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
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...
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...
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
IL lawmaker intros bill to regulate third-party lawsuit investing
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Amid a growing push nationwide for new laws to regulate the booming business of third-party lawsuit investing, a state lawmaker has introduced...
Illinois senator offers 401(k)-style option to escape $145 billion pension crisis
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois state senator is pushing a sweeping but voluntary change to the state’s pension system...
Illinois Quick Hits: Bills filed to create small business accounts
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Democratic state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, and Republican state Rep Amy Elik, R-Alton, have filed legislation to...
Taxpayers funding $52.8M Route 9 upgrade; residents raise safety concerns
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois is set to receive $52.8 million in federal taxpayer funding to overhaul roughly 6 miles...
Group: Raising minimum wage could cause drastic inflation
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers have proposed raising the state’s minimum wage to $27 per hour in 2032, but an...
FRESH program would provide one-time SNAP cash; critics question cost
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As new federal work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program take effect this month, Illinois...
Illinois Quick Hits: Man sentenced for robbing postal worker
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A federal judge has sentenced a Chicago man to four years and three months in prison for...
National News
Supreme Court hears arguments on Fed firing case
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday in a case over whether President Donald Trump can immediately remove Lisa Cook, a member of...
Support for religious freedom up 5 points from 2020, reaching a high of 71
By Tate MillerThe Center Square Support for religious freedom grew five points from 2020 to 2025, reaching an all-time cumulative high of 71 points, according to Becket’s seventh annual Religious...
Report: University diplomas losing value to GenAI
By Alan WootenThe Center Square University diplomas are losing value, and 9 of 10 trying to gain them have diminished critical thinking skills because of the impact from generative artificial...
WATCH: Reclaiming the Panama Canal could be back on the table
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Taking back the Panama Canal is “sort of on the table,” President Donald Trump told The Center Square in response to a question regarding comments...
Las Vegas tourism industry continues to decline
By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Nevada’s tourism numbers took a hit throughout most of 2025, dropping nearly 7.4% from 2024. Data from the Las Vegas Convention Visitors Authority report showed...
More states now offer school choice programs for families
By Esther WickhamThe Center Square School choice debates continue as more states opt into programs aimed at expanding educational options for families. National School Choice Week, scheduled for Jan. 25-31,...
Trump likely to make waves at biggest-ever World Economic Forum
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The largest-ever World Economic Forum braces to receive the largest-ever U.S. delegation, with President Donald Trump and others leaving Tuesday for Davos, Switzerland. Over 3,000...
