Joliet Begins Preston Heights Water-Main Replacement
Joliet began the first phase of a Preston Heights water-main replacement in July, tying neighborhood work to larger Lake Michigan water investments.
Illinois
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South Holland township agenda puts conference and event expenses before board
A Thornton Township board meeting scheduled in South Holland included conference travel and event expenses, while Village of South Holland records remain a separate public-accountability track.
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Cook County opens 2026 violence-intervention grant program after citing Chicago Heights need
Cook County’s 2026 violence-intervention grant program offers up to $15 million countywide. Chicago Heights appears in the county’s community-need data, with a displayed $250,000 amount that is not yet a confirmed award.
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Rochelle’s federally funded Energy Action Plan moves toward final release after public input
Rochelle and Rochelle Municipal Utilities are developing a federally funded Energy Action Plan that could guide future utility planning, energy-efficiency programs and industrial energy decisions.
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Lake Villa village board receives CMAP NEXT implementation plan
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning presented an updated NEXT Program implementation action plan to the Lake Villa Village Board on July 10, 2026.
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Round Lake advances 2026 motor-fuel-tax street work and development review
A February 17 board packet identifies a 2026 Motor Fuel Tax street-services agreement and continued review of a proposed residential development.
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2026 Illinois resilience plan identifies Burr Ridge’s South Frontage Road beside wetlands
A 2026 transportation-resilience plan names South Frontage Road in Burr Ridge as adjacent to regulatory wetlands, potentially informing future infrastructure and drainage decisions—but it does not award construction or set a roadwork schedule.
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Illinois Sets Aug. 26 Deadline for First Statewide Utility-Scale Battery-Storage Procurement
The Illinois Power Agency will seek bids for 1,038 megawatts of standalone energy storage in the first competitive procurement under the state’s new grid and affordability law.
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Illinois’ $55.9 Billion Fiscal 2027 Budget Takes Effect With New Business and Digital-Economy Taxes
Gov. JB Pritzker signed Illinois’ approximately $55.9 billion fiscal 2027 budget on June 16. The plan took effect July 1 with targeted revenue changes.
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Naperville 203 Starts Work on Fifth Avenue Transportation Facility
Naperville School District 203 has begun site clearing and foundation work for a new transportation facility on its Fifth Avenue property.
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Aurora Reports Elevated Lead Levels in Some Homes’ Drinking Water
Aurora’s Water Production Division says it found elevated lead levels in drinking water at some homes and issued a July 14 action-level notice.
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Illinois’ back-to-school sales tax holiday starts August 7. What qualifies
Illinois’ 10-day back-to-school sales tax holiday runs August 7–16, reducing the state tax on eligible clothing, footwear and school supplies. Local taxes still apply.
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Illinois EV rebates reopen with up to $4,000 available to qualifying buyers
Illinois’ EV rebate cycle opened Aug. 1 and is scheduled to run through Dec. 31, but funding is limited. Qualifying buyers must mail applications within 180 days of purchase.
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Illinois Medicaid changes for many noncitizens are approaching. Notices will arrive in August
Illinois will send personalized Medicaid notices in August before coverage ends Sept. 30 for some noncitizens under new federal eligibility rules.
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Illinois DOJ Review of 1,000-Plus Grand-Jury Presentations Raises Oversight Questions
A Chicago federal prosecutor review covers more than 1,000 grand-jury presentations, including selected older cases, but its methods and remedies remain unclear.
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Seventh Circuit upholds Illinois assault-weapons ban as Supreme Court review looms
A divided Seventh Circuit restored Illinois’ assault-weapons restrictions, leaving the law enforceable as the Supreme Court prepares to hear related cases.
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Illinois’ New AI Safety Law Takes Effect: What Residents and Businesses Should Know
Illinois’ new frontier-AI safety law takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, but its direct requirements apply mainly to the largest developers of exceptionally powerful models.
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Springfield City Council weighs final step in state takeover of Y Block site
A proposed transfer of Springfield’s downtown Y Block to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources reached first reading July 7, 2026, with a final City Council vote expected July 21.
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Aurora City Council approves $1,500 cap on certain campaign donations
Aurora’s new ethics ordinance caps campaign donations at $1,500 from businesses or entities doing business with the city. The city’s July 15 notice did not detail when the rule takes effect or how it will be enforced.
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Alexi Giannoulias launches campaign for Chicago mayor
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias launched his campaign for Chicago mayor on Aug. 2, 2026, entering the developing 2027 contest.
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Springfield health-system leaders join panel on regional care challenges
HSHS St. John’s reported June 4 that leaders from St. John’s and HSHS Medical Group took part in a panel on healthcare in Springfield and surrounding communities.
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Aurora adopts ethics ordinance with $1,500 contractor-donation cap
Aurora City Council approved a comprehensive ethics ordinance July 15, 2026, setting a $1,500 campaign-donation cap for entities doing business with the city and expanding disclosure requirements.