Joliet Public Schools District 86 students announced its Students of the Month for September.

All workers except a small number of top officials are being fired at the office that implements the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a federal law that ensures millions of students with disabilities get support from their schools

The assembly will provide an opportunity for students and staff to recognize those who have served in the armed forces.

Illinois Valley Community College will explore the history of the Hegeler-Carus Mansion at noon on Tuesday, according to an IVCC news release.

When a child stopped breathing in her kindergarten class, teacher Karen Lanehart knew she had to act fast. On Oct. 8, Lanehart was honored with a Lifesaving Award by the American Red Cross.

Hailey Larsen of Ottawa was named the Illinois Valley Community College Foundation 21st Century Scholar at a ceremony Sept. 25 at Senica’s Oak Ridge.

Learn more about the 45-hour program at an open house at Quad Cities Aero, 3100 69th Ave., Moline, on the grounds of the Quad Cities International Airport.

Dist. 308 is offering a series of community meetings as it puts together a master facility plan for the district to address current and future facility needs. The meetings, which started in September, will continue this month.

Following the dinner, the Morrison-Fulton varsity football game will kick off at 7 p.m. at Morrison High School’s E.M. “Bud” Cole Field.

Lydia Anderson was recently named the September 2025 Student of the Month at Polo Community High School. She received a scholarship from the Polo Schools Foundation for her efforts. She is the daughter of Nate and Amy Anderson.

The Stan Borgman gym at Fulton High School was filled with pink Tuesday night, Oct. 7, 2025, as the Steamers volleyball team hosted Eastland in the annual “Volley for the Cure” matchup.

Currently, the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate have 66 members in the United States, with 25 in the Joliet area, and 14 in Brazil.

Plainfield East seniors Kyleah Edison and Rishi Shah are among the more than 16,000 National Merit Scholarship 2026 semifinalists

The Valley View School District 365U teachers union rejected a tentative contract deal this week and intends to return to the bargaining table.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday for the Herscher School District’s project to replace its aging facilities.

Larson Barnett has been accepted for enrollment for the 2025 summer trimester in the General Science, Bachelor of Science program at Palmer College of Chiropractic.

Employees at Sycamore Community School District 427 will soon see changes to their insurance options after a unanimous school board vote at a special meeting in late September.

B-PAC: Glenbard Bilingual Parent Advisory Council and the GPS Parent Series in Spanish will present “Preparing the Path for High School and College Success: The College Application Process” at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 via Zoom. 

The Coal City Theatre Department is celebrating spooky season with its Haunted Hallways fundraiser from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29.

Illinois Valley Community College’s fall theater season features an award-winning play, some wacky wordplay, and a new theater department director, the college said in a news release.

Lantern Pizza in Downers Grove will hold a series of fall fundraisers in partnership with Downers Grove schools

Ogden Avenue School in La Grange School District 102 has been ranked No. 36 on “Chicago Magazine’s” list of the Top 100 Elementary and Junior High Schools in Cook County.

With graduating college students nationwide struggling to find adequate employment, the keywords during ‘College Night’ at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove was “adaptability” and “accessibility.” More than 100 public and private colleges networked with students.

Palmer College of Chiropractic, the first and largest college in the chiropractic profession, has campuses in Davenport, Iowa, and Port Orange, Florida.

Introductory dance classes for swing and salsa return this fall through Illinois Valley Community College’s Continuing Education Department, according to an IVCC news release.

Meridian Community Unit School District #223 will move forward with state-mandated Health/Life Safety projects to improve existing facilities after a recent community-wide survey indicated a lack of support for a bond referendum at this time.

Area high school students are taking an opportunity to learn job skills for aviation through the Kankakee Area Career Center's program.

Contractors are working on reconstructing Coal City Intermediate School, and Maintenance Director Denny Wickiser told the school board Wednesday that things are moving pretty rapidly.

Elmhurst University celebrated the opening of its new, state-of-the-art Health Sciences Building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 3.

To address “mobility, safety and accessibility” concerns, the city of Yorkville is considering applying for a state grant to help fund gaps in sidewalks near Autumn Creek Elementary School.

Twenty-one Plano High School juniors and seniors were commended by the board for their mentorship program for freshman and sophomore students.

Cary School District 26 plans to add solar panels to the roofs of three schools with a goal to have them installed before financial incentives end with the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill” backed by President Donald Trump.

The Rochelle Township High School FFA Land Use Evaluation team placed fifth at the Section 2 competition on Sept. 30.

Already this year, Herscher School District has reported 43 stop arm violations to the Herscher Police Department Chief Kurt Quick said.

For the third straight year, student enrollment for Fall 2025 semester has increased at Kankakee Community College.

Illinois Valley Community College will hold a registration session for its Spring 2026 welding courses on Dec. 2.

The TALK-LINE interview for Oct. 2 featured Sauk Valley Community College Marketing Director Jim Grot, current SVCC President Dr. David Hellmich, and incoming Sauk President Dr. Jon Mandrell.

A specific proposal to build a new PK-5 elementary school through a $47.8 million bond referendum received weighted support from just 25.6% of residents who completed a survey, school officials said.

Dixon School Board has approved a $1.7 million deficit budget for fiscal 2026, mainly due to a $4.6 million drop in federal funding. The district is exploring cost-saving measures but won’t cut staff this year.

School District 115 filed an application with the city of Yorkville to annex and rezone the property. The district is also requesting to rezone 45 acres of land it already owns on the high school property.

Rochelle Township High School had its grant approved to purchase four additional drones for its career and technical education department. Ashton-Franklin Center will receive a grant for temperature probes, sensors and charging stations.

During National 4-H Week, celebrated Oct. 5-11, 2025, local clubs will share how 4-H equips young people with the skills, confidence, and resilience to lead in a world full of opportunity and change.

Illinois Valley Community College will hold two Transfer Day events in October featuring more than 30 public and private universities and colleges.

Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, urged universities to reject the deal, saying it violates campus independence and undermines free speech

More than 40 colleges and universities will take part in Illinois Valley Community College’s 52nd annual College and Career Night on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

Byron CUSD 226 is proud to announce that Annie Burke, second grade teacher at Mary Morgan Elementary School, has been awarded the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Illinois State University.

Maddie Shaw of Stillman Valley, who is studying early childhood education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, has been admitted to the Professional Education program.

The American Heart Association has named Lisa Caparelli-Ruff as one of only nine “Leaders of Impact” in the Chicago region for her fight against heart disease.

Forreston Junior/Senior High School/Forrestville Valley CUSD 221 received a grant for polycarbonate panels and connection supplies for its greenhouse.

Classes will resume and student support services and offices at the Oglesby campus and Ottawa Center will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 13.