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The state of Illinois saw slight decreases in the number of people filing first-time unemployment claims as well as the number of people receiving continuing benefits during the week that ended July 4. But those gains were more than offset by increases in the number of people applying for and receiving benefits under another program designed for people who don’t qualify for traditional unemployment benefits. The Illinois Department of Employment Security said Thursday that it processed 39,015 initial unemployment claims d...
Local government officials in Illinois have their hands “tied behind their back” when responding to COVID-19-related economic struggles, three community and business advocacy groups argued Thursday. “Burdensome, unnecessary” state rules dictating how federal CARES Act — Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security — funds are allocated to local authorities will “likely” make fewer dollars available to officials to use as they deem appropriate, Brad Cole, executive director of the Illinois Municipal League, said at an outd...
A pond teeming with wildlife on a beautiful summer morning proved to be a winning combination for Jon Flodstrom of Frankfort, who won June's portion of the Forest Preserve District of Will County's Preserve the Moment photo contest. Normally, the pond's dragonflies flit away from him as he tries to take their photos. But on one particular morning a few weeks ago, he timed it just right to get a shot of a "docile" widow skimmer dragonfly perched on a branch near a pond in...
It is said that those who live in glass houses, should not throw stones. MSNBC reporter Cal Perry learned that the hard way on Memorial Day when Bolingbrook resident Andy Olson called him out on the streets of Lake Geneva, Wis. The video has gone viral with millions of views over many different platforms and was even retweeted by Donald Trump, Jr. During his report, Perry, who was wearing a mask, talked about people on the streets not wearing masks to protect themselves from...
Several protesters called for the resignation of Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk as he attended a Black Lives Matter rally on the corner of Larkin Avenue and Jefferson Street Tuesday. On Sunday night as rioting and looting took place around the city, O'Dekirk was videotaped in a scuffle with two men, who were later forcibly arrested by Joliet Police. "I understand that everyone has to defend themselves – self-preservation is the first thing. But he put himself in that p...
The Village of Romeoville has purchased 30 acres of land and is leasing an additional 30 acres across from the post office along 135th Street. The property will be used as open space for sports like soccer and baseball. The plans also call for a dog park on the property. "Residents have been requesting a dog park for some time now and we are very happy to announce plans for one," stated Mayor John Noak. "This will also add more park space to our ever growing offerings." A...
Attorney General Kwame Raoul has tested positive for COVID-19, his office announced in a news release Tuesday, and the governor plans to get retested as well. "After experiencing minor symptoms over the weekend, I consulted with my health care provider using telehealth services. Upon the advice of my doctor, I was tested yesterday and informed today that I have tested positive for COVID-19," Raoul said in a news release. Raoul said in the statement his symptoms remain mild and...
SPRINGFIELD - New permanent regulations that govern licensed firearms dealers in Illinois have finally been approved 18 months after Gov. JB Pritzker signed the bill into law. The General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, or JCAR, gave its okay to the rules at a meeting Tuesday in Springfield. The Firearms Dealers License Certification Act passed the General Assembly in May 2018, when Republican Bruce Rauner was governor. But knowing he was likely to veto...
SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Republican Party wants to be excluded from the state's social gathering restrictions, as it alleged in a federal lawsuit that churches and political demonstrations already enjoy such exclusions. Throughout the year, the party holds a state convention, strategy meetings and candidate rallies - all with more than 10 people present. Under Gov. JB Pritzker's May 29 executive order addressing the continued spread of COVID-19, those in-person gatherings...
SPRINGFIELD – Anyone who cast a ballot in the last three years or who registered to vote or changed addresses after the March primary will be sent an application to vote by mail after Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill expanding the program Tuesday. In a news release, Pritzker's office said the program is aimed at ensuring "safe and active participation in the 2020 general election during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic." Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1863 and House Bill 2238, w...
Joliet Catholic Academy announced its commitment to resume on-campus classes for the 2020-2021 school year beginning this fall in August, while keeping the health and safety of all students, faculty and staff as its top priority. The co-educational Catholic college prep high school located at 1200 N. Larkin Ave. in Joliet is working through several plans of action for reinstating campus operations with the final determination of how and when to open this summer based on...
Lawrence M. “Larry” Walsh lost his battle with cancer and died June 3 at age 72. Walsh battled complications of prostate cancer for more than five years. He was first treated for prostate cancer in late 2014 and continued to receive medical care in the following years. In late 2018, he again began chemotherapy treatments for a reoccurrence of the cancer. Walsh was a strong supporter of cancer research and a proud participant of the annual Will County Relay for Life. He alw...
