Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Casey City Council for September 2, 2025

With Alderman Tanner Brown serving as Mayor Pro Tem in the absence of Mayor Mike Nichols, the Casey City Council's...
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Clark County Board Faces Public Backlash Over Solar Projects

Article Summary: During its July 18 meeting, the Clark County Board faced a wave of public criticism regarding the recently...
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Casey Fire District Approves $400,000 Purchase of New Fire Engine

Article Summary: The Casey Fire Protection District Board of Trustees authorized a major fleet upgrade by approving the $400,000 purchase...
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Casey Continues Sidewalk Replacements on Main Street, Plans Tree Removal

Article Summary: The City of Casey is continuing its sidewalk replacement program with a current focus on Main Street, though...
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Casey Lions Club Cleans Up Rt 40

The Casey Lions Club and friends spent a beautiful Saturday morning picking up trash along U.S. Route 40 picking up...
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Casey Fire Chief Outlines Equipment Needs, Including New Truck and Thermal Camera

Article Summary: The Casey Fire Chief Jason Garver reported to the Board of Trustees that the district is actively pursuing...
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Casey Officials Praise ‘Incredible’ Popcorn Festival for Community Spirit, Economic Boost

Article Summary: Casey city officials lauded the recent Popcorn Festival as a major success, praising the organizing committee, volunteers, and...
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Casey Fire District Board Approves Administrative Salary Raise, Adopts Tentative Budget

Article Summary: The Casey Fire Protection District Board of Trustees approved a significant raise for an administrative salary to $10,000...
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Tyler Farr Rocks Casey, Takes a Seat Atop World’s Largest Chair

CASEY, IL – Country music star Tyler Farr brought his chart-topping hits and down-to-earth charm to Casey this weekend, delivering...
Bessie, provided by the Stan Keeney family, paces the squares while everyone anxiously awaits, hoping she’ll stop on their square. —photo by Sharon Durham

Keeney Family Donates to Bessie Bingo

Bessie, provided by the Stan Keeney family, paces the squares while everyone anxiously awaits, hoping she’ll stop on their square....

Education

Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Lake Land College Board of Trustees for July, 2025

The Lake Land College Board of Trustees reviewed a nearly $60.8 million balanced operating budget and approved a new strategic plan at its meeting on July 14, 2025. The new...
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Lake Land Seeks State Funding for Major Renovations to Four Campus Buildings

Article Summary: The Lake Land College Board of Trustees has approved a funding request to the state for extensive renovations of four major campus buildings: the Northwest and Northeast Classroom...
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Lake Land College Board Reviews Balanced $60.8 Million Operating Budget for FY 2026

Article Summary: The Lake Land College Board of Trustees reviewed a proposed balanced operating budget of $60,790,628 for fiscal year 2026. The budget, which reflects a slight decrease from the...
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Lake Land College Adopts New Strategic Plan: ‘Education that Fits Your Life’

Article Summary: The Lake Land College Board of Trustees has officially adopted a new strategic direction centered on the motto, "Education that Fits Your Life," signaling a shift toward more...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Briefs: Lake Land College Board of Trustees for June 9, 2025

At its regular monthly meeting, the Lake Land College Board of Trustees took several actions, including approving employee pay raises, supporting a TIF district extension for the City of Mattoon,...
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Lake Land College Hires Philadelphia Firm for $100,000 Digital Marketing Campaign

In an effort to boost enrollment, Lake Land College will partner with Hybrid Media USA, LLC, a Philadelphia-based firm, for a comprehensive digital marketing campaign in the upcoming fiscal year....
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Faculty Union Asks for Delay, But Lake Land Board Approves New Stipends and Postpones Grievance Response

The Lake Land College Board of Trustees approved new part-time rates and stipends for fiscal year 2026, moving forward with the vote despite a request from the faculty union to...
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Lake Land College Invests Over $63,000 in Grammarly AI Tool to Boost Student and Staff Writing Skills

Lake Land College is making a significant investment in artificial intelligence to support academic success, with the Board of Trustees approving a two-year, $63,750 contract for a campus-wide license for...
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Lake Land College Board Approves 3% Pay Raises, New Salary Structure for Staff

Many full-time and part-time employees at Lake Land College will see a 3% salary increase starting July 1, following a vote by the Board of Trustees to approve base salary...

