Posts by Newspaper Staff
Finance Committee: Scholarship Tax Credit Discussion Halts
Will County Board Finance Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026 Article Summary: A heated procedural debate erupted at the Will County Board Finance Committee meeting when a member attempted to revive a stalled scholarship tax credit proposal. Leadership ruled the discussion out of order, citing previous committee decisions and missed ballot deadlines. Scholarship Proposal Key…
Read MoreWill County Health Department Reports Rise in Respiratory Illnesses, Updates on Facility Issues
Will County Board Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | January 7, 2026 Article Summary: At the January 7, 2026, meeting, Executive Director Elizabeth Bilotta reported a spike in respiratory illnesses across Will County, including high levels of influenza and rising cases of norovirus. The department also provided updates on a significant elevator outage at…
Read MorePublic Works Committee Delays Vote on State Police License Plate Cameras Amid Privacy Concerns
Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Public Works & Transportation Committee voted to postpone a decision on an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois State Police (ISP) regarding the installation of license plate reading cameras. Committee members cited concerns regarding data retention policies and…
Read MoreFlint Man Charged with 1988 Murder of Wife Joan Bernal Following Cold Case Breakthrough
Article Summary: Gilbert Bernal Sr., 82, appeared in Will County court facing first-degree murder charges connected to the 1988 disappearance of his wife, Joan Bernal, following a sealed indictment returned exactly 37 years after she was last seen. The arrest follows renewed investigation efforts by the Will County Sheriff’s Office cold case unit and the…
Read MoreHomer Glen Man Charged with Reckless Discharge, Battery to Deputy Following Standoff
Article Summary: Michael Farrell, 52, was arrested after firing over a dozen shots from his home, triggering a SWAT response and a shelter-in-place order for neighbors on December 28. Deputies recovered multiple firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition following the standoff. Homer Glen Incident Key Points: The Incident: Deputies responded to the 16100 Block of…
Read MoreBeecher bids farewell to Chief Lemming following retirement
BEECHER – The Village of Beecher is officially bidding farewell to Police Chief Lemming, who retired effective New Year’s Eve following four and a half years of service to the community. Department officials thanked Lemming for his dedication and leadership during his tenure. Before his official departure on Dec. 31, 2025, Lemming spent his final weeks…
Read MoreHomer Glen Landscape Business Granted Extension Due to Utility Delays
Will County Board Meeting | December 18, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board approved a second extension for a special use permit for a landscaping business in Homer Glen. The business owners cited delays in securing electricity from ComEd as the primary reason for the project’s stalled progress. Extension Key Points: Business: Matthuis Family Partnership…
Read MoreNew Lenox Used Car Dealership Approved with Conditions
Will County Board Meeting | December 18, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board approved a special use permit allowing a used car dealership to operate in an industrial park in New Lenox Township. The approval comes with specific conditions regarding paving and screening to ensure the site meets county and village standards. Dealership Approval…
Read MoreCounty Board Approves Women’s Residential Treatment Center in Joliet
Will County Board Meeting | December 18, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board unanimously approved zoning changes to allow the Existential Counselor Society to open a women’s residential treatment facility for substance use disorders in Joliet. Proponents emphasized the critical lack of gender-specific residential care options currently available in the county. Women’s Treatment Center…
Read MoreMeeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board for December 18, 2025
Will County Board Meeting | December 18, 2025 The Will County Board held its regular meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2025, focusing heavily on land use, transportation infrastructure, and public safety. Highlights included the unanimous approval of a new women’s residential treatment facility in Joliet, designed to address the gap in gender-specific substance use disorder…
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