History doesn’t always repeat itself. But one thing remains pretty consistent in regards to the makeup of the teams that qualify for the IHSA playoffs: teams that qualify for the playoffs, tend to repeat the process more often than not. Certainly there are always a few new teams that would break into the field on a year-to-year basis, but the percentages have always been fairly stable and you could almost always count on about an 80% return rate from year-to-year.
Over 40 people gathered outside the Crystal Lake Park District administration building Tuesday afternoon holding signs reading “Proud of our parks,” “The lake is for all residents” and “Parks for people.” The rally was held by a grassroots organization calling itself Parks for the People, a group of Crystal Lake citizens concerned over the recent park board actions, including the dismantling of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy and the intergovernmental Lake Ecology Agreement with Lakewood and Crystal Lake.
The new Hollywood Casino Joliet opened Monday with fanfare that included a traditional Chinese lion dance and an announcement that the casino has become an official sponsor of the Chicago Bears. Executives also honored their Joliet roots, recognizing seven employees who have been with the casino since a group of local investors opened it in 1992 as the Empress. Penn Entertainment, which has owned the Joliet casino since 2005, spent $185 million to build the new land-based casino located near the crossroads of Interstates 55 and 80.
The family of a 2-year-old boy who was killed on July 30 when a car crashed into a Portillo’s restaurant in Oswego has started a GoFundMe page to help pay for expenses. “He was the light of our lives with his smile, laugh and all-around sunny demeanor,“ according to the fundraising page, started by Dominic Passero. “His favorite things were Spiderman, ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ and all things Disney. He loved to enjoy a cheeseburger outside after swimming class. He was an old soul who also loved John Denver. Most of all, he loved being a big brother.”
What was supposed to be the sentencing hearing for Xandria Harris on her direct contempt of court conviction turned into a lecture to Harris’ two attorneys by Kankakee County Circuit Judge Kathy Bradshaw-Elliott. Thursday’s hearing had been set since May 9. Her attorney, Cierra Norris, agreed to that date along with Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe. Harris was held in direct contempt of court during the murder trial last September of her co-defendant and boyfriend, Darius Sullivan.
A proposed housing development in downtown St. Charles moved closer to approval this month after a positive recommendation from the city’s Plan Commission. St. Charles developer J&B Builders Inc. plans to build River 504 Townhomes, an eight-unit duplex development, at the northeast corner of South First and Prairie streets. Three residents spoke during the public hearing, mainly voicing concerns over architectural and landscaping aspects of the development plans, but each was supportive of the overall concept.
A private real estate investment and development firm has pitched a plan to Sterling city officials to develop Northwestern Illinois’ largest indoor entertainment complex inside the former National Manufacturing buildings. If approved, Barrel & Boards would be a “one-stop shop” of year-round family-friendly entertainment, including on-site food courts, a brewery, a winery, 20,000 square feet of games, including bocce ball and pickleball courts, a boutique bowling alley, virtual reality video games, an indoor electric go-kart track and much more.
Sycamore School District 427 Superintendent Steve Wilder and the district’s school board have reached a mutual agreement to begin a transition in leadership, board President Michael DeVito announced during a special meeting Friday night. During the special end-of-week meeting, the Sycamore school board unanimously approved an amendment to Wilder’s contract agreement, which effectively relieved him of his job. The only member of the Sycamore school board who didn’t vote in favor of the contract amendment was Christian Copple, who was absent from the meeting.
Seven people in the La Salle County Jail are facing murder charges. Has the county ever had that many pending murder cases at once? “Within a span of 20 months, we’ve had seven people charged with murder,” said Joe Navarro, La Salle County state’s attorney since 2022 as well as from 1988-96. “That’s definitely unprecedented.” Shaw Media contacted past and present La Salle County prosecutors, including some who had served as far back as 1980. None could remember any comparable surge in murder cases. Seven murders reported throughout a four-year term might have been plausible – but never within a 20-month span.
