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Meeting Summary and Briefs: Litchfield Park District for Feb. 4, 2026

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Park District Partners with Hospital for Women’s Health Event, Preps for Summer Season

Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Litchfield City Council for February 19, 2026

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Highway Department to Borrow $300,000 for New Tandem Dump Truck

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Dugout Upgrades Stalled, Concession Building Awaits Utilities

Montgomery County Personnel Committee

County Updates Solar Ordinance and Pursues Renewable Energy Tax Credits

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Council Amends Sign Ordinance to Comply with First Amendment

Montgomery County Bldg Grounds Committee

County Secures $450 Per Acre for Farm Lease, Approves Courthouse Repairs

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Dry Conditions Fuel Rash of Fires Across Region; Litchfield Shed Fire Spreads to 25 Acres

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Wildflower Subdivision Final Plat Approved; TIF Impact Explained

Montgomery County Finance Committee

Committee Recommends Significant Salary Increase for County Elected Officials

Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Litchfield Board of Education for February 17, 2026

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Former Russell School to Become Wrestling Training Center

Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Montgomery County Board for Jan. 13, 2026

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District Pre-Buys Technology to Beat Tariffs, Pays for Major Inspections

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Council Hires Robert Carpenter as Police Chief in Split Vote

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Board Considers Property Purchase for Recovery Court Expansion

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Board Approves Redesigned Educator Evaluation System Moving to March Timeline

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Summit Ridge Agrees to $25,000 Donation; Pattern Energy Updates Board

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Litchfield Board Reviews SCI Center Growth, Weighs Future Funding Model

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Board Authorizes New Patrol Vehicles and Sheriff’s Office Equipment

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County Donates $30,000 for Urgent Electrical Repairs at Fairgrounds

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Montgomery County Board Approves $315,000 for New Dump Truck, Advances Infrastructure Projects

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Fire Department Responds to Brush Fire

Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Litchfield City Council for February 5, 2026

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City Approves Emergency Fire Engine Repairs and Temporary Rental

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North Monroe Business Awarded Facade Improvement Grant

Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: LLCC Board of Trustees for December 15, 2025

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Litchfield City Council Sets New Hunting Registration Rules, Allows Two Stands Per Hunter

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Board Approves $440,000 Architect Fee Increase for Campus Master Plan

Events Calendar

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Education

Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Litchfield Board of Education for February 17, 2026

Litchfield Board of Education Meeting | February 17, 2026 Overall Meeting SummaryThe Litchfield Community Unit School District #12 Board of Education met on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, to address curriculum,...
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District Pre-Buys Technology to Beat Tariffs, Pays for Major Inspections

Litchfield Board of Education Meeting | February 17, 2026 Article Summary: The Litchfield School Board approved a higher-than-average monthly bill list due to strategic technology purchases and required facility inspections....
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Board Approves Redesigned Educator Evaluation System Moving to March Timeline

Litchfield Board of Education Meeting | February 17, 2026 Article Summary: The Litchfield School Board approved a redesigned educator evaluation system that streamlines performance components and shifts the evaluation timeline...
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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 Briefs

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...
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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...
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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...

Montgomery County News

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Highway Department to Borrow $300,000 for New Tandem Dump Truck

January Committee Meeting Article Summary: The Roads & Bridges Committee approved the purchase of a 2027 Western Star dump truck, utilizing a loan from the county's Coal Royalty Fund to bypass...
Montgomery County Personnel Committee

County Updates Solar Ordinance and Pursues Renewable Energy Tax Credits

January Committee Meeting Article Summary: The county is revising its solar ordinance to comply with new state laws and has hired a consultant to capture up to $150,000 in tax credits...
Montgomery County Bldg Grounds Committee

County Secures $450 Per Acre for Farm Lease, Approves Courthouse Repairs

January Committee Meeting Article Summary: The Buildings & Grounds Committee awarded a lucrative three-year farm lease and approved contracts to restore historic woodwork and repaint the courthouse porch. Buildings & Grounds...
Montgomery County Finance Committee

