Joliet Junior College President Judy Mitchell delivered her annual State of the College on Nov. 9, highlighting accomplishments over the past academic year and new initiatives ahead.
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Posted inTimes Weekly News
Democrats, Republicans at odds over new district map
They argued over it and with little, if any, agreement across the aisle the Will County board voted along straight party lines in favor of a new 11-district map. The board voted 14-12 on the new 11-district map for 2022 that will result in two county board members per district and four less than there are now with the current 13-district map. Some Republicans on the board accused Democrats with “gerrymandering,” to get the map the way they wanted, which brought vehement disagreement from Democrats. Board member Jacqueline Traynere (D-Bolingbrook) said she got tired of hearing the “constant barrage of accusing us of gerrymandering. “This is about changes in our population,” Traynere said in support of the new map.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Salvation Army’s Red Kettles return
The Times Weekly – Newswire The bells will soon be ringing, as the first of The Salvation Army’s Red Kettles were brought out in Chicago and the suburbs on Monday, November 8. Bell ringers will collect donations at the iconic Red Kettles, beginning at area Jewel-Osco and Hobby Lobby stores this week. The Red Kettle campaign kicks off as thousands of Illinoisans are still experiencing the ongoing impacts of the pandemic and struggling to stay in their homes. More than 200,000 households in Illinois are behind on rent, according to Policy Link. The Salvation Army has seen an increase in requests for emergency financial assistance in the last 18 months, a need that’s only expected to grow substantially since the lifting of the state’s eviction moratorium last month.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
No changes in tax for Plainfield residents
During these times of uncertainty, at least one thing is not changing, a property tax increase for Plainfield resident’s next year.
The board on Monday reviewed the proposed 2021 tax levy calculations that maintains the 2020 overall levy rate of .4669. Based on preliminary equalized assessed valuation (EAV) estimates, the ordinance reflects a total property tax request of $7.75 million, according to Traci Pleckham, interim village administrator. However, the actual dollar amount the village will receive is anticipated to be less. She told the board the levy rate has remained unchanged for the past eight years.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Pritzker signs law to ensure COVID-19 protections
At the request of the Attorney General, Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday signed SB 1169 into law, clarifying the legislative intent of the Health Care Right of Conscience Act so that it cannot be abused or misinterpreted to jeopardize workplace safety.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
House passes $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill
The White House had something big to celebrate this past weekend after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, sending it to President Biden to be signed into law.
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Ribbon cutting set for Forest Preserve's Black Road trail connection project
The Forest Preserve District of Will County will host a public ribbon cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12, at Hammel Woods – DuPage River Access in Shorewood to mark the opening of a much-anticipated trail connection along Black Road.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Supply chain crisis hits home
Joliet has one of the largest inland ports in the nation. Center Point Intermodal Center (CIC) – Joliet/Elwood is the largest master-planned inland port in North America. Getting goods and services to consumers both nationally and locally is topping the news cycle right now and for good reason as the country is experiencing a serious supply problem.
The national supply problem is hitting home with shortages experienced in the Joliet area.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
New village administrator hired in Plainfield
After about six months, Plainfield finally has a permanent village administrator. The Plainfield Village Board, replacing Brian Murphy, who served nearly a decade in the top position, hired Joshua Blakemore unanimously on Monday. Blakemore is currently the city administrator at Marengo. He has a master of public administration degree from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Blakemore will start his new job on Dec. 13 at an annual salary of $180,000. He will receive a monthly stipend of $500 for car expenses related to village business and get 20 days of paid vacation.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Bolingbrook girl gets book published
TTW Staff Reports
Trinity White, a third grader at Independence Elementary School in Bolingbrook, loves to write and loves to draw. She placed her completed creations into a drawer at home for her mom. Shaquita White went into the drawer one day and found half a dozen of Trinity’s completed books and realized her daughter has a talent for writing and illustrating.
