Local Manhattan News
Public Works Committee Forwards Condemnation Proceedings for Francis and Marley Road Improvements
Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | January 6, 2026 Article Summary: The committee authorized the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office to proceed with condemnation cases to acquire necessary right-of-way for improvements to Francis Road and Marley Road. The county has been unable to reach agreements with several property owners. Francis and Marley…
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 MoreFrankfort Man Arrested in Gas Station Robbery Found Hiding in McDonald’s Restroom
Article Summary: Sufyan Farhan, 27, was arrested on December 21 following an armed robbery at a Frankfort Circle K. Deputies located the suspect hiding in a nearby McDonald’s restroom after a relative tipped off law enforcement. Frankfort Robbery Key Points: The Heist: A masked suspect brandished a knife and demanded cash at the Circle K on…
Read MoreCounty Expands Paratransit Services, Board Members Question Long-Term Funding
Will County Board Meeting | December 18, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board approved an intergovernmental agreement with Pace to expand paratransit services county-wide for seniors and residents with disabilities. While the measure passed unanimously, some board members expressed concerns regarding the sustainability of grant-based funding. Paratransit Agreement Key Points: Service Expansion: The agreement expands…
Read MoreWill County Executive Committee Rejects School Choice Advisory Referendum
Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | December 11, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board Executive Committee voted against advancing a resolution that would have placed an advisory referendum regarding the “Educational Choice for Children Act” on the March 2026 primary ballot. Proponents argued the measure would give voters a voice on federal scholarship…
Read MoreWill County Board Members Question Fairness of New Transit Tax Structure
Will County Committee of the Whole Meeting | December 2025 Article Summary: Will County Board members expressed concerns regarding the funding mechanisms and governance structure of the incoming Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA). Members questioned the diversion of gas tax revenue from road maintenance and argued that Will County lacks sufficient representation on the new…
Read MoreRegional Transit Agencies Tout New State Funding, Prepare for Shift to ‘NITA’
Will County Committee of the Whole Meeting | December 2025 Article Summary: Regional transit leaders presented their 2026 budgets to the Will County Board, highlighting that the recent passage of Senate Bill 2111 has averted a “fiscal cliff.” The legislation provides over $1 billion in new funding but also triggers a massive restructuring of the…
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