Events Calendar
Education
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees for October 2025
Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025 The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees took major steps on two significant, long-term projects during its October 15...
JJC Celebrates “Future Wolves” Partnerships with Joliet and Troy School Districts
Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article SummaryJoliet Junior College celebrated its "Future Wolves" initiative by issuing proclamations honoring its inaugural partnerships with Joliet Public...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: New Lenox School District 122 for September 2025
New Lenox School District 122 Meeting | September 2025 The New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education held a public hearing and formally adopted its budget for the 2025-2026...
JJC Receives Surprise $1.9 Million from IRS Employee Retention Credit
Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article SummaryJoliet Junior College has received an unexpected $1.9 million windfall from the federal Employee Retention Credit (ERC), a...
JJC Advances ERP Modernization with New Vendor and Two-Year Budget
Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article SummaryJoliet Junior College is entering the next phase of its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system overhaul, with the...
New Lenox School District 122 Considers Community Solar Program Promising $55K in Annual Savings
New Lenox School District 122 Meeting | September 2025 Article Summary: New Lenox School District 122 is exploring a 20-year subscription to a community solar program that could save the...
JJC Authorizes Land Buy for Grundy County Expansion, Secures Site in Morris
Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees Meeting | October 15, 2025 Article SummaryThe Joliet Junior College (JJC) Board of Trustees has authorized negotiations for a land acquisition to build a...
Will County Board Meetings
County Authorizes Condemnation for Francis Road Project
The committee authorized the State's Attorney's Office to proceed with condemnation cases for right-of-way acquisition needed for Francis Road improvements between Gougar Road and Interstate 80. Eight property parcels are...
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,...
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...
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...
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....
Will County Board Rejects Two Solar Farm Projects After Heated Public Opposition
New Lenox area residents cite safety concerns, property values in opposing commercial solar facilities The Will County Board voted decisively against two proposed commercial solar energy facilities during its May...
County Approves $15 Million Water System Takeover for Southeast Joliet Area
700 homes to receive upgraded service as Joliet takes control of failing sanitary district The Will County Board voted 20-1 to support dissolving the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District and transferring...
Board Postpones County Purchasing Code Overhaul Amid Union Contractor Debate
Members seek clarification on requirements that could favor unionized businesses The Will County Board postponed action on proposed changes to county purchasing ordinances after members raised concerns about language that...
Animal Permit Hearing Reveals Neighborhood Disputes Over Horses, Roosters in Crete Township
Board postpones decision on Torres family request pending barn variance appeal A contentious hearing over Fernando Torres' request to keep horses on his Crete Township property exposed deep neighborhood divisions...
Illinois News
Voting rights group warns CA redistricting push could undermine trust in IL
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (THE CENTer Square) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging states like Illinois to redraw congressional maps, but voting rights...
Chicago downtown office space vacancy rate jumps to record high levels
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With Chicago’s downtown office vacancy rate now at a record-high 28%, Illinois Policy Institute researcher LyLena...
Trump blasts cost overruns at Obama Presidential Center in Chicago
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Chicago is back in the mind of President Donald Trump, but this time the commander-in-chief’s focus is...
Illinois quick hits: Get Covered Illinois premiums to spike
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Get Covered Illinois premiums to spike The Get Covered Illinois division of the Illinois Department of Insurance says Illinoisans enrolling in...
Aldermen oppose Chicago mayor’s ‘punishing’ head tax proposal
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (THE CENTer SQUAre) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says he wants corporations to pay more in taxes, but with some city...
Estimated power demand will outstrip supply by 2032
By Lauren Jessop | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The impact on electricity demand from a growing number of data centers is a recurring point...
Illinois approves $1.5B transit package, funding for long-delayed projects
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers approved a $1.5 billion transit package, including long-delayed Moline-to-Chicago rail, hailed by Democrats as...
Illinois quick hits: State EPA looks to fund EV charging stations; Tax Foundation says mayor’s proposal would hinder employment;
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square State EPA looks to fund EV charging stations The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced an Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging...
National News
Large naval presence in Caribbean ahead of Ford arrival
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square As the number of suspected narcotic transport boats destroyed by the U.S. military grows, so does the number of naval vessels in the Caribbean. Secretary...
Federal court backs union on feds’ partisan emails
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square A federal judge ruled Friday that the Trump administration violated employees’ First Amendment rights by allegedly hijacking their email accounts to send automated partisan messages...
Senate Democrats propose new govt. funding deal; Republicans reject it
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square After nearly six weeks of continuously blocking Republicans’ bill to end the ongoing government shutdown, Senate Democrats have modified their funding counterproposal. Instead of demanding...
Trump administration will fully fund SNAP despite appeal
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Trump administration said Friday afternoon that it would fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for November, despite the funding lapse and government shutdown....
Report: Princeton ranked best university, best school overall
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Princeton University claimed the nation's top spot for universities and best school overall in WalletHub's 2026 Best Colleges rankings. The WalletHub report analyzed 800 higher-education...
Colorado boosts WIC, food pantries amid D.C. stalemate
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Editor's note: This story was updated Friday evening since its initial publication earlier in the day. Colorado is moving forward with stop-gap funding for food...
Critics slam Mamdani’s policies, push for free markets
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square In the wake of Zohran Mamdani’s rise to become the mayor of New York City, researchers and policy analysts are slamming his policies and calling...
