ExpandDrivers should expect delays and are encouraged to consider alternate routes as the city of Joliet begins several road construction projects on Monday The city of Joliet will begin work on several streets that will lead to closures and lane reconfigurations beginning Monday Bridge Street between Nicholson Street and Center Street will be closed for reconstruction work for about five weeks Access to driveways will not be available during the project after the roadway has been excavated Parking will not be allowed on the street while construction is in progress the Public Utilities Department will begin construction of a water main on Henderson Avenue as part of the Heggie Park Water Main Replacement Project This phase of the project includes work to replace the water main on Henderson Avenue from Ward Avenue to Williamson Avenue Traffic on Henderson Avenue will be closed from Ward Avenue to Williamson Avenue North and southbound traffic on Henderson Avenue will be detoured to Royce Avenue from Ward Avenue to Williamson Avenue The water main replacement work for this section of Henderson Avenue is expected to be completed by June 30 Water main construction work will begin Monday on Scott Street The first phase of this project includes work to replace the water main on Scott Street from Cass Street to Jackson Street Traffic on Scott Street will be reduced to one lane from Cass Street to Jackson Street The water main replacement work for this section of Scott Street is anticipated to be completed by July 11 Drivers should expect delays and are encouraged to consider alternate routes during the duration of the work on all of these projects Questions on any of these projects should be directed to the Department of Public Works at 815-724-4200 Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network ExpandJoliet Police Chief Bill Evans seen at a September news conference Evans posted on Facebook Saturday that Joliet officers “acted with compassion and urgency” to try to save the life of David Malito Joliet police “acted with compassion and urgency” to try to save the life of David Malito Evans posted a long statement on the Dec. 25 incident on the police department Facebook page on Saturday night Evans said in the statement that he wants “to clarify and address recent public comments and mischaracterizations about David Malito’s tragic death.” questioning police officers’ actions when dealing with Malito who was overdosing on cocaine when they arrived and was pronounced dead less than an hour later at the hospital are organizing a protest for Monday evening outside the gas station at 401 S “Making public comments without considering the full context of the evidence and disregarding the findings of an independent investigation is irresponsible and dangerous,” Evans said misinform community members and unfairly judge my officers who face extraordinarily difficult circumstances daily.” State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet (Peter Hancock) Ventura issued her statement after the release of police video showing one officer with his knee on Malito’s upper back while he was being handcuffed. Ventura’s characterization of what the video shows starkly contrasts Chief Evans’ statement about the same video. “Mr. Malito was clearly having a reaction to a substance during the time of the arrest,” Ventura said. “But by the end, we see a man face down and on the ground, struggling to breathe while an officer kneels on his back and neck area, and I’m left with more questions than answers.” Evans’ statement includes a lengthy description of what happened and police actions at the scene. “The video and forensic evidence in this case clearly indicate that my officers acted with compassion and urgency to assist Mr. Malito and try to save his life,” Evans said. The incident happened early Christmas morning with police being dispatched to the scene at 4:25 a.m. and paramedics sent there 4:36 a.m. Malito was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where he arrived at 4:53 a.m. and was pronounced dead at 5:14 a.m. Police were called to the scene by Malito. A Joliet Police Department squad vehicle seen on April 18, 2025. (Felix Sarver) Evans said Malito “made three 911 calls, reporting an armed individual trying to harm him. He was in distress and yelling, making it hard for dispatchers to understand.” “All three calls were abruptly disconnected.,” Evans said. Police officers got to the gas station within “three minutes of the initial 911 call, with information about a possible armed individual,” Evans said. “They found Mr. Malito inside the store, alone, sweating profusely and exhibiting erratic behavior.” The officers “quickly suspected that he may have been under the influence of an unknown substance and in need of professional medical care,” Evans said. “They called for an ambulance three minutes after their arrival.” Video shows three officers trying to gain control of Malito as he acted erratically and screamed, “Please don’t kill me!” During the struggle, Malito fell along with one of the officers, who put his knee on Malito’s upper back area as he was handcuffed. Malito was turned over at one point, and officers provided him with Narcan. Handcuffs were removed when paramedics arrived. “A person under the influence of an unknown substance may not be in control of their actions, may unknowingly harm themselves, may become a danger to the public and may resist or even harm the paramedics who are seeking to provide care,” Evans said in his statement addressing police actions at the scene. “During the encounter, Mr. Malito appeared to physically resist the officers’ attempts to assist him, pulling away and ultimately falling to the ground,” Evans said. “He was then handcuffed to prevent injury to himself, or others based upon his agitated and unpredictable behavior until the ambulance arrived and the next steps could be taken. Exxon Mobil Corporation : Babylonian prospects Exxon Mobil's Pioneer acquisition doesn't bode well for the renewable energy transition Monday - Friday 9am-12pm / 2pm-6pm GMT + 1 All financial news and data tailored to specific country editions ExpandReference to previous ownership is covered up on Saint Joseph Medical Center sign facing Glenwood Avenue on Thursday California-based Prime Healthcare takes ownership of the Joliet hospital on Saturday The village of Shorewood recently issued a new business license to Prime Healthcare Illinois Medical Group for a medical practice at 1144 W The office has not yet opened and is not yet fully staffed We welcome news about business developments in our communities. We appreciate hearing about local business comings and goings, new hours, expansions, and milestones in the Joliet area. If you have a tip to share for Eyes on Enterprise, email news@theherald-news.com. ExpandAn attendee holds up a sign at the May Day Weekend Rally in downtown Joliet on May 3 About 150 people lined a section of Jefferson Street in Joliet to protest policies and actions of President Trump’s administration on Saturday It was the fourth consecutive weekend in which some display of opposition to the Trump administration was held in Joliet and protesters said it was important to keep up the effort The event was promoted by Indivisible Illinois A smaller protest was held near the Joliet Regional Airport on Thursday [ PHOTOS: Joliet protesters tout human rights at May Day Weekend Rally ] “Every time we do this, it lets other people know that they are not alone,” Nancy Eichelberger of Plainfield said. The protesters were bolstered by passing motorists, many of whom honked horns in show of support. Attendees hold up a signs at the May Day Weekend Rally in Downtown Joliet on May 3, 2025. (Laurie Fanelli) Protesters held up signs and chanted between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. as they lined the block formerly occupied by the old Will County Courthouse. Mark Morrison of Crest Hill on Thursday attended a May Day protest in Chicago that drew thousands of protesters. Ladies from Lockport's Lago Vista community enjoy the May Day Weekend Rally in Downtown Joliet on May 3, 2025. (Laurie Fanelli) Like others at the Joliet protest, Morrison said he believed President Trump was taking away basic civil rights. “He’s getting rid of due process,” Morrison said. “He’s silencing the opposition.” The opposition in Joliet, however, was very vocal on Saturday and probably on other days to come. Angel DiPasquale, one of the organizers of the Joliet protest, said they would be back although not necessarily on every weekend. “We’re going to come back, unfortunately, until we don’t have to anymore,” DiPasqualie told the protesters. New Lenox resident Sean Marino and his son, Branden, participate in the May Day Weekend Rally in Downtown Joliet on May 3, 2025. (Laurie Fanelli) ExpandLion Electric is auctioning off production equipment at its short-lived Joliet plant seen here when buses were in production in 2023 (Gary Middendorf – gmiddendorf@shawmedia/Gary Middendorf) The Lion Electric Co. is auctioning off its Joliet manufacturing plant, an unofficial acknowledgement that it will not return to the manufacturing facility that opened only two years ago with the promise of hundreds of jobs Workingman Capital on its website lists a May 14 auction of more than 300 assembly plant items at the Joliet plant crane systems and a 40,000-pound vehicle lift Canada-based Lion Electric did not respond to a request for comment Friday The company is embroiled in deep financial troubles and news about Lion Electric this week centered on the refusal of the provincial government of Quebec to pour any more public money into the company after spending more than $177 million on its future The company’s short life in the U.S. benefited from federal government incentives aimed at moving schools and metropolitan bus systems to electric vehicles The auction of Joliet production equipment has not received a lot of attention But it does confirm the end of Lion Electric’s short-lived rejuvenation of automotive production in the Chicago area president and CEO of the Will County Center for Economic Development speaks at the grand opening of the Lion Electric manufacturing facility in Joliet in July 2023 “They weren’t able to achieve profitability before running out of capital,” said Doug Pryor CEO of the Will County Center for Economic Development who attended a grand opening ceremony for the Joliet Lion Electric plant in July 2023 They emphasized that the Lion Electric factory located in a leased 900,000-square-foot building at 3835 Youngs Road was the first auto assembly plant to open in the Chicago area in more than 50 years The company has never defined how many people were employed in Joliet, but the number appeared to peak at 250, including temporary workers, at the time of the grand opening. Marc Bedard, CEO of Lion Electric, along with state and local officials speak to a large crowd at the grand opening for the Lion Electric manufacturing facility in Joliet in July 2023. (Gary Middendorf – gmiddendorf@shawmedia/Gary Middendorf) The company has not officially announced the closure of the Joliet plant, but the auctioning of its production capacity signals its end here. Embroiled in financial problems, Lion Electric is not communicating with local officials like it once was when the company promised 1,400 manufacturing jobs in Joliet. Joliet Economic Development Director Paulina Martinez in an email Friday said the city has kept up communication with Lion Electric but was not informed about the upcoming auction. “I have continued to stay in touch with them and have reached out as often as possible to maintain the relationship,” Martinez said. The Lion Electric manufacturing facility Friday, July 21, 2023, in Joliet. (Gary Middendorf – gmiddendorf@shawmedia/Gary Middendorf) Supply-chain manufacturers in the electric vehicle business have shown interest in the Joliet site, but not another vehicle manufacturer, Martinez said. Pryor said the fate of Lion Electric was that of a startup company in a new economic sector. He pointed to the “dot-com boom and bust” of the 1990s as a precedent for Lion Electric’s fate in the electric vehicle market. He noted Fisker Inc., Nicola Inc. and Canoo as other startup electric vehicle companies now in bankruptcy. “This is the nature of emerging industries,” Pryor said. “You have startups that try to compete.” An employee of Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow’s Office is under investigation for “malfeasance,” according to a spokesman for the Will County Sheriff’s Office The investigation by the sheriff’s office began “earlier this week,” according to Kevin Hedemark Hedemark said the sheriff’s office is “currently investigating an employee of the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office for malfeasance.” that’s all we can comment on at this time,” Hedemark said criminal division chief of the state’s attorney’s office Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English said their department is not involved in the investigation but they were notified by the sheriff’s office of the investigation. 