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
New bill would force DCFS to disclose details on missing children
By Cat Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois state senator has introduced legislation requiring the Department of Children and Family Services to...
WATCH: Pritzker says Trump’s first year a failure; Raoul discusses prosecuting fraud
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square's Greg Bishop discusses some of the...
Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker wants year-round E15 fuel
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is renewing his call for the federal government to mandate year-round sales of...
Illinois House returns to session with plans for SAFE-T Act, Israel, taxes
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Higher taxes, the SAFE-T Act and state policy regarding Israel may all be on the table as...
Illinois quick hits: Bovino bounty trial to begin; Judge sentences Kentucky man to 15 years in drugs case; Pritzker criticizes Trump’s first year as Trump marks accomplishments
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Bovino bounty trial to begin Jury selection is complete for the trial of a man accused of putting a bounty on...
IL AG reviews battles vs. Trump administration: ‘365 days of chaos’
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul says his office has endured 365 days of chaos with President Donald...
Illinois House speaker, unions push millionaire’s tax as lawmakers return
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois state representatives are scheduled to be back in Springfield this week, and there is bipartisan concern...
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...
