Events Calendar
MondayMarch 2, 2026
FridayMarch 6, 2026
FridayMarch 13, 2026
SaturdayMarch 14, 2026
TuesdayMarch 17, 2026
ThursdayMarch 19, 2026
MondayMarch 30, 2026
FridayApril 17, 2026
TuesdayApril 21, 2026
WednesdayApril 29, 2026
Education
Litchfield Board Reviews SCI Center Growth, Weighs Future Funding Model
Litchfield Board of Education Meeting | February 17, 2026 Article Summary: The Litchfield School Board received a comprehensive update on the South Central Illinois (SCI) Regional Workforce Training and Innovation...
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Litchfield CUSD #12 for January 20, 2026
Litchfield CUSD #12 Meeting | January 20, 2026 Meeting SummaryThe Litchfield Community Unit School District No. 12 Board of Education met on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, to finalize the academic...
Principals Highlight “Success Days” and Data-Driven Incentives
Litchfield CUSD #12 Meeting | January 20, 2026 Article Summary: Litchfield school principals presented updates to the Board of Education regarding recent professional development focusing on data analysis and new...
M.A.K.E.-I.T. Program Hits Capacity, Announces “Diggin’ It” Summer Theme
Litchfield CUSD #12 Meeting | January 20, 2026 Article Summary:The Litchfield School District’s M.A.K.E.-I.T. program reported a successful end to the calendar year with enrollment at full capacity and a...
Emergency Funds Authorized for Middle School/High School Water Heater Replacement
Litchfield CUSD #12 Meeting | January 20, 2026 Article Summary: The Board of Education authorized the use of Health Life Safety funds to replace a failed water heater at the...
City Updates School Resource Officer Agreement to Comply with New State Laws
City of Litchfield Meeting | January 22, 2026 Article Summary: The Litchfield City Council approved an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Litchfield School District to align with new...
Board Updates School Resource Officer Agreement to Comply with State Law
Litchfield CUSD #12 Meeting | January 20, 2026 Article Summary: The Litchfield School Board approved an updated Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Litchfield regarding the School Resource Officer...
Montgomery County News
Summit Ridge Agrees to $25,000 Donation; Pattern Energy Updates Board
Montgomery County Board Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Article Summary: The board approved a community agreement with a solar developer benefiting a local education center and received a timeline update on...
Board Authorizes New Patrol Vehicles and Sheriff’s Office Equipment
Montgomery County Board Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Article Summary: The board approved the purchase of two new Dodge Durangos and necessary technical equipment for the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff's Office Purchases...
County Donates $30,000 for Urgent Electrical Repairs at Fairgrounds
Montgomery County Board Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Article Summary: Recognizing critical infrastructure needs, the County Board voted to donate $30,000 from coal royalty funds to the Montgomery County Fair...
Montgomery County Board Approves $315,000 for New Dump Truck, Advances Infrastructure Projects
Montgomery County Board Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Article Summary: The Montgomery County Board authorized the purchase of a new tandem dump truck and approved several engineering agreements to address road...
Report Warns of “Credible Risk” of Power Shortages in Ameren Territory by 2031
December 2025 Committee Meeting Article Summary: The Montgomery County Coordinating Committee reviewed a state-mandated report warning of electricity shortages starting later this decade. The shortages are driven by rapid data...
Highway Department to Purchase Two Trucks for $615,000
December 2025 Committee Meeting Article Summary: Committees approved the purchase of two new Western Star tandem dump trucks for the Highway Department to replace aging vehicles. The total cost for...
County Advances Solar Agreement Benefiting Litchfield SCI Center
December 2025 Committee Meeting Article Summary: The Development and Personnel Committee recommended approval of a Community Benefits Agreement with Summit Ridge Energy. The deal includes a direct financial donation to...
Illinois News
Illinois quick hits: IG finds 26 cases of sexual misconduct at Chicago schools
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square IG finds 26 cases of sexual misconduct at Chicago schools The Office of Inspector General for the Chicago Board of Education...
IL House speaker signals insurance regulation described as ‘ill-advised’
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The speaker of the Illinois House is signaling that insurance regulation will be a priority for state...
Logan County native urges oversight of proposed $5B IL data center
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Logan County residents are opposing a proposed 250-acre data center in Illinois, raising concerns about farmland...
‘Implicit bias’ training mandate among new health care-related laws in Illinois
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A number of new health care-related laws have taken effect in Illinois, including one that mandates implicit...
WATCH: Child care funding freeze; Trump rebuts Jan. 6 testimony from Kinzinger, Pelosi
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 airs highlights from...
Illinois quick hits: Pritzker reacts to HHS funding freeze; Chicago crime dashboard released
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzker reacts to HHS funding freeze The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has frozen access to about $10 billion...
Convicted murderer can’t use IL juvy reform law to win chance at parole
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A Chicago gang member in the midst of a 40-year sentence for shooting and killing an innocent man while the other man...
WATCH: IL Democrats take part in Jan. 6 hearing as Trump pushes voter ID
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – On the anniversary of the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. capitol, leading Democrats and the president...
Illinois quick hits: Criminal justice grants announced; unemployment rate unchanged
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Criminal justice grants announced The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority has announced $50 million in taxpayer-funded grants for historically underserved communities....
National News
Pasadena, Altadena continue recovery after 2025 Eaton Fire
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Many people in the Pasadena area are going to need more time to recover from last year's devastating Eaton Fire. Rick Cole, a Pasadena City...
Minneapolis seeks federal aid as Operation Metro Surge ends
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square As Operation Metro Surge is expected to wind down in the coming week, the City of Minneapolis is seeking financial assistance from the federal government...
Ongoing smuggling operations continue at U.S.-Canada border
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Ongoing smuggling operations continue at the U.S.-Canada border. After alleged offenders are arrested and charged by federal immigration officers, they are being indicted and prosecuted....
Groups call on Canada to safeguard national security, combat expansive crime
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Two Canadian groups have called on the Canadian government to strengthen border security, highlighting failures to crack down on drug trafficking and illicit trade. While...
Everyday Economics: The jobs report mirage: Hiring looks fine until revisions hit
By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square Last week’s jobs report said the U.S. added 130,000 jobs in January. But the more consequential news landed in the fine print: the Bureau of...
This family business paid $200,000 in tariffs last year, but won’t cut corners
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square La Tienda has been delivering the best of Spanish cuisine to Americans for three decades, but the task has become more expensive after President Donald...
27 members of TdA, anti-Tren members charged in New York
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square An additional 27 members of Venezuelan transnational criminal organizations, Tren de Aragua and its splinter faction, anti-Tren, have been indicted in New York in an...
