Jared Hawkinson — Knox County's courthouse decision and what's ahead for the county

Knox County Board Chairman Jared Hawkinson joined Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm on Galesburg's Morning News on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, for a wide-ranging conversation on some of the biggest decisions and developments facing the county. In this interview, Jared covers: The Knox County Courthouse task force — what's wrong with the building, what it would cost to fix, and why Hawkinson personally leans toward building new The former Wells Fargo building at 50 E. Main St. — what's taking so long and how the courthouse decision could affect its future Why the Mary Davis Juvenile Detention Center closed and what happens to the building now The Knox County Jail's turnaround from near-closure to a model facility for the state The Knox County Nursing Home's first-ever five-star rating and a $10 million renovation underway Why Knox County's landfill — the only government-owned one left in Illinois — matters to every taxpayer A $300 to $400 million wind farm starting construction today Rural public transportation coming to Knox County before the end of 2026   📰 Full story: ➡️ Knox County faces defining decision on aging courthouse