Posts by Newspaper Staff
Ad-Hoc Committee: County’s Lack of Home Rule Stifles Effort to Ban Kratom and Non-Nicotine Vapes
Will County Board Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee Meeting | April 14, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee approved updates to its tobacco and alternative nicotine regulations, raising retail license fees while acknowledging that the county lacks the legal authority to ban substances like Kratom or non-nicotine vapes without state legislation.…
Read MoreMeeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Public Health & Safety Committee for April 2, 2026
Will County Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | April 2, 2026 The Will County Board Public Health and Safety Committee met on Thursday, April 2, 2026, to review comprehensive updates across the county’s health and residential service sectors. The agenda was dominated by departmental reports, with deep dives into the Behavioral Health Division’s opioid…
Read MoreIndiana Man Faces Federal Indictment, Potential Death Penalty for Momence Bar Owner’s Murder
Article Summary: State prosecutors have officially transferred the first-degree murder case against Julius Burkes to the U.S. Department of Justice. The 47-year-old Indiana man now faces federal charges, including the possibility of the death penalty, for the February armed robbery and murder of 30-year-old Courtney M. Drysdale. Federal Prosecution Key Points: Julius Burkes, 47, of…
Read MoreAd-Hoc Committee: New State Laws Force Shift in How Police Handle Student Cannabis and Tobacco Violations
Will County Board Ad-Hoc Ordinance Review Committee Meeting | April 14, 2026 Article Summary: As Will County updates its drug offense ordinances to align with changing state cannabis laws, officials highlighted a recent shift in enforcement that prohibits police from ticketing students for tobacco or cannabis possession inside schools, leaving the matter entirely to internal…
Read MorePeotone Township Homeowner Secures Porch P&Z Variance Despite Local Objection
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | April 7, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a street yard setback variance for an unpermitted front porch in Peotone Township, dismissing a written objection from the township board after learning the homeowner was excluded from the local review process. Peotone…
Read MoreManhattan Township Property Owners Secure Zoning P&Z Approvals for Pole Barn Addition, Parcel Consolidation
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | April 7, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved two separate zoning requests in Manhattan Township, granting a variance for a resident to expand an accessory pole barn for RV storage, and approving a map amendment to consolidate a split-zoned 11-acre residential…
Read MoreMeeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Legislative Committee for April 7, 2026
Will County Board Legislative Committee Meeting | April 7, 2026 The Will County Board Legislative Committee met on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, to review a packed agenda of state and federal legislative tracking. The committee took decisive action to push back against the state’s control over commercial solar farm siting, unanimously passing Resolution 26-4609 to…
Read MoreWill County Animal Protection Services Advises Against Multi-Campus Shelter Model
Will County Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | April 2, 2026 Article Summary: Following a request for research, the Will County Animal Protection Services administrator reported that Will County does not have the population, intake volume, or budget to support a multi-campus animal shelter system like those seen in significantly larger jurisdictions. Animal Protection…
Read MoreExecutive Committee Advances $15,000 Strategic Plan Initiative
Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | April 9, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee unanimously approved a $15,000 agreement with Leap HR Consulting to develop the county’s first formal strategic plan. The initiative aims to align leadership, prioritize resources, and establish onboarding frameworks for newly elected officials. Will County Strategic Plan…
Read MoreP&Z Commission Overrides Staff Denials, Rescuing Special Use Permits for Joliet Wedding Venue and Romeoville Barge Terminal
Will County Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting | April 7, 2026 Article Summary: The Will County Planning and Zoning Commission voted to overturn administrative denials for two delayed commercial projects—a rural wedding venue in Joliet and a petroleum barge terminal in Romeoville—after applicants missed strict deadlines to file for special use permit extensions. Zoning Appeals…
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