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
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
Democrats slam Venezuelan strikes, Maduro capture
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Democratic lawmakers criticized President Donald Trump's announcement of land strikes against Venezuela and leader Nicolas Maduro's capture. In a post to social media, Trump announced...
Trump sheds more light on Venezuela strike, Maduro capture
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square President Donald Trump shed more light on the strikes on Venezuela and the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. During an interview on Fox...
Congressional Republicans support Venezuela strikes, Maduro capture
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate are reacting to President Donald Trump's announcement of the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro...
With Maduro, wife in custody, Bondi says they will be tried on U.S. soil
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Following U.S. strikes against Venezuela resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Saturday the Maduros...
‘Large scale strike’ carried out against Venezuela; Maduro captured
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The U.S. carried out a “large scale strike against Venezuela” in the overnight hours Saturday, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife, according...
Congress faces govt. shutdown date, health care bills, Epstein on return
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Congress faces a mountain of political challenges when it resumes session next week, including a potential government shutdown, a health care affordability crisis, and the...
U.S. Senate races will decide balance of Congress in 2026
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Senate could see a major shakeup in 2026 as Democrats and Republicans battle for control of Congress. In 2024, Republicans flipped the U.S....