Committee Recommends Significant Salary Increase for County Elected Officials

January Committee Meeting Article Summary: The Finance & Budget Committee has recommended setting salaries for the County Clerk, Treasurer, and Circuit Clerk at 60 percent of the State’s Attorney’s salary, which...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Montgomery County Board for Jan. 13, 2026

Montgomery County Board Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Overall Meeting SummaryThe Montgomery County Board’s January meeting was defined by substantial capital spending on highway infrastructure and law enforcement equipment. The...
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Board Considers Property Purchase for Recovery Court Expansion

Montgomery County Board Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026 Article Summary: The board discussed purchasing a property at 127 N. Main Street in Hillsboro to house the Recovery Court, but returned the...
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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...
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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...
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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...

Illinois News

WATCH: HHS tells Pritzker ‘show receipts’ on welfare spending; Energy bill to be signed

WATCH: HHS tells Pritzker ‘show receipts’ on welfare spending; Energy bill to be signed

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 conversations about...
Glen Ellyn can’t enforce Airbnb rules vs owner who says was target

Glen Ellyn can’t enforce Airbnb rules vs owner who says was target

By Scott Holland | Legal NewslineThe Center Square The operators of a Glen Ellyn Airbnb property have won an junction blocking the village from enforcing an ordinance controlling short-term rentals...

WATCH: HHS tells Illinois ‘show us the receipts’ on welfare spending

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Nearly a billion federal taxpayer dollars for child care and family assistance programs are being withheld from...
Illinois quick hits: IG finds 26 cases of sexual misconduct at Chicago schools

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'

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

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

‘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

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

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...

National News

Everyday Economics: Existing home sales report may be noisy. Inflation will shape outlook

Everyday Economics: Existing home sales report may be noisy. Inflation will shape outlook

By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square This week’s economic calendar includes several important housing reports, including existing home sales, housing starts, and building permits. But the most consequential releases are likely...
Texodus: At least 12 Texas members of Congress won’t be returning next year

Texodus: At least 12 Texas members of Congress won’t be returning next year

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Twelve members of Texas’ congressional delegation elected in 2024 won’t be returning to office next year. Eleven are incumbents; one is deceased. The number is...
War in Iran shocks markets, costs U.S. taxpayers $1 billion a day

War in Iran shocks markets, costs U.S. taxpayers $1 billion a day

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The escalating war in Iran has already rattled global markets and driven oil prices to their highest levels since April 2024. If the conflict persists,...
Mississippi primaries to watch on Tuesday

Mississippi primaries to watch on Tuesday

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Mississippi will hold its state primary elections on Tuesday, making it the fourth state in the nation to elect party representatives in preparation for the...
Advocates, lawmakers propose increased cigarette tax

Advocates, lawmakers propose increased cigarette tax

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Anti-tobacco advocates and state officials across the country are proposing an increased tax on cigarette packs. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids published an annual report...
Legal experts anticipate SCOTUS will overturn drug user gun ban

Legal experts anticipate SCOTUS will overturn drug user gun ban

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Legal experts anticipate the U.S. Supreme Court will strike down a law barring unlawful drug users from possessing firearms. On Monday, justices of the U.S....
Parents' rights advocates hail SCOTUS ruling against secret gender transitions

Parents’ rights advocates hail SCOTUS ruling against secret gender transitions

By Tate MillerThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Mirabelli v. Olson deciding against California’s law that allowed for gender transitions of school children without parental knowledge has...
Veteran suicide rate remains high despite spending millions

Veteran suicide rate remains high despite spending millions

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Veterans die by suicide at roughly twice the civilian rate, despite the Department of Veterans Affairs spending more than $500 million a year to address...
BlackRock summit to focus on workforce needed for U.S. infrastructure boom

BlackRock summit to focus on workforce needed for U.S. infrastructure boom

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A coalition of government officials, corporate executives, and labor leaders is gathering in Washington next week to address what many see as the biggest obstacle...