2025 at 10:02 am CDTExpandJoliet Catholic Academy - Shakespeare Fest Tradition Thrives at Joliet Catholic Academy After 50 Years Even though the final curtain has fallen on this year’s Shakespeare Fest at Joliet Catholic Academy JCA’s annual Shakespeare Fest has a history of over 50 years starting at the former Joliet Catholic High School Now-retired English teacher Sheila Fry initiated this tradition and led it for more than 40 years more than a hundred seniors participated in the Fest William Shakespeare’s birthday is traditionally observed on April 23 every year and virtually the entire senior class participates roughly 140 students,” said JCA English teacher Scott Allgood it is spearheaded yearly by the AP Senior Literature class Allgood said the senior class organizes the annual end-of-year celebration as their way of thanking the school and offering leadership opportunities for all students food and service to the school on this day as all students are invited to the celebration during their English periods on the day,” Allgood said JCA underclassmen are introduced to William Shakespeare through original skits written by the AP class members as well as through performances of classic scenes and sonnets “The AP class spends the year planning this event as a way to leave their stamp on their Senior year and cement a memorable legacy to the other classes,” Allgood said “It is a celebration of them that coincides with Shakespeare’s birthday and continues to show his influence on society today.” For more information about Joliet Catholic Academy and the annual Shakespeare Fest jca-online.org [sponsored] Joliet Catholic Academy - Microsoft Showcase School [sponsored] Joliet Catholic Academy With summer just around the corner comes the return of community cruise nights throughout Will County Auto enthusiasts can get out and show off their flashy and vintage cars while residents take a night to enjoy the summer weather support local restaurants and even take in some live entertainment A spectator walks past the exposed engine of a hot rod during a Cruise Night in Plainfield There are different cruise nights held in the city during the summer hosts a car night (weather permitting) from 5 to 8 p.m Wednesdays from April throughout the summer Bring your car or come check out the cool classic cars Cars and Guitars is held at the Joliet Junior College City Center Campus parking lot in downtown Joliet Stone City Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2199 every Wednesday beginning May 7 through September The village of Lemont holds cruise nights from 6 to 9 p.m Food and beverages will be available at local restaurants and from participating vendors The city of Lockport has been hosting cruise nights for 20 years on Monday nights and will continue this tradition this year, holding them weekly from June 2 through Aug. 25. The only exception to the Monday night tradition will be June 9, which is the Monday after Old Canal Days weekend from June 5 to 8 Cars will be displayed down State Street from 4 to 8 p.m. during the events. Each week will feature a different special theme, and cars fitting that theme will be displayed on 10th Street between State and Hamilton. Specific themes can be found on the city of Lockport’s website Car owners can register their cars for various competitions each week to win prizes Concerts are held each week from 6 to 8 p.m Downtown restaurants open and food vendors on-site Plainfield’s summer Cruise Nights take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m There will be no Cruise Night on July 1 to avoid conflicts with Fourth of July travel and celebrations The events are sponsored by the Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce and offer an opportunity for residents to showcase their classic and vintage cars while promoting local businesses and restaurants Each week has a specific theme, the full list of which can be found on the Plainfield Cruise Night Facebook page Cars will be displayed along Lockport Street Cruise nights are from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month throughout the summer in Manhattan – June 11 bikes and community fun for the whole family Cruise night specials are offered at local restaurants The village of New Lenox hosts cruise nights monthly throughout the summer at the Village Commons 16 – and feature live music and food from rotating local vendors The list of weekly food vendors and entertainment can be found on the village website along with information about how to participate. There are no fees, registration or requirements for vehicle participation in events. Vehicles of all makes and models are welcome. The event is for fun, and no awards are planned. Spectators are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the activities. ExpandPolice said a man was shot in the hand Saturday in Joliet A gunshot victim told Joliet police that he was injured early Saturday while walking down Broadway Street while walking in the 500 block of North Broadway Street Police learned of the incident after being notified at 4:59 a.m of a gunshot victim at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox The man told police that “he was approached by a male who shot him in the hand,” according to a news release from the Joliet Police Department “The victim indicated that he was transported to Silver Cross Hospital in a private vehicle,” according to the release “The victim was uncooperative when questioned and provided multiple locations of occurrence.” ExpandThe Joliet IL Christian Women’s Connection will host a “Fashion Fling” luncheon on May 21 The Joliet IL Christian Women’s Connection will host a “Fashion Fling” luncheon May 21 The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church, 40 Houbolt Road in Joliet For reservations and more information about the event contact Barb at 815-439-2076 or mres.brutus56@gmail.com or Sonya at 815-727-1626 For more information about the Joliet IL Christian Women’s Connection, visit stonecroft.org. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Members of the Joliet Public Schools District 86 Business Office staff were awarded with the Association of School Business Officials International Certificate of Excellence on Thursday (Photo Provided by Joliet Public Schools District 86) Joliet — Joliet Public Schools District 86 once again has had its finance office recognized by the Association of School Business Officials International for the 40th consecutive year. The district received the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting in April. According to the announcement, the honor “recognizes school districts that uphold the highest standards of financial reporting and transparency.” District 86 earned the award for its “exemplary” Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the 2023-24 school year. The submitted reports are evaluated by a panel of financial professionals, and districts that meet the organization’s requirements receive the award, which is used to support district bond ratings and bond disclosure processes. “I am so proud of this group of dedicated employees,” District 86 Assistant Superintendent for Business and Financial Services Matthew Wilkinson said. “Their focus, unwavering commitment and dedication to excellence contributes significantly to our success.” Members of the Joliet Public Schools District 86 Business Department recognized by the honor include bookkeeper Deborah Brom, manager of accounting Angela Brown, payroll specialist Julie Budz, payroll clerk Miriam Marshall, Wilkinson, administrative secretary Angelica Rush, payroll coordinator Shawna Taylor and accounts payable/purchasing manager Jennifer Westling. Also joining in on the celebration were retired District 86 Business Department employees Jeanne Buzinski, Joan Holm, Pam Mathis and Linda Walczak. “For over half a century, ASBO International’s Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting has been the gold standard for promoting and recognizing excellence in financial transparency,” ASBO International Executive Director Jim Rowan said. “Clear and accurate financial reporting is crucial for engaging school communities and building their trust. Districts that earn the COE have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to these principles.” The 7 Brew chain of drive-thru coffee shops now plans a Joliet location off Plainfield Road near the Louis Joliet Mall The City Council on Tuesday will consider a drive-thru permit for a 7 Brew at 2551 Plainfield Road The drive-thru would be part of a new building constructed on a vacant lot in the Millennium Square subdivision It would be the second new development in the area where a Speed Trek gas station and convenience store is near completion at 2665 Plainfield Road It also would be the second 7 Brew proposed in Joliet The developer made a formal request for a drive-thru at the Plainfield Road site last month The plan is for a 515-square-foot building with two drive-thru lanes “No ordering stations with speakers are proposed as employees will take orders directly in the queuing line with handheld devices,” according to a letter to the city from Toth & Associates the Missouri engineering firm working on the project Arkansas-based 7 Brew has 381 locations, including 13 in Illinois, according to its website. The nearest to Joliet is in Naperville. ExpandA golfer utilizes shade from the trees as they walk the fairway at Inwood Golf Course in Joliet on Friday the Joliet Township High Schools Foundation will host the 24th Annual Brent Wadsworth Alumni Golf Outing All proceeds support grants for District 204 students and staff as well as scholarships for deserving seniors at both campuses support for the principal's emergency fund The Joliet Township High Schools Foundation will host the 24th annual Brent Wadsworth Alumni Golf Outing on June 5 He was inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame in 1991 The fundraiser will take place from 8 a.m. to noon at Inwood Golf Club The event includes golf, a light breakfast, Bloody Mary bar, hot dog with chips and a drink at the turn, a taco bar buffet lunch, raffles and “exciting hole contests,” according to a news release from Joliet Township High School District 204 support for the principal’s emergency fund The cost to participate is $175 per golfer or $600 per foursome To register, visit jthsfoundation.org or mail registration and payment to Foundation Golf Outing For donations, sponsorships or general questions, contact Mark Turk at 815-922-4065 or mlturk05@comcast.net or John Randich at 815-530-7699 or johnrandich1@gmail.com To volunteer, email Kathryn Hunt at kmhunt@jths.org. ExpandThe Joliet Fire Department responded to a structure fire at the Ikea warehouse on Emerald Drive in Joliet on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo Provided by the Joliet Fi) A fire broke out the at Ikea Distribution Center near Laraway Road in Joliet Tuesday. The Joliet Fire Department responded to the center located