Popcorn Festival.1

Casey Gears Up for 37th Annual Popcorn Festival: A Labor Day Weekend Extravaganza!

Fairview Park to Host Four Days of Music, Fun, and Free Popcorn CASEY, IL – Get ready, Casey! The beloved Casey...
Darby Maschoff

Starry Night

Darby Maschoff, daughter-in-law of Brian and Marla Maschhoff, brings a touch of classic art and color with her rendition of...
Casey Rotary Logo.2

Rotarian Shane Todd presents program at Rotary Club

Rotarian Shane Todd presented the program at Tuesday’s Rotary Club meeting at Richards Farm, updating Rotarians on the schedule of...
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...
Lake Land College.5

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...
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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...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Clark County Board for July 18, 2025

The Clark County Board faced extensive public criticism regarding its recent approval of two large-scale solar projects during its meeting...
Casey Council Meeting.1

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Casey City Council for August 18, 2025

The Casey City Council addressed major economic development, housing, and infrastructure topics at its August 18 meeting, highlighted by the...
Lake Land College.6

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,...
Clark County Logo

Clark County Board Delays Decision on Using Cannabis Funds for School Counselors

Article Summary: A proposal to direct county cannabis tax revenue to fund counseling services in Clark County schools has been...

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...
Lake Land College.5

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...
lake land college.3

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...
Lake Land College.6

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,...
Lake Land College.5

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...
Lake Land College.6

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

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker signs abortion bills; Operation Purple Heart returns medals

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker signs abortion bills; Operation Purple Heart returns medals

By The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzker signs abortion bills Two bills Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted Friday impact access to abortion procedures. House Bill 3637 shields health care providers from...
WATCH: IL Department of Human Services’ adverse audit draws legislators’ ire

WATCH: IL Department of Human Services’ adverse audit draws legislators’ ire

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A recent adverse audit of the Illinois Department of Human Services is the worst audit seen by...
Illinois prisons to publish annual data on contraband, safety and overdoses

Illinois prisons to publish annual data on contraband, safety and overdoses

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new law requires the Illinois Department of Corrections to publish annual data on contraband, substance...
Commission enacted to aid young IL farmers facing challenges

Commission enacted to aid young IL farmers facing challenges

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted a law launching the Farmland Transition Commission, a lifeline for young farmers...
Appeals court: Serious Chicago police disciplinary hearings must be public

Appeals court: Serious Chicago police disciplinary hearings must be public

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A panel of appellate court judges has ruled Chicago police officers facing serious misconduct allegations must...
WATCH: IL child welfare interns debate heats up; state financial audit released

WATCH: IL child welfare interns debate heats up; state financial audit released

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 talks live with...
Illinois quick hits: CUB challenges Ameren rate hike plan

Illinois quick hits: CUB challenges Ameren rate hike plan

By The Center SquareThe Center Square Disaster proclaimed in three counties A disaster proclamation has been issued for Cook, Jersey and Calhoun counties after severe weather last month. Gov. J.B....
WATCH: Illinois’ FY23 financial audit released amid criticism of tardy reports

WATCH: Illinois’ FY23 financial audit released amid criticism of tardy reports

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois taxpayers can now look at how the state spent their money in the fiscal year that...
Illinois quick hits: Anti-SLAPP bill signed; Chicago schools settles meditation case

Illinois quick hits: Anti-SLAPP bill signed; Chicago schools settles meditation case

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Anti-SLAPP bill signed Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation to protect news media from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP). The...

National News

Newsom responds to Bondi's letter on sanctuary policies

Newsom responds to Bondi’s letter on sanctuary policies

By Jamie ParsonsThe Center Square Editor's note: This story has been updated since its initial publication to include additional comments from the U.S. Department of Justice. After California received a...
U.S., NATO military officials discuss Ukraine security guarantees

U.S., NATO military officials discuss Ukraine security guarantees

By Caroline BodaThe Center Square U.S. military leaders met with NATO defense chiefs on Wednesday to iron out details of security protections for Ukraine as part of a potential peace...
Lawmakers, policy groups react to social media warning suit

Lawmakers, policy groups react to social media warning suit

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Bill sponsors and public interest groups have been quick to respond to a lawsuit filed last week against Colorado, challenging a new law that would...
From Mexico to Knoxville, five cartel leaders wanted in drugs, weapons conspiracy

From Mexico to Knoxville, five cartel leaders wanted in drugs, weapons conspiracy

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Despite many arguing the border crisis is over because illegal entries at the southwest border have dropped to their lowest level in recorded history, border-related...
Trump administration pushes to remove noncitizen Medicaid enrollees

Trump administration pushes to remove noncitizen Medicaid enrollees

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Trump administration is cracking down on noncitizens receiving Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program benefits, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services....
Newsom files FOIA request on border patrol's appearance

Newsom files FOIA request on border patrol’s appearance

By Jamie ParsonsThe Center Square California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office is submitting a Freedom of Information Act request for details regarding the Trump administration’s decision to send U.S. Customs and...
DEA targets drug smuggling corridors in work with Mexico

DEA targets drug smuggling corridors in work with Mexico

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Drug Enforcement Administration officials plan to work with their counterparts in Mexico to target the gatekeepers of the smuggling corridors between the two nations. The...
Planned restart of California oil production faces legal challenges

Planned restart of California oil production faces legal challenges

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square Oil and gas production resumed on May 15 that had been out of service for 10 years after an oil spill off the California coast,...
Senate pledges economic support for Russia-Ukraine deal as govt funding talks stall

Senate pledges economic support for Russia-Ukraine deal as govt funding talks stall

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square As Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked over how to fund the government for fiscal 2026 and prevent a shutdown, Senate leaders remain united on one...