Kankakee County Board to consider courthouse remodel contracts Tuesday
Kankakee IL – The county board is scheduled to consider courthouse remodel contracts June 9, a step toward construction but not a final award yet.
Illinois
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Kankakee approves APBA races through 2029, keeping Labor Day regatta
Kankakee’s APBA regatta is set through 2029 after council approval, meaning Labor Day races return with river closures, parking rules and city spending.
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Mount Vernon drivers face overnight I-57 closures for Illinois 15 overpass work
Mount Vernon, IL – IDOT will divert I-57 traffic overnight June 1-3 near the city while crews place structural steel for the Illinois 15 overpass.
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Chicago still in play after Springfield stalls Bears stadium deal
Chicago IL – Illinois lawmakers ended session without a final Bears stadium package, but a Senate amendment still leaves Chicago in the mix.
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Franklin County board in Benton weighs animal-control fee increase
Benton, IL – Franklin County’s May 18 board agenda put an animal-control fee increase on the table, but no adopted rate change is posted yet.
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Burr Ridge joins DuPage suburbs pushing back on Illinois BUILD housing plan
Burr Ridge officials are joining a DuPage-area push against Illinois’ pending BUILD housing plan, warning it could weaken zoning and infrastructure control.
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Rockford advances Hard Rock hotel bond plan ahead of council vote
Rockford leaders moved a Hard Rock hotel and convention center financing plan forward, but the final council vote was still pending.
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Aurora gas and diesel watch: Frontenac station regular edges up, diesel hits $6.499
Aurora’s watched Frontenac station lists regular at $4.959 and diesel at $6.499. Regular is up 6 cents; diesel is up 50 cents and is the bigger cost hit.
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Burr Ridge drivers still finding sub-$4 gas as Illinois averages stay above $5
Burr Ridge stations still show some sub-$4 regular gas, even as AAA’s Illinois and Chicago benchmarks stay above $5 and diesel remains costly.
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Chicago Public Schools starts next budget cycle with a $732.5 million gap
Chicago Public Schools has opened its 2026-27 budget process with a $732.5 million deficit, raising early staffing and program pressure at schools citywide.
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Chicago SNAP cutoffs begin May 1 as new work rules affect some households
Some Chicago-area SNAP households face benefit cutoffs after May 1 under new work-reporting rules, with county help, pantry resources, and school support available.
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Aurora gas watch: regular near $4.90, diesel near $6
Aurora IL Gas & Diesel Watch – The Frontenac 7-Eleven lists regular at $4.899 and diesel at $5.999, keeping both fuel grades near key budget thresholds.
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South Holland commuters should brace for Bishop Ford rehab in 2026
South Holland IL – IDOT says a $93 million Bishop Ford Freeway rehab begins in spring 2026, bringing lane reductions, bridge closures, and detours.
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Chicago’s Red Line extension breaks ground on the Far South Side
CTA marked the Red Line Extension groundbreaking on April 24, starting construction on a 5.5-mile project with four new stations.
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Centralia shooting case moves from investigation to arrest as suspect stays jailed
Illinois State Police say a 21-year-old Centralia man was charged after the April 19 shooting that left one person dead and three others hurt.
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UIS faculty strike ends in Springfield: classes resume, but the contract still needs ratification
Springfield IL – UIS says classes resumed after a tentative deal ended the faculty strike on April 20, but the agreement still needs ratification.
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Moline could stack new tax incentives and design work behind riverfront redevelopment on April 28
Moline IL – The April 28 council agenda lines up riverfront design work, a city property sale, and steps toward new redevelopment incentives for downtown.
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Chicago Public Schools says May 1 will be a full school day: what families need to know now
Chicago IL – CPS says May 1 is a regular instructional day with normal transportation and activities, plus limited civic-event options for some students.
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Kankakee planning board weighs senior housing permit and South Side rezoning on April 21
Kankakee IL – The April 21 Planning Board agenda includes a senior housing permit and South Side rezoning cases that could shape future housing options.
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Chicago schools will stay open May 1 after CPS-CTU deal. Here’s what families need to know now
Chicago IL – CPS says May 1 will remain a full school day districtwide, with any civic-engagement activity optional and school-by-school notices still expected.
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Chicago flooding after April 15’s record rain: why basements backed up and what residents should do now
Chicago IL – A record rain at O’Hare brought flooded streets and basement backups citywide, and MWRD’s overflow alerts explain why the system was stressed.
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Peoples Gas Rate Case Puts Chicago Utility Bills Back in Focus as ICC Deadlines Near
More than 100 people protested Peoples Gas’ pending rate request in Daley Plaza as Chicago heads into key ICC deadlines on the roughly $202 million case. ([news.wttw.com](https://news.wttw.com/2026/04/02/hardship-peoples-gas-customers-rally-chicago-against-requested-rate-hike))