at 650 Emerald Drive in Joliet at 10:15 a.m. after heavy smoke was seen coming from the roof, according to the fire department. Crews discovered that about a third of the warehouse’s roof was on fire, according to the fire department. The fire was also spreading into parts of the building. The fire was officially declared under control around 12:15 p.m. though crews remained on the scene at 2:30 p.m. for “overhauls and ventilation” according to the Joliet Fire Department. A fire broke out at the Ikea warehouse off Emerald Drive in Joliet on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Photo Provided by the Joliet Fire Department) Eighty-one firefighters were dispatched to the scene along with five ladder trucks, eight fire engines, one squad car and five ambulances, according to the fire department. All employees were evacuated from the building without injury, according to the fire department, but one firefighter needed to be taken to the hospital due to exhaustion. The state will reduce lanes on Interstate 80 in Joliet for inspections of the Des Plaines River bridges starting Monday. Lane closures will take place between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to minimize impact on traffic, the Illinois Department of Transportation said in a news release issued Friday to announce the closures. The inspections should take two weeks, weather permitting, IDOT said. The plan is to inspect the westbound bridge next week. Inspection of the eastbound bridge is scheduled to start May 12. Inspections should be completed by May 16, IDOT said. The lane closures will be Monday through Thursday and on Saturdays if needed, IDOT said. At least one lane will remain open in both directions during inspections. IDOT said motorists should expect delays and encouraged the use of alternate routes. will serve as a member of the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership Youth Council for fiscal year 2025 The Illinois Department of Public Health recently appointed Bonnie Hassan according to a news release from Trinity Services The state of Illinois and IDPH created the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership as part of the Children’s Mental Health Act in 2003 who also serves as co-chair for the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership said in the release that the partnership develops and monitors the implementation of the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Plan early identification and treatment,” Vohra said in the release For more information, visit trinityservices.org and dph.illinois.gov. ExpandJim and Sue Svehla of Oswego pause at the Joliet Area Historical Museum before starting their trip down the historic Route 66 for the Red Carpet Corridor Festival along the historic highway on Saturday The annual Red Carpet Corridor Festival for Route 66 returned this weekend, creating more points of interest for adventuring motorists than the average person would expect in a drive southward from Joliet which highlights points of interest between Joliet and Bloomington Jim Svehla of Oswego said his last trip on the route took nine hours to take in the roadside curiosities “There were so many things to see,” Svehla said The Red Carpet Corridor Festival is designed to accentuate such points of interest as the Old Joliet Prison in Joliet and the “Historic 1932 Standard Oil Gas Station” in Odell But it is the people as much as the places that seem to be an attraction for Route 66 travelers the people were so friendly,” Svehla said of the trip A sign directs travelers on the Red Carpet Corridor tour to the Joliet Area Historical Museum on Saturday was a common refrain among those who came at the Joliet Area Historical Museum on Saturday for their first stop in the Red Carpet Corridor Festival Bob and Darlene Zeier of Prospect Heights were among members of the North Shore Corvette Club that were driving their Corvettes down the so-called Mother Road on Saturday The Zeiers made a previous trip on Route 66 along its entire length from Chicago to California The historic highway is known to attract travelers from Europe Asia and Africa lured by whatever charms the historic highway held in its heydays of the 1950s and 1960s “I definitely like the Americana,” said Emily Hinderliter of Glen Carbon traveled to Joliet to take part in the Red Carpet Corridor Festival and drive south back home Emily (left) and Jody Hinderliter pause for a moment at the Joliet Area Historical Museum before starting their trip during the Red Carpet Festival for Route 66 on Saturday The Hinderliters are in their 30s and too young to have nostalgic memories of Route 66 But they are not too young to be attracted by the lure of the open road which Route 66 had for travelers of a bygone era “I definitely like the road trip aspect of it,” Jody said is attracted by the “weird stuff” along the drive The weird stuff they look forward to includes the Blue Whale of Catoosa an attraction in Oklahoma where they plan to stop during a cross-country Route 66 trip next year Joliet and other communities are preparing for a 100th anniversary celebration of Route 66 in 2026 Many of the Red Carpet travelers said they plan to travel the entire route next year for the 100th anniversary event Others have their own special attachments to the highway which seems to appeal to a both a broad sense of the nation’s history and very personal attachments “Route 66 is special to a lot of people,” said Karen Horn, an employee of the Joliet Area Historical Museum who was keeping track of Route 66 Red Carpet visitors on Saturday. By 9 a.m., 100 people had arrived at the Joliet Area Historical Museum for the Red Carpet event. By 10 p.m., 200 people came to the Joliet museum to start their trip. Randy Alling of Channahon stands with what he calls a "Fusion van." comprised of sections from two Ford Fusions and other attachments with artwork marking it for Route 66, as he prepared to start the Red Carpet Festival tour on Saturday. May 3, 2025 (Bob Okon) The Red Carpet event also featured travelers in classic cars and unique vehicles, none of which stood out more than the Fusion van that owner Randy Alling of Channahon brought to the festival. The elongated vehicle consists of two Ford Fusions, a GMC Vandura cabin, an inexplicable airplane attachment and Route 66 artwork that made it a must-photo for Red Carpet travelers. “I’ve only had it out four or five times because it gets this sort of attention,” Alling said. Alling described himself as the “caretaker” of the Fusion van, which he bought two years ago and which was originally assembled by a couple attached to Route 66 travel. How he got it is a long story. Encountering cars of yesteryear is part of the fun of Route 66 travel, said Dave Dombroski of Tinley Park, who was driving a Dodge Charger of recent vintage modeled after the Chargers he remembered from his youth But nothing is more enjoyable than the people he meets along the way. “You have a lot of cars,” Dombroski said, “but you meet a lot of nice people.” ExpandThe Prairie Landing subdivision would be built on land behind Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy's car dealerships on Essington Road Plans for new homes to be built on land partly owned by Mayor Terry D’Arcy are likely to face more questions when they come before the Joliet City Council for final approval Tuesday Residents in the neighboring Picardy subdivision still are looking for assurances that the new construction will not worsen flooding problems that exist now on Vimy Ridge Road Simeone, a Vimy Ridge Road resident, was among what she said were at least 15 Picardy residents who attended a meeting Wednesday with Joliet city officials on the proposed housing project “They weren’t answering any of our questions and concerns about the flooding,” Simeone said She said Picardy residents are likely to ask more questions about the project at the council meetings Monday and Tuesday The final plat for the Prairie Landing subdivision goes to the council for a vote Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy (Gary Middendorf) An attorney for homebuilder DR Horton has said the new subdivision is designed to relieve flooding in the Picardy subdivision The project includes the installation of pipes to divert stormwater that now flows into Picardy and take it to a detention pond that will be created for the new subdivision The plan has so far enjoyed unanimous approval from the City Council with the exception of D’Arcy. The mayor has recused himself from votes and has left the council chambers when the project has been discussed. D’Arcy is a co-owner with Robert Calzaretta of the 44 acres to be sold to DH Horton for Prairie Landing. The land is located behind the D’Arcy Motors car dealerships on Essington Road. The plan is to build 120 single-family homes. The land had been zoned to allow for the construction of apartments along with single-family homes. But the city approved rezoning sought by DR Horton to allow the construction of single-family homes only. Embed on your websiteClose×Copy the code below to embed the WBUR audio player on your site<iframe width="100%" height="124" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://player.wbur.org/hereandnow/2025/04/22/joliet-illinois-water-crisis"></iframe> Allison Swisher is the director of public utilities for the City of Joliet Chicago breaks ground on a pipeline that will bring water from the Great Lakes to some suburbs whose groundwater is running dry Joliet, Illinois, about 30 miles from Lake Michigan, draws its water from an aquifer deep underground The area’s geology effectively seals off that underground reservoir Since people started pumping from it in the 19th century the aquifer has been drained much faster than it can recharge “This has been something that the Illinois State Water Survey has been predicting since the [1970s],” said Allison Swisher In 2015, the state revised its outlook. The deadline was actually 2030. Joliet scoured nearby rivers and other water sources, considering 14 different options, and decided to buy water from Chicago A map from 1935 shows a proposal to build a pipeline around Chicago to get Lake Michigan water. (Courtesy of the city of Joliet)That set off a race to overhaul the area’s water infrastructure at a cost of more than $2 billion, most of that paying for a roughly 62-mile network of new pipes and pump stations that will carry drinking water from Chicago’s purification plants to Joliet and five neighboring communities according to Chicago’s Department of Water Management right when Joliet’s wells may start to run dry Some see a model for regional cooperation in a warmer world where water is more scarce but the project has also renewed anxiety about the future of the Great Lakes which hold 20% of all the freshwater on Earth “It is kind of mind-boggling for people in this area,” said Swisher “As long as you turn on your faucet and water comes out That peace of mind is possible because of a complex system of engineering that treats and delivers water on demand that has included removing naturally occurring radium which will no longer be needed after the switch to Lake Michigan water When the project is complete, Chicago will send up to 55.3 million gallons of treated drinking water to Joliet and its neighbors every day, at a cost of roughly $30 million annually Those bills will be paid by the Grand Prairie Water Commission formed by Joliet and its five smaller neighbors: Crest Hill deputy commissioner of regional partnerships at City of Chicago Department of Water Management where the city’s system will connect to the Grand Prairie Water Commission the new water entity for Joliet and neighboring communities (Chris Bentley/Here & Now)David Kohn of Chicago’s Department of Water Management said the sale of water is more than just business “We’re providing water to a quarter of a million people whose water supply is running out and it’s a very noble endeavor in that regard Chicago is working with its neighbors to try and provide water to those who need it,” Kohn said