West Central Reporter

FOIA Request to Hancock County Regarding FOIA Logs from January to October 2024 on October 7, 2024. The request was made by West Central Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.

The requested records fall under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. Specifically, the request seeks a list of FOIA logs sent to Hancock County from January 1, 2024, till October 7, 2024. The fields requested include the requester's name and organization, the content and date of the request, the date when the request was completed, and the status of the FOIA.

As members of West Central Reporter, 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 state affairs, The Illinois Department of Transportation announced in July 2023 an extensive multi-year program named Rebuild Illinois aimed at improving and repairing all modes of transportation. Governor JB Pritzker said about this initiative "Over the next six years, we're investing over $40 billion to improve all modes of transportation across our great state. That means better roads and bridges, modernized transit and aviation, and expanded and faster passenger rail service."

According to official sources from the Illinois Department of Transportation, JB Pritzker's Rebuild Illinois program is planning or implementing ten major projects in Chicago with an investment of $396 million aimed at improving safety and mobility on Illinois's roads and bridges. Three out of these ten projects are scheduled to be completed in 2024, while the remaining seven are projected to be completed from 2025 through 2030. The Rebuild Illinois program is also investing $107 million in seven projects in Kane County and $220 million in ten projects in central Cook County for the construction of roads and bridges.