Education
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...
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...
JJC’s ‘12x12x12’ Initiative Boosts College Credits, Increases Matriculation Rate
Joliet Junior College’s ambitious "12x12x12" initiative is yielding significant results, leading to more high school students earning college credits and a greater percentage of them choosing to attend JJC after...
District 210 Approves Administrative Restructuring, Staff Salary Increases
Lincoln Way Community High School District 210 board members approved administrative restructuring and salary increases for non-union clerical support staff during closed session actions Thursday night. The board unanimously approved...
JJC Board Meeting Highlights Tensions Over Legal Bills, Trustee Conduct
An otherwise routine vote to approve monthly bill payments ignited a tense exchange at the Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday, revealing ongoing friction over redacted legal invoices,...
Students, Trustees Emphasize Importance of Inclusivity and Flag Raisings at JJC
From a recent graduate’s public plea to trustee remarks on federal policies, the theme of student belonging and inclusivity was a prominent thread at the Joliet Junior College Board of...
L-W School Board June 26 Meeting Briefs
Special Education District Update: The fence installation around the playground at Lincoln Way Area Special Education District 843 has been completed except for one gate section that will allow equipment...
Will County Board Meetings
In Brief: Capital & IT News
Here are other highlights from the Will County Capital Improvements & IT Committee meeting on Tuesday. Successful Fire Drill at County BuildingThe Will County Office Building held its first full...
Will County Finance Committee July 1 Meeting Briefs
Bond Refinancing Advances: Finance Committee approved an ordinance authorizing up to $200.8 million in bond refinancing that could save taxpayers more than $716,000. The measure moves to the full County...
Will County Public Works Committee Juliy 1 Meeting Briefs
ROAD CONTRACTS APPROVED Austin Tyler Construction Contract: The committee approved a $691,544 contract with Austin Tyler Construction for resurfacing River Road from East Frontage Road to Prairie Creek Bridge and...
Will County Board Halts Transportation Plan After Contentious 143rd Street Debate
The Will County Board voted Wednesday to send its five-year, multi-million dollar transportation improvement plan back to committee, effectively pausing all projects after a lengthy and heated debate over the...
Will County Board Upholds Zoning Denials, Rejecting Developer Appeals
The Will County Board on Wednesday backed its Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC), denying two separate appeals from property owners who sought to overturn the commission’s recommendations against their projects....
Split Vote Halts Monee Truck Terminal Project
A proposed truck terminal on vacant land at West Monee-Manhattan Road in Monee Township was stopped in its tracks Wednesday after the Will County Board delivered a split decision on...
Future Quarry Fight Looms as Board Approves ‘Tequila Barrel’ Retreat
While the Will County Board greenlit a unique tourist destination featuring overnight stays in repurposed tequila barrels, it also received formal notice of a coming fight to shut down a...
Illinois News
Illinois quick hits: Search continues for Gibson City suspect; manufacturing declines since 2000
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Search continues for Gibson City suspect Illinois State Police continue their search for a suspect wanted in connection with a Gibson...
WATCH: Map debate, case against Texas Democrats continues in Illinois
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois Republican lawmaker says a judge’s ruling this week did not end the case against Texas...
WATCH: Illinois GOP State Fair rally takes aim at Pritzker, ‘woke agenda’
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) − Republicans took their turn at the Illinois State Fair to call out Illinois Democrats for what the...
WATCH: Small business group: Pritzker-signed bills are wrong move
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) − Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation that he says will protect workers, but a small business advocate...
WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Thursday Aug. 14th, 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 highlights from...
Chicago’s commercial property taxes spike to twice national city average
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago business owners are now being forced to pay some of the highest commercial property taxes...
Illinois quick hits: Court rejects lawsuit against Texas Democrats; no charges for police
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Court rejects lawsuit against Texas Democrats An Adams County judge has rejected a lawsuit against 33 Texas House Democrats who absconded...
Illinois quick hits: Human trafficking law signed; Mercyhealth to pay for COVID vaccine discrimination
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Human trafficking law signed Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation requiring state agencies to develop a strategic unified plan to build...
National News
Vance praises troops as backbone of Trump’s peace campaign
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Vice President J.D. Vance told American and United Kingdom troops their contributions allow President Donald Trump to pursue peace worldwide. The vice president's comments come...
Trump orders drug stockpile, increased manufacturing
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square President Donald Trump ordered administration officials to draw up a list of 26 key drugs to develop a stockpile in the United States. His executive...
Grand Canyon fire now 54% contained; 144,432 acres burned
By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square America’s largest active wildfire is now 54% contained, according to a report on a U.S. government website. Containment of the Dragon Bravo Fire in Arizona...
Report: Post-election audits in swing states insufficient
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square A recent report analyzed the 2024 post-election audits of seven swing states, finding that many were “inadequate” and lacking “transparency.” In Michigan, it found that...
U.S. producer prices surge in July as tariffs increase costs
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square U.S. wholesale inflation surged last month, a sign that President Donald Trump's tariffs are boosting costs and higher prices may be on the way. The...
Colorado sued over social media warnings for minors
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square An internet trade group filed a lawsuit against Colorado Thursday morning, challenging a new law that would require social media platforms to regularly send pop-up...
Illinois judge rejects Texas legislature lawsuit over absconding Dems
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square An Illinois judge has rejected a lawsuit filed by the state of Texas against 33 House Democrats who absconded from the state to stop legislative...