The Grand Prairie Water Commission will be Chicago’s second-biggest buyer of water but Kohn said the city’s system can easily accommodate the extra demand Chicago purifies and distributes about 700 million gallons of water to customers in the city and more than 100 suburbs That’s enough water to fill an Olympic swimming pool about every 82 seconds on average More than 6.5 million people in Illinois get their drinking water from Lake Michigan but the use of that water is strictly regulated Illinois’ Department of Natural Resources requires any community getting water from Lake Michigan to prove its system is efficient and not wasting more than 10 percent of the water it pumps Joliet is replacing old water mains as part of a campaign to comply with that level by 2030 (Chris Bentley/Here & Now)“You can’t just simply make a connection to the lake and take whatever you want,” said Kohn Like other suburbs with similar water deals the members of the Grand Prairie Water Commission had to apply for a permit from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources submit to audits by the state and meet stringent requirements for water efficiency Joliet is in the middle of a 9-year campaign to replace all of its water mains installed before 1970 with less leaky pipes There’s a good reason for regulating withdrawals of water from the Great Lakes, said Peter Annin, director of the Center for Freshwater Innovation at Northland College “The idea is under the climate-driven global and national water crisis that someone sometime will come groping for Great Lakes water,” Annin said and the people in the Great Lakes region are paranoid about unsustainable water use elsewhere creating demands for them to divert water outside of the Great Lakes watershed to the detriment of the ecosystem that they love.” The Great Lakes Compact limits water access to communities that lie within the lakes’ watershed Chicago can sell its water to Joliet and other cities outside that area because it was granted what Annin calls a “screaming exception” to those rules for something it did more than a century ago not the Great Lakes — to about 2.1 billion gallons per day “Then comes Joliet with one of the biggest asks and by far the most far-flung ask and it’s brought back all these water demons in the Great Lakes region from 100 years ago,” Annin said other than the fact that it’s a bailout of unsustainable water practices that should have been recognized and dealt with decades before.” Rachel Havrelock, director of The Freshwater Lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago, at Chicago’s Canal Origins Park. (Chris Bentley/Here & Now)While Joliet’s per capita water use has declined over time, it could have done more to conserve water, said Rachel Havrelock, director of The Freshwater Lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago the idea is just to source water from the Great Lakes and move it there,” she said “With the rise of artificial intelligence and the intensive water needs of data centers we’re looking at higher projections for water use exactly when Joliet and the surrounding communities are being told they need to get off the aquifer by 2030.” Developers of data centers are considering sites in Minooka, one of the communities soon to receive Lake Michigan water through the Grand Prairie Water Commission. Data centers use lots of water to cool the banks of computers constantly whirring to support the world’s digital infrastructure that demand could be as high as 3 million gallons a day the largest member of the Grand Prairie Water Commission said her city has no plans to provide large quantities of Lake Michigan water to industrial users the system that the Grand Prairie Water Commission is building is not sized to provide water to refineries,” Swisher said “It’s not sized to provide water to data centers.” even the possibility that treated drinking water from Lake Michigan could one day be used to cool machines outside the Great Lakes basin is “a crazy “Chicago water is now going to be sent farther inland than it’s ever been sent in order to meet the humanitarian crisis because industries around Joliet over-extracted the water and we will do it for them,” Havrelock said “But industries don’t need drinking water.” Instead, Havrelock and her colleagues have proposed building a second pipeline carrying treated wastewater for industrial uses that would save drinking water for drinking Sunlight reflects off of Lake Michigan at Montrose Harbor on an unseasonably warm day (Erin Hooley/AP)As water users outside Chicago continue to reengineer the Lake Michigan watershed they should try to correct the mistakes of the past “They’re getting a privilege that other communities outside the Great Lakes watershed can’t get that privilege goes back to Chicago’s own unsustainable water practices more than 100 years ago,” Annin said “that they’re continuing to cash in on today.” Havrelock’s proposal for a parallel pipeline carrying treated wastewater for industrial users is off the table for now. Even so, Joliet and its neighbors have been forced to rethink how they use water Crews are ripping up roads all over Joliet removing about 192 miles of leaky pipes by 2030 in a rush to meet the state’s requirement that users of Lake water lose no more than 10% in the process of pumping it out to customers almost a third of Joliet’s water is lost before it ever makes it to the tap said that work will cost about $600 million and would not happen if it weren’t for the switch to Lake Michigan water to produce our own water is relatively inexpensive so there wasn’t really a cost driver to replace leaky pipes,” Swisher said “I think you find that in a lot of older communities it costs a lot of money to replace these pipes and unless you’re being told to do it for some specific reason there’s not a lot of return on investment.” The high cost of piping Lake Michigan water approximately 30 miles is a reminder that economics is another deterrent to diverting Great Lakes water this doesn’t open up Pandora’s Box of suddenly water’s gonna be shipped to Kansas just because Joliet was allowed to get the water,” Swisher said From the Chicago lakefront, the lake stretches to the horizon in three directions. It seems infinite, but it’s not. Chicago’s diversion, grandfathered in more than a century ago, has already lowered lake levels by more than two inches it’s now up to more people than ever to share this precious resource She said she’s been using Joliet’s situation to start discussions with her students about sustainable water use Rafac said she’s excited to start drinking Chicago’s famously tasty tap water, and that she’s not taking it for granted. “We’ve lost that the decisions we make today come into play in the future. Look at the future of Lake Michigan water. We’d better stay on top of it,” Rafac said. “We’re far away, but now we’re connected.” Chris Bentley Producer Here & NowChris Bentley is a producer for Here & Now where he has produced daily news and features since 2015 Joliet West High School (JWHS) is proud to announce that ten talented students from the Joliet West Media program advanced to the IHSA State Journalism Finals at Heartland Community College on Friday showcasing their hard work and dedication in a variety of journalism categories. but our students’ passion and perseverance paid off with remarkable achievements The team is thrilled to highlight the outstanding results of two of our exceptional seniors: The competition brought together the best young journalists from across the state and we are immensely proud of our students’ achievements and the recognition they have garnered for Joliet West Media Their passion for storytelling and commitment to journalism shines in every project they undertake. and all our students for their remarkable accomplishments at the IHSA State Journalism Finals! © 2025 Joliet Township High School We are excited to announce that Sadie Gorsch from Joliet West High School has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 ISCA Post-Secondary Scholarship! Sadie is one of nine exceptional students across Illinois to receive this prestigious $1,000 scholarship and the invaluable support she has received from her school counselors Sadie plans to pursue a career in Sports Management and this scholarship will help ease the financial burdens of her higher education "I am very proud of Sadie for receiving the 2025 ISCA Scholarship Sadie is a student that has utilized her resources through her school counselor and throughout high school for various things She sees the value in her education and is dedicated to her overall well-being She has grown as a student and individual and I look forward to her continued growth and I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors The Illinois School Counselor Association (ISCA) Post-Secondary Scholarship is designed to support students pursuing a variety of post-secondary paths We are incredibly proud of Sadie and excited to watch her continued growth as she takes the next steps toward her future. ExpandThe Joliet Slammers open their 2025 season on Friday The team is excited about many new items on their concessions menu this and they added special events and promotion nights Joliet — The Joliet Slammers are looking to hit it out of the park with their food offerings this year The team showcased its enhanced food and beverage menu that will be offered at its downtown Joliet stadium at a preview event for season ticket holders and sponsors Thursday The team’s season officially kicks off against the Schaumburg Boomers at home Friday Several new additions will be found on this year’s concessions menu will have a booth in the stands behind home plate Noelli’s specializes in cheesecake-based dishes featuring a whipped cheesecake including brownie cheesecake “sundaes” with the cheesecake in place of ice cream in strawberry and turtle varieties and “cheesecake nachos” with similar toppings as well as homemade cinnamon sugar chips Noelli’s Cheesecake in Cup is a new vendor for 2025 at Joliet Slammers baseball games “I’ve been making my cheesecake for 30 years and have a store in the Fox Valley mall,” owner Noel Ferrara said “We love to be able to bring what we do out to everyone we can Some other new offerings include duck and bacon wantons; mac and cheese bites; bone-in and boneless chicken wings with several dipping sauces such as parmesan garlic Korean barbecue and Nashville hot sauce; and a new burger food and beverage director for Joliet Slammers baseball operations gets ready to bring out a tray of burgers at the team's season preview event Thursday “We are the first stadium to offer a wing bar,” said Slammers food and beverage director Joel Sigel “You can order your type of chicken – bone-in wings boneless wings or popcorn chicken – then pick your sauce and they will give it to you in a cup so you can shake it up over the chicken or use it on the side.” “I try to take food that excites people and bring it to baseball who is in his third season with the Slammers said he likes mixing things up and trying to innovate the stadium’s menu “I like to try things that are unexpected,” he said you can have a good time and enjoy the food at an affordable price.” Samples of the bone-in chicken wings that will be served for the 2025 season were cooked up at the Joliet Slammers season preview event Thursday Sigel noted that the duck and bacon wantons have been the most popular item with test audiences so far despite being an unconventional choice for a stadium and I hope the rest of the fans like them as much as I do,” he said The Joliet Slammers showcased their enhanced food and beverage menu at a preview event for season ticket holders and sponsors Thursday Other returning favorites include more conventional picks such as burgers and brats – this year with new recipes – as well as hot dogs the “foul ball” pretzel balls filled with pimento cheese and hot honey and jumbo ball helmets filled with loaded nachos Werk Force Brewery in Plainfield also is returning with its official Slammers beer and