That's a $350 million increase over last year. Despite the increase, however, fewer districts will be funded at or above 90 percent of their adequacy target. And the adequacy gap in school funding will grow to $6.8 billion dollars.

SIU School of Medicine has launched a new Street Medicine Program to serve the homeless in Springfield. The program began in June.

A team from University of Illinois Springfield has been awarded a contract to write the historical content for a permanent exhibit on the 1908 Springfield Race Riot at the new Springfield Sangamon County Transportation HUB.

From August 7-16, the state's sales tax on school supplies will be reduced from 6.25 percent to 1.25 percent. Items with a lower sales tax will include traditional supplies such as markers and pencils, notebooks and folders and other classroom items, as well as many clothing purchases.

Activities in the library building from 9 to 1 Saturday include games and crafts for children and helpful services for parents and caregivers.

The board expects to conclude the search by the end of 2026.

The 409-page document includes a disclosure about how AI was used to draft some of the content and how AI generated information was checked and vetted by humans.

The series will begin with Jersey Boys on October 2nd and continue on through Shucked on May 11th 2027.

District 186 officials proposed constructing a new building to consolidate Hazel Dell, Laketown and Southern View elementary schools. The Ball-Chatham district receives the Hazel Dell site in the agreement, although District 186 continues to operate Hazel Dell this fall.

Gill thanked district staff, board members, students and the community for their support during her 12 years leading the district.