A small group of peaceful protesters were turned away from demonstrating at Crest City Hall Tuesday night. The reason they were given was that Crest Hill Mayor Ray Soliman issued an emergency order to reinstate a curfew that had previously been lifted for the city. Crest Hill Police Officer Justin O'Brien calmly explained the situation to the group. "We didn't have the curfew until 10 minutes," he told the group. "(The mayor) has the power to put out an emergency order and he...
"I will see you in church," said Scott Greene as he sent supporters to their cars just before the skies opened with storms to close out the Reopen Illinois rally he organized on the corner of Rte. 59 and Black Road in Shorewood. The truck driver from Elwood was making reference to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's hesitance to reopen places of worship amidst the COVID-19 pandemic as the state nears Phase 3 of Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan – a plan that is moving too slow for many...
The Village of Romeoville presents the Route 66 Drive-In Movie Theater. Join them for a family-friendly movie in the open space behind the Romeoville Athletic and Event Center (680 Townhall Drive) starting around 9 p.m. Show dates are June 12, June 26, July 11, July 24 and August 10. Movies will include The Secret Life of Pets II and Frozen II. "By keeping families in their cars, we can safely conduct this free summer activity," said Mayor John Noak. "A whole new generation...
The Village will be celebrating Independence Day on July 3 with three fireworks shows. To allow residents to view these from their homes, fireworks will be shot off in three separate locations starting at 9:30 p.m., effectively tripling the number of pyrotechnics that are usually displayed. "We continue to be innovative with programs and events," stated Mayor John Noak "By spacing out three shows around the community, we hope that everyone can remain home and still see a...
Following the lead of nearby states, Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday announced Illinois' public and private schools will remain shuttered for the rest of the school year. The announcement came one month after Pritzker first announced a temporary school closure amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and on the same day the state announced 62 more deaths and 1,842 new confirmed cases – the largest single-day spike so far. That brought total deaths to 1,134 and total cases to 27,575. Pritker s...
Changes are coming to the stay-at-home order, Gov. JB Pritzker said again at his daily COVID-19 briefing Tuesday in Chicago, but it is unclear what they are and when they will happen. More information on what models the state is using to predict a peak and what changes will be made to the order is "coming in the very near future," Pritzker said, and many options are being considered, "We're looking at lots of things like that," Pritzker said when asked about the possibility of...
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that as part of the ongoing reconstruction of the Weber Road interchange, Interstate 55 traffic will be shifted to the right, starting in the northbound lanes, weather permitting, on Wednesday, April 22, and in the southbound lanes the evening of Monday, April 27. The change will occur overnight both nights between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Motorists on I-55 can expect delays, changing lane configurations and intermittent full...
The Forest Preserve District of Will County will reopen its preserve access area parking lots and boat launches on Friday, May 1, as a result of Gov. J.B. Pritzker modifying his stay-at-home order, which was instituted March 21 to fight the new coronavirus pandemic in Illinois. However, all visitor centers, dog parks, latrines and water fountains will remain closed through the duration of the stay-at-home mandate's extension, which now ends May 30. All public programs, rentals and non-district events have been canceled...
One of the DuPage County Sheriff's Office's longest serving K-9 deputies turned in her badge Friday afternoon for a retirement life of belly rubs and uninterrupted sunbathing in the back yard. Bella the bloodhound, who has been involved in finding hundreds of missing people and countless suspects over the past 11 and a half years since she joined us from Midwest K-9 Emergency Response Team in Lee, IL, stopped by the office one last time Friday. "I'd like to thank Deputy Bella...
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker officially cancelled the school year earlier this week, meaning the senior class of high schools all across the state will never again walk the halls of their schools as students. While graduation ceremonies and activities such as prom have not been cancelled many school administrators are doing their best to help the seniors through the abrupt end to their life as a student. At Plainfield East, the administrators got personal. East Principal Dr....
Monica Elias, 15, was reported missing by her family on Monday night after she did not return to her unincorporated Glenview home. Monica is Hispanic, 4-feet, 11-inches tall and approximately 130 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair. Anyone with information on Monica's whereabouts is asked to call Sheriff's Police at 708-865-4896 or 847-635-1188....
To protect the health of residents and staff at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center and to prevent the spread of COVID-19, healthcare professionals will test more than 80 residents in the facility’s general population this week. So far, there have been no positive tests of COVID-19 in the JTDC general population. It is anticipated that there will be residents in the general population who test positive. When the test results are available, the number of positive tests will be made public. In addition, more tests may be c...
Illinois ballot eligibility requirements will be loosened for third-party candidates affected this election cycle by state efforts to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic. In a lawsuit filed April 2, the state’s Libertarian and Green parties said social distancing and stay-at-home orders instituted by Gov. JB Pritzker made gathering enough petition signatures to qualify for the ballot “practically impossible.” Both are considered “new” political parties under state election rules, meaning their candidates must obtain a...