this year marks the return of Twisted Tea as a concession offering after a multiseason absence Sigel noted that he has tried to keep menu prices affordable and has not raised the cost of alcoholic beverages Other vendors returning to the park for 2025 are local businesses Sunshine Mexican grill Throughout the season, fans also will be able to enjoy many special theme nights featuring unique activities and coordinated decorations as well as entertainment based on movies and music Some of the highlights for the upcoming season will include Pickleball Night on May 24 and Princess and Superhero Night on July 19 Coordinated and themed outfits are encouraged for music and movie nights The stadium also will host several nights honoring different cultural touch points and Honoring the Negro Leagues night on June 24 Duck and bacon-filled wantons are a new item on the food menu for the Joliet Slammers 2025 baseball season Joliet Slammers Executive Vice President Night Train Veeck poses for a photo in front of construction equipment at Slammers Stadium. April 10, 2025 (Bob Okon) Veeck said he has “very high hopes for the team” going into the new season, which he said is going to “build off the core we had last season on the field.” He also teased that the food being sampled at the event was not a complete look at the new menu. “Joel has done a great job putting together our new items for this year,” Veeck said. “We’re really trying to up our food game, and there are still some surprises for people to discover when they get to the park.” visits the offices of Heroin Epidemic Relief Organization on Wednesday A Democratic state senator said Thursday that an in-custody death last year in Joliet has left her with “more questions than answers,” and she plans to meet with police officials about the incident released a statement about the video of Joliet police officers’ responding to a 911 call Dec who claimed someone armed with a gun was trying to kill him Malito was clearly having a reaction to a substance during the time of arrest struggling to breathe while an officer kneels on his back and neck area and I’m left with more questions than answers,” Ventura said Paramedics were dispatched to the gas station where the incident occurred at 4:36 a.m. Dec. 25, according to a paramedic report officers gave Malito an anti-overdose medication called Narcan Paramedics gave Malito more Narcan and provided CPR and other treatment Malito arrived at Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet at 4:53 a.m., according to a Will County Coroner’s Office report Malito died from cocaine intoxication, according to a report from a forensic pathologist The report noted that Malito had an enlarged heart and brain swelling An autopsy of Malito found no “hemorrhages in the strap muscles of the neck,” according to the pathologist’s report The three officers who responded to Malito’s 911 call tried to gain control of him “Please don’t kill me!” according to video of the incident As Malito kept screaming for help and moving around the officers tried to place him in handcuffs Malito fell to the ground with one of the officers who then placed his knee on Malito’s upper back area as he was being handcuffed When the officer noticed that Malito was “turning purple,” Malito was turned over Malito’s handcuffs were removed when paramedics arrived Prosecutors reviewed the investigation of the incident by the Will-Grundy Major Crimes Task Force and determined that none of the officers would face any charges because Malito died from cocaine intoxication The members of the panel were appointed by Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans to “determine the appropriateness of department policy, rules, training and equipment,” Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English said. “Preliminary findings found the officers operated within current policy and training,” English said. The administrative review was in addition to the task force investigation, English said. In Ventura’s statement Thursday, she said there “have got to be better ways to handle these situations.” “As the local senator, I’m committed to helping find resources and identify additional or alternative training in hope of never seeing one of these videos again, and to restore the public’s trust in our police department,” Ventura said. Ventura said she plans to meet with the police department next week about the incident. The police department is “not considering any changes in response to overdose incidents,” English said. “It is important to point out that officers were initially dispatched to what was believed to be a gun complaint, and it is only after observations by officers did they identify that Mr. Malito appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance due to his erratic behavior and statements,” English said. Officers had no way of knowing what substance was affecting Malito, and they administered Narcan to reverse the effects of an apparent overdose, English said. ExpandJoliet Police Detective Peter Ranstead is facing misdemeanor charges of domestic battery and interfering with a report of domestic violence in Kendall County (Photo provided by Kendall County Sheriff's Office) A misdemeanor battery case against a Joliet police detective could go to trial in July in Kendall County was charged with domestic battery of his wife and interfering with the reporting of domestic violence The incident occurred at a residence in the Kendall County portion of Joliet A court order for a criminal jury trial in Ranstead’s case was filed March 12 A final trial management conference is set for July 9 followed by jury selection and a trial July 14 But there also is a status hearing scheduled for May 7 The case against Ranstead was investigated by the Joliet Police Department He was placed on administrative leave after his arrest last year and the internal affairs investigation still is ongoing Ranstead was allowed jail release with conditions without having to post cash bail thanks to the SAFE-T Act which allows the judge to make a decision on whether someone stays in jail based on information provided to them by prosecutors and defense attorneys at the detention hearing The domestic battery charge would have made Ranstead eligible for detention under the SAFE-T Act but Kendall County prosecutors decided not to request his detention The domestic battery case against Joliet Police Detective Peter Ranstead is being prosecuted at the Kendall County Courthouse in Yorkville also has represented McWherter and Esqueda Ettinger and Tomczak were the attorneys for former Joliet police officer Thomas O’Connor, who was found not guilty in 2017 of excessive force in a federal case. In Kendall County, Nagra and McWherter received probation in their felony cases, allowing them to avoid a conviction that could have revoked their pension. Kendall County State’s Attorney Eric Weis had discussed in Esqueda’s official misconduct case a plea deal that also would not lead to a conviction, which was rejected. Weis would later dismiss the Esqueda case because his office determined that it could not sustain the burden of proof at trial. ExpandHollywood Casino Joliet will feature the all-age Boulevard Food & Drink Hall that includes Five50 Pizza “a New York City-style meets Neapolitan pizza concept,” according to a news release from Hollywood Casino (Rendering provided by Hollywood Casino Joliet) The casino is partnering with with McClain Camarota Hospitality to attract these new dining experiences to Hollywood’s new land-based sites in both Joliet and Aurora [ Hollywood Casino in Joliet touts new entertainment vision with family focus ] These new locations will feature the all-age Boulevard Food & Drink Hall that includes Lucky Goat, a new Stephanie Izard burger restaurant featuring specialty burgers according to the news release from Hollywood Casino Hollywood Casino Joliet will feature the all-age Boulevard Food & Drink Hall that includes Lucky Goat a new Stephanie Izard (pictured) burger restaurant featuring specialty burgers (Photo provided by Hollywood Casino Joliet) The Boulevard will also include Antique Taco a gourmet taco restaurant offering handmade tacos and specialty drinks; Pretty Cool Ice Cream serving “unique flavors of ice cream bars popsicles and cookie sandwiches;” and Five50 Pizza “a New York City-style meets Neapolitan pizza concept,” according to the release Hollywood Casino Joliet will feature the all-age Boulevard Food & Drink Hall that includes ntique Taco The Boulevard at Hollywood Casino Joliet will also feature “a breakfast and bakery counter serving locally roasted Big Shoulders Coffee a mid-century Hollywood inspired bar with local brews and on-tap signature cocktails and seating options for more than 100 guests indoors with additional seating on the seasonal outdoor patio,” according to the release Hollywood Casino Joliet will feature the all-age Boulevard Food & Drink Hall will feature a mid-century Hollywood inspired bar with local brews and on-tap signature cocktails McClain Camarota Hospitality designed and will operate the Boulevard locations Midwesterner Shawn McClain, a renowned James Beard Award winning chef is the founder of McClain Camarota Hospitality In addition, a restaurant partnership with Giada De Laurentiis will bring Sorellina by Giada to the new Hollywood Casino in Joliet Boulevard at Hollywood Casino Joliet is currently being constructed at the Rock Run Collection development and expected to open later in 2025 “subject to regulatory approval,” according to the release For more information, visit hollywoodcasinojoliet.com. ExpandThe Will County Courthouse in Joliet is seen in this file photo The Illinois Attorney General’s Office has filed a lawsuit against Criswell Court, contending that the Joliet trailer court has failed to file reports on potential pollutants in water distributed to residents Criswell Court Trailer Park is located along Route 30 on the east side of Joliet The trailer park has survived past regulatory actions by authorities including an attempt by the city of Joliet in 2018 to stop what was termed a “mass feeding” of wild animals said management had no comment “at this time” about the attorney general’s lawsuit The lawsuit contends that Criswell Park has failed to file reports on its water system from 2021 to 2023 including reports on volatile organic contaminants and synthetic organic contaminants in the trailer park water supply Trailer park residents get water from groundwater wells About 94 residents rely on the Criswell system for their water supply The lawsuit has been filed in Will County Circuit Court. ExpandThe Joliet Unity Movement will hold the Loretta Westbrooks Scholarship Dinner Fundraiser on May 17 2025 (Provided by the Joliet Unity Movement) The Joliet Unity Movement will hold a scholarship fundraiser for Joliet youth May 17. The Loretta Westbrooks Scholarship Dinner will be at 5 p.m. at Nikos Banquet Hall, 310 Stryker Ave. in Joliet. “This meaningful event is dedicated to raising funds for scholarships that will support youth in the Joliet area on their journey to higher education,” according to a news release from Joliet Unity Movement announcing the event. All proceeds will go toward scholarships to be awarded at the annual 815 Youth Day in August. “This dinner honors the life and legacy of our beloved board member, Loretta Westbrooks, who courageously fought cancer and devoted her life to inspiring young people to pursue college or trade school,” according to the release. For information about tickets and scholarship opportunities visit bit.ly/815Dinner. Tickets are $65 per person and $100 per couple. 