South Central Reporter

A request under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was sent to Bond County on October 7, 2024. The request was made by us at South Central Reporter, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.

We requested access to the FOIA logs sent to Bond County from January 1, 2024, until October 7, 2024. The specific fields we asked for include the requester's name and organization, content of the request, date of the request and its completion date, as well as the status of the FOIA.

As members of the media, we are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.

In other news related to Illinois' public affairs, it is worth noting that the Illinois Department of Transportation announced in July 2023 an extensive multi-year program called Rebuild Illinois aimed at improving and repairing all modes of transportation. Governor JB Pritzker stated that over $40 billion would be invested over six years into enhancing roads and bridges, modernizing transit and aviation, and expanding passenger rail service.

According to official sources, ten major projects are currently being planned or implemented in Chicago under this program with an investment totaling $396 million. These projects aim at improving safety and mobility on Illinois's roads and bridges. Three out of these ten projects are scheduled for completion in 2024 while the remaining seven are projected for completion between 2025 through 2030.

Under this same program - Rebuild Illinois - Kane County will see seven projects completed with an investment of $107 million. Central Cook County is also set to benefit from this program with ten projects, costing $220 million, lined up for the construction of roads and bridges.