Illinois News

Higher ed spending up as enrollment plummets at Illinois universities

Higher ed spending up as enrollment plummets at Illinois universities

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A former state lawmaker says Illinois is now tops in the nation on per-student spending in higher...
Illinois quick hits: Giannoulias orders village to stop sharing data with CBP

Illinois quick hits: Giannoulias orders village to stop sharing data with CBP

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square License plate camera data Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has ordered the Village of Forest Park and Motorola Solutions to...
Legislation to end cashless bail in D.C., nationwide introduced in Senate

Legislation to end cashless bail in D.C., nationwide introduced in Senate

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Nearly two weeks after President Donald Trump issued executive orders to take steps to eliminate cashless bail...
Chicago ranks near bottom in survey of best and worst run cities

Chicago ranks near bottom in survey of best and worst run cities

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The city of Chicago ranks near the bottom in the new Best & Worst-run cities in...
WATCH: Pritzker to sue ‘immediately’ if Trump sends guard; GOP AG candidate profile

WATCH: Pritzker to sue ‘immediately’ if Trump sends guard; GOP AG candidate profile

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 delivers the latest...
Illinois quick hits: Northwestern president resigns; unemployment claims rise

Illinois quick hits: Northwestern president resigns; unemployment claims rise

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square U OF I Medicine investigated for antisemitism University of Illinois College of Medicine officials have until Monday, Sept. 8, to produce...
WATCH: Pritzker: Will go to court 'immediately' if Trump deploys National Guard

WATCH: Pritzker: Will go to court ‘immediately’ if Trump deploys National Guard

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he will go to court if President Donald Trump sends the National...
Illinois quick hits: Madigan attempts another appeal; prison mail scanning rules proposed

Illinois quick hits: Madigan attempts another appeal; prison mail scanning rules proposed

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Madigan attempts another appeal Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is making another attempt to stay out of prison. Madigan filed...
IL US Rep: Failing schools cost billions in 'epidemic' of poor proficiency

IL US Rep: Failing schools cost billions in ‘epidemic’ of poor proficiency

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois congresswoman says students’ failure to learn basic reading and math has major economic consequences. During...

National News

Colorado ranks eighth nationally for battling antisemitism

Colorado ranks eighth nationally for battling antisemitism

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square The Anti-Defamation League recently named Colorado one of nine states “leading the way” on combatting antisemitism. The Jewish Policy Index was conducted by the ADL...
Trump speaks with Zelenskyy, European leaders ahead of Putin meeting in Alaska

Trump speaks with Zelenskyy, European leaders ahead of Putin meeting in Alaska

By Caroline BodaThe Center Square President Donald Trump met virtually with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other European leaders before flying to Alaska for a U.S.-Russia...
Texas House Democrats may return after first special session is over

Texas House Democrats may return after first special session is over

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square After the Texas House didn’t reach a quorum on Tuesday, the Texas House Democratic Caucus said absconding House Democrats would return after the first special...
Illegal border crossings reach lowest level in recorded US history in July

Illegal border crossings reach lowest level in recorded US history in July

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Illegal border crossings nationwide dropped to their lowest level in recorded history in July, according to the latest U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. “CBP...
GE Appliances announces $3 billion investment in U.S. production

GE Appliances announces $3 billion investment in U.S. production

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square GE Appliances announced a $3 billion investment over the next five years to increase production at facilities across the country. The appliance manufacturer, whose parent...
VA reduces benefits backlog as concerns linger over potential cuts

VA reduces benefits backlog as concerns linger over potential cuts

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Department of Veterans Affairs said it processed more disability benefits compensation and pension ratings claims in a year than ever before, despite concerns that...
DOJ settles West Point lawsuit over race-based admissions

DOJ settles West Point lawsuit over race-based admissions

By Chris WadeThe Center Square The Justice Department has reached a settlement with the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to resolve a federal lawsuit targeting the elite schools over...
Texas AG Paxton files motion of contempt against O’Rourke

Texas AG Paxton files motion of contempt against O’Rourke

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a motion for contempt against former U.S. Rep. Robert Francis (Beto) O’Rourke claiming he violated a temporary restraining...
Texas Supreme Court sets expedited schedule in Paxton, 13 House Dems case

Texas Supreme Court sets expedited schedule in Paxton, 13 House Dems case

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The Texas Supreme Court has set an expedited schedule in a case filed by Attorney General Ken Paxton requesting the court remove 13 Texas House...