2025 at 7:00 am CDTExpandConstruction proceeds on the new Hollywood Casino Joliet at Rock Run Collection a development at the crossings of Interstates 55 and 80 in Joliet Marketing Director Kristen Kronland used the phrase “new Hollywood Casino” several times in a presentation to the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry “We want people to know we’re not just gambling,” Kronland told the Chamber audience at a monthly luncheon on Wednesday banquet space for weddings and business space for meetings are among the features that will be built into the new Hollywood Casino Joliet that is under construction “We want to be a destination that anybody can enjoy,” Kronland said marketing director for Hollywood Casino Joliet presenting the company's plans for its new Joliet casino to the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Wednesday Hollywood Casino is moving from the location where it stood since 1992 along the Des Plaines River The new location is in Rock Run Collection a new development in which Hollywood Casino is the most prominent and only major development known to be coming so far Kronland noted 180,000 vehicles a day pass the site located at the crossing of Interstates 55 and 80 “What better location to have a development like this?” she asked no other major projects have been announced for Rock Run Collection Kronland said Hollywood Casino is working with Rock Run Collection developer Cullinan Properties to attract at least one major hotel project to the site Construction proceeds on the future Hollywood Casino Joliet being built at Rock Run Collection a development at Interstates 55 and 80 in Joliet The new casino will not have its own hotel but Kronland said Hollywood Casino is working with Cullinan on a companion hotel “We actually are not going to have an attached hotel,” Kronland said of the new casino “We are in the process of working with Cullinan in getting a hotel partnership on the property.” New hotels are among the promises Cullinan has made for the 300-plus acre property at the crossroads of Interstates 55 and 80 is the only major retail project announced for the 300-plus acre site Rendering of the exterior for the new Hollywood Casino Joliet being built at the Rock Run Collection development at Interstates 55 and 80 The casino is expected to be open late 2025 scheduled for completion by the end of this year is not a gambling-only destination for visitors “We want people to know we’re not just gambling,” she said “We want to be a destination that anybody can enjoy A new Sorellina restaurant being developed by celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis will be located “before the turnstiles,” a phrase Kronland used to indicate Hollywood Casino features that won’t be limited to the 18-and-above crowd allowed into the casino A 10,000-square-foot event space will be available for weddings business meetings and other events that can be held separate from the casino and include non-gamblers Image of how the Sorellina by Giada restaurant will look at the future Hollywood Casino Joliet currently being constructed at the Rock Run Collection at Interstates 55 and 80 The casino is expected to open by late 2025 Kronland said the appearance of the property will change from the art deco architecture and Hollywood memorabilia that defines the Hollywood Casino property now standing in Joliet “It’s going to be a whole different feel and vibe,” Kronland said The new Hollywood Casino is scheduled to open sometime in the fourth quarter of this year Bob OkonBob Okon covers local government for The Herald-News ExpandThe city will replace a Black Road water main that runs between Springfield Avenue and Apollo Drive beginning May 1 Lanes will be reduced on a section of Black Road in Joliet for a water main project that starts Thursday Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction from 129th Infantry Drive to Springfield Avenue “Drivers are encouraged to seek alternative routes for the duration of the work,” according to the release The city will replace a Black Road water main that runs between Springfield Avenue and Apollo Drive Information about the project can be found on the city’s website at joliet.gov/construction-zone. The Public Utilities Department also will take questions at 815-724-4220. 2025 at 12:10 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Ruben D Hughes was arrested four times in 18 hours at a Larkin Avenue hotel (Mugshot via Joliet police )JOLIET — Now in his 50s Hughes found himself in the Will County Jail for the first time in more than 20 years Joliet police arrested the 53-year-old four separate times at the same Larkin Avenue hotel within a span of less than 18 hours The fourth and final arrest of Hughes resulted in a violent confrontation as Joliet police tried to Taser him and Hughes tried to remove the weapon from the officer according to Joliet police's press release regarding the incident After appearing at the Will County Courthouse on Monday a Will County judge ordered Hughes' release and jail logs indicate that the resident of Arthur Avenue in Lockport was let go at 4:14 p.m officers responded to the Mainstay Suites — previously called the Quality Inn — at 135 S An officer found Hughes at the front door and tried taking him into custody but Hughes began to struggle and resist being arrested and continued to resist arrest by not allowing access to his arms and a Taser was deployed but was ineffective it is alleged that Hughes grabbed onto an officer’s holstered taser and attempt to unsuccessfully remove it from the holster," Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said "Hughes was eventually placed into custody without further incident." Hughes was put into a Joliet Fire Department ambulance and taken to St Joseph Medical Center due to the Taser deployment and injuries sustained struggling with the officers Hughes was later released from the hospital and charged with attempt to disarm a peace officer Joliet Police Arrested Hughes 3 More Times At MainStay Suites Hughes was arrested at the same hotel three other times Friday after officers responded to the Mainstay Suites regarding an unwanted guest at the hotel refusing to leave Officers learned that Hughes was a guest at the property and the hotel staff reported that Hughes had allegedly made inappropriate comments of a sexual nature to several guests at the hotel and he was refusing to leave after being advised by staff to leave Officers escorted Hughes from the property but he returned a short time later and was placed into custody without incident Hughes was charged with criminal trespass and released on a notice to appear the officers responded back to the Mainstay Suites for a report that Hughes had returned to the property Hughes went out the front door as officers arrived and ignored commands to stop Hughes struggled with the officers on the ground as he refused to submit to arrest Hughes was eventually secured and was charged with criminal trespass and two counts of obstructing/resisting a peace officer officers responded to the Mainstay Suites again because Hughes had again returned to the hotel Officers found an intoxicated Hughes in the lobby and he was placed into custody without incident and again charged with criminal trespass again given a Notice to Appear Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. A female driver suffered a graze wound in a shooting in Joliet When officers arrived, they found spent shell casings in the alley between Water and Des Plaines streets, English said. A white vehicle was the target of a shooting by a dark vehicle, according to English. A female driver of the white vehicle was “grazed by gunfire in the left leg” while she was heading east in the alley, English said. The driver declined receiving treatment at a hospital, English said. Anyone with information related to this incident should contact the Joliet Police Department’s investigation unit at 815-724-3020. If they wish to stay anonymous, they can also contact Crime Stoppers of Will County at 800-323-6734 or crimestoppersofwillcounty.org. ExpandJoliet City Councilwoman Jan Hallums Quillman Edna Keith Elementary School Principal Laticha Walton Joliet Public Schools District 86 Deputy Superintendent Dr Joliet Public Schools District 86 Assistant Superintendent Dr City of Joliet Tree Advisory Board Member Betsy Satcher and Tree Advisory Board Chairperson Rita Renwick pose by the new Summer Elixir Elm tree at Edna Keith Elementary School on April 25 Joliet — Edna Keth Elementary School hosted this year’s annual Joliet Arbor Day celebration by planting a new tree in front of the school Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy attended the event, along with City Council members Jan Hallums Quillman and Pat Mudron and members of the city’s Tree Advisory Board D’Arcy read an official Arbor Day proclamation and Edna Keith kindergarten students recited a poem before the school’s winners of the city’s annual student Arbor Day poster contest were announced Fifth grader Eian McMillan took first place in the poster contest followed by third grader Ja’Mya McMurtry in second place and second grader Nestor Tinoco Rodriguez in third place Fourth grader Annabelle Cordova and fifth grader Jackson Hollister also were recognized as honorable mentions The students were recognized at the Joliet City Council meeting earlier in April. Edna Keith Elementary School Arbor Day poster contest winners Eian McMillan, Ja’Mya McMurtry, Nestor Tinoco Rodriguez and Annabelle Cordova pose for a photo April 10, 2025. (Photo Provided by Joliet ) Students from the school, located at 400 4th Ave., then were able to assist the city officials, school Principal Laticha Walton, and Joliet Public Schools District 86 Deputy Superintendent Tanisha Cannon and Assistant Superintendent Judie Nash in planting a young summer elixir elm tree in front of the building. The city donated the tree as well as a new book for the school’s library, along with Midwest crabapple tree saplings for each of the 72 kindergarten students to take home and plant. “We were pleased to be selected to host the city’s Arbor Day event,” Walton said. “The students were thrilled to be part of the celebration.” The city of Joliet was recognized as a “Tree City USA” community for the 34th consecutive year by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Romeoville Mayor John Noak said an aircraft carrying Dueñez's body was expected to land at 4:30 p.m Tuesday at Lewis/Joliet airport in Romeoville His family was expected to arrive at the airport around 3:30 p.m we will process from the airport to Tezak Funeral Home in Joliet escorted by Joliet PD," Noak said "Anyone that would like to pay their respects can line the route which will be Renwick to Weber to Rt.30/Plainfield Road to Tezak A celebration of life for Dueñez is set for 4 to 8 p.m Thursday at Tezak's Home to Celebrate Life Guests are welcome to attend his funeral service at World of Life Church There will be a brief gathering from 10 to 11 a.m Army in 2017 and served three overseas tours He is survived by his devoted wife Karen Dueñez (nee Diaz) his “partner forever and ever” and father Jose "The circumstances of Jose’s passing are incredibly challenging for his family and currently are for three other American families," his obituary says there is some measure of peace that can be taken in the knowledge that Jose was not alone in his final moments who he had committed to protecting as they had committed to protecting him as he always kept God in his heart and his deeds and he was surrounded by the love of his family and we know that they were first and foremost on his mind." Related: Funeral Details For Joliet Soldier Jose Duenez Announced By Tezak's ExpandSaint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet Prime Healthcare’s decision to close the pediatrics unit at Saint Joseph Medical Center means no one under 18 will be admitted as a patient The move is the first big cut at the Joliet hospital by the for-profit hospital operator that took ownership of Saint Joseph Medical Center on March 1 It’s one that the Illinois Nurses Association, the union that represents nurses at the Joliet hospital, says belies California-based Prime Healthcare’s claims to state regulators that it would not make immediate cuts if given approval to take over eight hospitals in the Chicago-area formerly part of the Ascension network Prime Healthcare plans to stop admitting pediatric patients as soon as Thursday