21 people were arrested Friday...
Illinois quick hits: Chicago treasurer to boycott U.S. securities to protest against Trump; Governor marks opening of new union training center; Illinois farms expected to lose $67.2 million a year
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Treasurer to boycott U.S. Treasury securities to protest against Trump Chicago’s finances may take another hit after City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin...
Illinois quick hits: WARN Act reporting shows 1,600 job losses in October
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square WARN Act reporting shows 1,600 job losses in October The Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act for October reports...
Pritzker, alders oppose Chicago tax plans, property tax hike could be next
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As the Chicago City Council considers 2026 budget measures, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposed tax hikes continue to...
WATCH: Lawmakers call out Pritzker for lack of transparency with budget cuts
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers say they are not getting information from Gov. J.B. Pritzker or state agencies about the...
National News
Congress used government funding bill to ‘erase’ $3.4 trillion in deficits
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Quietly tucked inside Republicans’ funding deal to end the government shutdown is a provision wiping the congressional Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) scorecard, effectively forgiving nearly $3.4 trillion...
Illinois patient relies on ACA tax credits, experts warn they drive higher premiums
By Catrina BarkerThe Center Square President Donald Trump signed a House-passed short-term spending bill late Wednesday, ending the shutdown and keeping the government open through January, notably without the Affordable...
Trump rolls back tariffs on over 200 foods in sharp reversal
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Responding to Americans' frustrations over high grocery prices, President Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday exempting more than 200 food products from tariffs. "Certain...
Trump says $2,000 tariff rebate checks won’t come before Christmas
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Americans won't get a $2,000 rebate check from the federal government before Christmas. President Donald Trump said Friday that the proposed checks will not be...
Goldwater Institute sues Arizona attorney general for records
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square A lawsuit has been filed against Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. Phoenix-based Goldwater Institute brought the lawsuit. Attorneys want Mayes to release alleged price-fixing complaint...
California asks court to end federalization of National Guard
By Dave MasonThe Center Square California officials Friday renewed their motion for a judge to end the federalized deployment of National Guard troops in Los Angeles. Attorney General Rob Bonta...
ICE, Florida officers arrest 230, including 150 sex offenders
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers arrested 230 foreign nationals in the U.S. illegally, many with extensive criminal histories....