Manhattan Front Page
Will County Committee Pulls Single-Member District Referendum
Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | June 11, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, June 11, 2026, removed a proposed referendum on single-member county board districts after learning the question would have to be binding rather than advisory. Single-Member Districts Key Points: The committee voted to remove Resolution 26-4989,…
Read MoreWill County Executive Committee Splits on Whether to Ask Voters About Single-Member Districts
Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | May 14, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, May 14, 2026, took the temperature of members on a proposal to place an advisory referendum on the November 2026 ballot asking voters whether they want to move from 11 two-member districts to single-member districts,…
Read MoreWill County Executive Committee Recommends 600 MW Pride of the Prairie Solar Project in 6-5 Split Vote
Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | May 14, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee on Thursday, May 14, 2026, voted 6-5 to recommend approval of a special use permit for the Pride of the Prairie commercial solar energy facility, a 6,099-acre, 600-megawatt project spanning Manhattan, Green Garden and Wilton townships, despite…
Read MoreZinc Leaching and Flooding Concerns Dominate Testimony at Will County Solar Hearing
Will County Board Special Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | May 12, 2026 Article Summary: Expert and resident testimonies during Tuesday’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting highlighted severe concerns over groundwater contamination and flooding if a 6,000-acre solar farm is built on hydric soils. Environmental Impact Key Points: A Will-South Cook Soil and Water Conservation District…
Read MoreWill County Planning and Zoning Commission Recommends Denial of 6,099-Acre Earthrise Solar Project After Court-Ordered Hearing
Will County Board Special Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | May 12, 2026 Article Summary: Following a court-mandated cross-examination hearing, the Will County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 1-4 to recommend denial of a special use permit for the massive Lincoln Solar Energy project spanning three townships. Earthrise Solar Project Key Points: The PZC voted 1-4…
Read MoreWill County Board Approves Controversial Solar Farms Following Court Mandate
Will County Board Meeting | April 16, 2026 Article Summary: Under the strict constraints of a court-issued writ of mandamus, the Will County Board grudgingly approved multiple special use permits for commercial solar facilities. The approvals included the 2,258-acre Plum Valley Solar project, while the Board simultaneously passed a resolution urging state lawmakers to restore…
Read MoreIndiana Man Faces Federal Indictment, Potential Death Penalty for Momence Bar Owner’s Murder
Article Summary: State prosecutors have officially transferred the first-degree murder case against Julius Burkes to the U.S. Department of Justice. The 47-year-old Indiana man now faces federal charges, including the possibility of the death penalty, for the February armed robbery and murder of 30-year-old Courtney M. Drysdale. Federal Prosecution Key Points: Julius Burkes, 47, of…
Read MoreOpioid Settlement Grants Funnel Nearly $600,000 to Local Police and Community Programs
Will County Finance Committee Meeting | March 3, 2026 Article Summary: Will County is distributing a significant portion of its opioid settlement funds to hyper-local agencies, including the Peotone and Manhattan police departments, to fund life-saving training, data software, and community surveillance systems. Will County Opioid Program Key Points: The Will County Opioid Program (WCOP) has…
Read MoreWill County Transportation Department Announces Open House for Manhattan-Monee Road Expansion
Will County Public Works and Transportation Committee Meeting | March 3, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Division of Transportation is inviting residents to a public open house on March 19 to review existing conditions and provide feedback on potential roadway alternatives for a two-mile stretch of Manhattan-Monee Road. Manhattan-Monee Road Study Key Points: The public…
Read MoreWill County Public Works: Access Will County Dial-a-Ride Expands to All 24 Townships, Eliminating Borders
Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | February 3, 2026 Article Summary:In a major overhaul of county transit, officials presented a quarterly report confirming that the Access Will County Dial-a-Ride program now covers all 24 townships, removing residency barriers for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The expansion consolidates multiple fragmented systems into a single, cohesive…
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