although the long-term fate of the unit is up to a state review board that regulates hospitals Meanwhile, Prime also plans to stop delivering babies at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee by mid-May as it cites low numbers just as it has in justifying closing the pediatric unit in Joliet As in Joliet, the decision in Kankakee has been met with questions about whether Prime Healthcare was truthful with regulators when getting approval for its entry into Illinois Prime Healthcare cites diminishing use of the hospital services that it wants to eliminate Saint Mary Hospital in Kankakee was part of the Ascension sale to Prime Healthcare of California Baby deliveries in Kankakee are down to what is statistically fewer than 1 a day which cites the same number for daily census at its Joliet pediatric unit Eliminating the pediatric unit will have a small impact on patient care at Saint Joseph Medical Center according to a statement from Prime Healthcare “This adjustment affects only a very small number of patients - on average less than one patient daily - and we want to reassure our community that we remain deeply committed to caring for children and families,“ the statement said Saint Joseph Medical Center will continue to treat patients under 18 in an emergency department certified to treat pediatric patients Pediatric patients will continue to get treatment at outpatient clinics and from medical group practitioners Anyone under 18 who requires a hospital stay will be transferred elsewhere Saint Joseph Medical Center intends to send pediatric patients to Endeavor Health Edward Hospital in Naperville which is about 40 minutes away from the Joliet hospital But Joliet patients have an option closer to home Silver Cross Hospital, formerly in Joliet and now in neighboring New Lenox, has a pediatrics unit with 19 inpatient beds available, hospital Marketing and Communication Director Deb Robbins said. “It is part of an overall demographic trend nationwide, where pediatric inpatient needs are declining across the United States as pediatric patients are increasingly treated in specialized children’s hospitals rather than general hospitals.” The daily census in the unit averages three to four patients, Robbins said. Silver Cross also has an emergency department accredited to treat pediatric patients. “Silver Cross employs 30 pediatric-trained registered nurses, 13 pediatric-trained certified nursing assistants, and we have 24-hour in-house pediatric coverage through our collaboration with Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago,” Robbins said. Additionally, Silver Cross has other Lurie pediatric specialists who see pediatric inpatients regularly, such as orthopedic specialists, ear, nose and throat specialists, and urology specialists. Silver Cross also has an on-campus pediatric outpatient clinic where patients have access to Lurie specialists “without parents having to travel to the city,” Robbins said. Robbins repeatedly pointed to patient access to Lurie specialists as an asset for Silver Cross patients. Prime Healthcare points to a market preference for pediatric specialists as a reason for a decline in its patient population. Arctic Jr. Fury Hockey Organization recently donated 50 toys to the AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center emergency department in Joliet. (Photo provided) “Pediatric volume has steadily declined at Saint Joseph Medical Center over recent years, with just over 200 yearly admissions and a daily census of less than 1 in 2024,” the Prime statement said. “This is true for many other community hospitals,” Prime said. “It is part of an overall demographic trend nationwide, where pediatric inpatient needs are declining across the United States as pediatric patients are increasingly treated in specialized children’s hospitals rather than general hospitals.” Ending pediatric services at Saint Joseph Medical Center is not totally up to Prime Healthcare, however. The INA intends to object to ending pediatric care at what the union emphasizes is the only hospital in Joliet, the third largest city in the state. Closing the unit will require approval from the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, although Prime can shut down the unit while awaiting approval, said Alec Ramsay-Smith with INA. “They have to justify the closure retroactively,” Ramsay-Smith said. “And, if it’s rejected, they’ll be required to reopen it.” Prime can close the pediatric unit without state approval because it so far has defined the closure as temporary for one year. The company as of Tuesday had notified the state of its intention to temporarily close the pediatric unit but has not applied for approval of permanent closure, John Kniery, administrator of the review board, said in an email. “Prime did notify the HFSRB of its intent to temporarily suspend pediatric services at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Joliet, which requires monthly updates and cannot exceed 12 months without board approval,” Kniery said in an email. That schedule gives Prime Healthcare a year to keep the pediatrics unit closed before getting definitive state approval. The decline of the pediatric unit has likely been happening at least a year due to ongoing problems in hospital management, Ramsay-Smith said “Ascension had a lot of trouble in convincing doctors to send their patients here,” Ramsay-Smith said, adding that the latest troubles at the hospital “have been a year or two in the making.” 2025 at 10:06 pm CDTExpandNazareth's Jaden Fauske (21) slides into home to score the winning run as Joliet Catholic's Zachary Pomatto (34) catches the ball during the varsity baseball game on Wednesday 2025 between Nazareth and Joliet Catholic academies in La Grange Park (Tony Gadomski/Tony Gadomski for Shaw Local News Network) LA GRANGE PARK – Nazareth’s Jaden Fauske is widely considered one of the best baseball players in the country capable of smashing balls all over the field and over the fence with regularity In Wednesday’s home game against Joliet Catholic, Fauske picked a good time to show off a few of his other skills to help the Roadrunners capture the second game of the East Suburban Catholic Conference series. Instead of using his power, Fauske, a left-hander and former Louisville recruit, hit a slow chopper just past home plate along the first base line and used his speed to beat out the throw to lead off the top of the eighth inning. Three batters later, Fauske flashed his speed and sliding skills, diving headfirst into home plate to score the walk-off winning run on a hard-hit grounder by Drew Hyland for a 2-1 victory over Joliet Catholic at R.J. Sanders Field. Nazareth senior right-hander Chase Zidlicky was strong on the mound, tossing six innings and allowing five hits. The Hilltoppers’ lone run came via a balk by Zidlicky in the top of the sixth inning that plated the tying run. Sophomore right-hander James Wasson pitched the final two innings to get the win. The Roadrunners (20-4, 6-4 ESCC) loaded the bases in the eighth, aided by a walk and a perfectly placed bunt single by Aiden Nunez to set up Hyland’s RBI grounder. “It’s all about getting on base and putting the ball in play and pressing the defense,” Nazareth coach Lee Milano said. “It was kind of ironic that the two runs that were scored first were on balks. I think Chase pitched an unbelievable game. I loved the way James came out of the bullpen and did a great job. “The kid who doesn’t have any or that many at-bats comes in and he’s been the best bunter in practice and gets a great one down in Aiden Muniz,” Milano said. “That was a huge play. We scored the winning run without getting the ball out of the infield.” In an unusual game for two ESCC programs, both teams scored their first runs via a balk. The Roadrunners managed just four hits in the game, including just two in the first seven innings. The Hilltoppers (10-11, 4-2) were aiming to take the game after recording a 10-0 triumph over the Roadrunners on Monday. Lucas Grant picked up the win Monday. “It was a typical JCA-Nazareth battle, and we go extra innings,” Joliet Catholic coach Jared Voss said. “It’s a typical conference battle. It’s what we expect in our conference. We’re really happy with our pitching. Ian Campbell had a very good start. We have a pretty solid top two guys if everyone keeps doing what they’re doing. “We had a little bit of everything today, from balks, hit by pitches that nobody knew if they were hit by pitches or not. We had a little bit of everything today. I appreciate our kids and their consistency.” Zidlicky said he was frustrated about his run-scoring balk, but he recovered to close out the threat and inning with a strikeout to end his outing. “I felt very good out there and great to shut them down a while,” Zidlicky said. “My fastball and curveball was working. I felt confident with my curveball and could throw it anytime I wanted to. I was glad we got the win.” Wasson did a solid job in relief, working his way out of small jams in both innings to earn a fun ribbing session by his teammates during a post-game interview. “I felt really good,” Wasson said. “It was one of those games I was really pumped up to get in there. I was going and felt good. My arm hurt a little bit, but I was just thinking attack and attack. We didn’t have our best game on Monday, but we came back today and reset, and a lot of guys made meaningful contributions.” Bob Narang is a contributing sports reporter to Shaw Local News Network 2025 at 10:34 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Image via Google Maps )JOLIET — The Illinois Department of Transportation announced on Tuesday that a project to repair the bridge carrying U.S 6 (Jackson Street/Maple Road) over the Canadian National Railroad 6 will be closed between Abe and Ridgewood streets A detour will direct traffic to Collins Street which consists of repairing the bridge deck and approaches is anticipated to be completed in early August 2025 at 11:26 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Whether you’re looking for a refreshing tea we promise a drink that’s as immersive as a dive into the deep blue IL — Joliet Patch keeps writing about new restaurants and storefronts that keep popping up across Joliet Patch covered the grand opening of Tio's Donuts at 125 Collins Street Patch highlighted the new 32-flavor ice cream shop that opened in March at 2 Ohio Street called La Michoacana Platinum it looks like there will be another new restaurant opening on Black Road in the large strip mall at the corner of Infantry Drive The new business at 2775 Black Road will be called Deep Sea Boba A sign in the window proclaims that Deep Sea Boba will open in April Patch visited the strip mall on Thursday afternoon and nobody was inside Deep Sea Boba at the time The inside of the future drink refreshment shop still needed quite a bit of work before being ready to open to customers An opening in late May or June seemed more realistic "At Deep Sea Boba, we craft bold, adventurous flavors inspired by the wonders of the deep sea," its website proclaims. "From glowing jelly-inspired drinks to rich and creamy ocean-hued teas every sip is an exploration of taste and texture We believe boba should be more than just a drink—it should be an immersive experience we bring the depths of the ocean to life in every cup." ExpandIllinois Democratic senators Graciela Guzmán (left) A bus tour led by Illinois Democratic senators made a stop in Joliet to speak out against cuts to social programs proposed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump where a group of state senators urged them to organize against Trump and call on state lawmakers to get rid of Illinois’ flat tax system “We need middle class tax relief and we need it now We can only get that through a graduated income tax,” state Sen Ventura asked everyone in the room to stand up or raise their hand if they receive Medicaid housing vouchers or publicly funded education Ventura said that “almost everybody in this room is standing.” “These are the individuals who will be impacted by the continued cuts of the federal government.” Ventura said. “If we do not do something in Illinois Sunday’s four-stop tour was called the “For The People Bus Tour.” The tour sought to alert residents in the Chicago area of the proposed cuts to social spending by the Trump administration and how that will affect the state at Joliet Junior College in Joliet as part of the “For The People Bus Tour.” (Felix Sarver) The Trump administration is preparing a budget for the next fiscal year that would cut billions of dollars from programs supporting child care, health research, education, housing assistance, community development and the elderly, according to an article Friday from The New York Times other Democratic state senators who joined the tour in Joliet were Graciela Guzmán Villa said she ran for office when she was a school social worker because Bruce Rauner slashed funding for social services for “the people who needed it the most.” “Those same programs that were the reason why I ran for office are the same programs that Donald Trump is attacking right now [He] and his cronies are attacking all of those things that we hold valuable,” Villa said The senators at Joliet’s event promoted a graduated as the answer to the state’s financial problems and a way to provide tax relief to the middle class and needed funding for social programs Voters rejected a ballot proposal in 2020 to get rid of the state’s system of taxing income at a flat rate But Martwick has proposed a resolution last February to remove the flat tax provision in the state constitution “solidarity is our shield [and] progressive revenue is our sword in this moment.” Martwick told the JJC audience that Illinois is a “bastion of blue” that has led the nation on environmental policy women’s access to reproductive health care and LGBT civil rights the state has a regressive tax system that puts the “burden of funding government on the backs of people who cannot afford it,” Martwick said The audience for the Joliet stop on the "For The People Bus Tour" is seen Sunday has a “government that is being run by oligarchs.” He was tasked by Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency The initiative aimed to dramatically slash government spending and jobs Martwick encouraged people to have conversations with their neighbors who voted for Trump He said those voters are “suffering from the same things that we are.” “They’ve just been fooled into a narrative that somehow or another One of the questions brought up by the audience was how people can connect with their elected officials better and get more people involved in activism against Trump Earlier this month, hundred of people came to downtown Joliet to protest Trump and Musk. Ventura gave the crowd her email address and phone number. “You want elected officials who you can get in touch with. If they are unwilling to give you contact information, stop voting for them,” Ventura said. Ventura encouraged people to contact her office if they need help with anything. She said her office has helped people with issues such as healthcare, homelessness or even pet care. “We scour our community and find resources,” she said. State Sen. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, speaks on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at Joliet Junior College in Joliet as part of the “For The People Bus Tour.” (Felix Sarver) ExpandYorkville's Callie Ferko (9) swings at a pitch during softball game between Joliet West and Yorkville on Wednesday YORKVILLE – Callie Ferko has a rather simple approach to the art of hitting The Yorkville junior swings at the first strike she sees “If I see a strike early in the count I’m going to hammer it and take it where it takes me,” Ferko said We’ve been instilled a lot the importance of placing the ball.” Ferko put that philosophy to good use Wednesday She tripled in her first at-bat and doubled in her second Iowa recruit Kayla Kersting contributed three triples and scored three runs in Yorkville’s 11-1, five-inning win over Joliet West in a Southwest Prairie Conference game. The Foxes (11-8, 3-4) batted around in a five-run first inning and banged out 12 hits in support of starting pitcher Peyton Levine, who struck out seven. Liv Lathen reached base three times. Madison Jadron drove in the lone run for Joliet West (2-15, 1-7). “Hitting where it’s pitched, not trying to over-swing, just hitting the ball where they’re putting it. Their approach was really good today,” Yorkville coach Jory Regnier said. “Defensively, we were solid today. That helps. Consistency is what we’re working on.” Ferko maintained a consistent approach in both her at-bats. She tripled over the right fielder to bring in Bella Phillips with Yorkville’s second run after Phillips had squeezed in Kersting. Next inning, Ferko drilled a double into the right-center field gap, and scored on a Rilee Petrusa double. “She does a nice job of hitting that pitch and going with it, and hitting it solid,” Regnier said. “It’s not a weak ball when she hits it to the right side.” Softball game between Joliet West at Yorkville. Yorkville's Kayla Kersting (10) celebrates on third during softball game between Joliet West and Yorkville on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 in Yorkville. (Gary E Duncan Sr. for Shaw Local News Network) Ferko started her first varsity season batting fourth or fifth in the Yorkville lineup. She’s since moved up to third with Kersting now hitting leadoff, and hasn’t stopped hitting well. “First of all, she’s a competitor and she’s a hard worker. She will outwork anybody else,” Regnier said. “She’s always going to be solid and consistent. She has an off day and expects herself to bounce back. She has really earned that spot. “We’ve moved her up slowly. If Kayla can get herself on and we can move her over, Callie can hit her in.” Ferko, happy at the opportunity, worked to earn her spot. She’s put in the time with her Yorkville team, and on her own with her family. “Our coaches have very detailed hitting stations for us,” she said. “During the offseason I go hit balls with my dad and brother. My brother plays college and my dad loves being out there. We really just enjoy the time together.” Regnier has enjoyed having Ferko on her team, and not just for her hitting. “She will go up and fight every pitch and every at-bat,” Regnier siad. “She has so much energy. Very lively kid in general, people feed off of her. A great kid on the team and in the dugout.” Kersting, Ferko and Brooke Ekwinski each had triples in Yorkville’s five-run first, and the Foxes led 7-0 after two innings before Joliet West went to Jadron in relief. Softball game between Joliet West at Yorkville. Joliet West's Caitlin Jadron (11) makes a diving catch during softball game between Joliet West and Yorkville on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 in Yorkville. (Gary E Duncan Sr. for Shaw Local News Network) Joliet West’s senior pitcher singled in Mackenzie Mielke, who had doubled, for the Tigers’ lone run in the fourth. Jadron threw two scoreless innings before Yorkville scored three in the fifth, Kersting tripling and scoring the final run on a Phillips’ single. “They [Yorkville] came out swinging,” Joliet West coach Heather Suca said. “We have a lot of games this week. We have to be able to put somebody on the mound besides our senior. They have to learn to hit their spots.” Jadron is one of just two seniors that played Wednesday for a young Joliet West team, which did manage five hits but committed three errors. “We put the ball in play, and we’ve been hitting the ball in play. That’s our strong suit,” Suca said. “We’re young. We have to take care of the ball and have someone besides our senior throw.” Yorkville has won three of four since a three-game losing streak, and Ferko thinks the best is yet to come. “I think we have so much potential,” Ferko said. “I truly believe we have a next level in us.” Hollywood Casino’s two new land-based riverboat sites under construction in Aurora and Joliet will feature prominent Chicago chefs and restaurants dishing out gourmet and specialty burgers The Boulevard Food & Drink Hall will offer a fresh dining experience at the new casinos including an all-new burger concept from celebrity chef Stephanie Izard and Chicago favorites Antique Taco and Pretty Cool Ice Cream Izard is best known as the first female chef to win Bravo’s reality cooking competition “Top Chef,” taking the title during the show’s fourth season Hollywood Casino is partnering with McClain Camarota Hospitality which will design and operate the Boulevard food hall locations Hollywood Casino and the featured restaurants are giving away a free “Taste of Hollywood” from noon to 2 p.m Visitors can sample favorites from each eatery receive Hollywood Casino and Izard merchandise and enter to win giveaways at participating Chicago locations: • Two free tacos at Antique Taco Wicker Park • One free ice cream pop at Pretty Cool Ice Cream in Logan Square The Boulevard food hall will be accessible to patrons of all ages They will feature Lucky Goat — Izard’s new restaurant concept whose menu includes specialty burgers and milkshakes — and the first suburban locations for popular gourmet restaurant Antique Taco whose menu features signature handmade tacos “I’m so excited to be partnering with MCH to bring a new concept to Hollywood Casinos in Aurora and Joliet,” Izard said “Chicago is home to my original Goat restaurants which makes it such a great fit to launch a new Boulevard food hall will house a handful of great restaurants in one beautifully designed space with a fun atmosphere.” The Aurora and Joliet casinos will be the fourth and fifth locations which has storefronts in Logan Square and Lincoln Park along with a walk-up window opening in Lincoln Square on Memorial Day weekend that will offer its unique flavors of ice cream bars Five50 Pizza — a New York City-style Neapolitan pizza concept from the chefs at McClain Camarota Hospitality — is among the new casual dining experiences at the Boulevard food hall They will be the first Five50 locations in the Chicago region “Boulevard is designed to be a lively place for customers to gather and enjoy great food and drinks,” said Greg Moore vice president and general manager of Hollywood Casino Aurora “Bringing in local establishments that our customers know and love is an excellent addition to our new best-in-class property.” McClain Camarota Hospitality was founded by Midwesterner Shawn McClain His portfolio of dining concepts includes the award-winning Sage in Las Vegas McClain and business partner Richard Camarota an acclaimed chef and restaurant operations director with ties to Chicago bring their experience and a commitment to hands-on execution to each Boulevard location “It’s an honor to partner with Hollywood Casino to usher in a bold new era while celebrating some of the greatest culinary talents in Chicago,” McClain said “It’s a dream come true to return to Chicago alongside chefs Stephanie Izard Rick Ortiz of Antique Taco and DanaCree of Pretty Cool Ice Cream.” Hollywood Casino earlier announced a partnership with celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis who will bring her Sorella by Giada and Sorellina by Giada restaurants to the new casinos in Aurora and Joliet The new Hollywood Casino Aurora is projected to open in the first half of 2026 It is being developed next to Chicago Premium Outlets It is expected to support 700 construction jobs and 700 permanent jobs The facility will feature roughly 1,200 gambling positions bars and restaurants including Sorella by Giada and Boulevard Food & Drink Hall a roughly 12,000-square-foot event center with meeting areas and about 1,700 parking spaces For more information, visit hollywoodcasinoaurora.com Please Register or Sign in to view this content Quantum Commodity Intelligence is a premium paid subscription service for professionals in the oil Quantum Oil service subscribers have access to: Get in touch with us for subscription information on all Quantum platforms