Free Republic

Around 8:30 p.m., Joliet police learned Nance had been spotted by U.S. Marshals in Natalia, Texas – 30 miles southwest of San Antonio. Natalia, Texas is 1,200 miles away from Joliet – more than an 18-hour drive. Joliet police said Nance was found in a car at a Valero gas station. It is believed that Nance died by suicide with a handgun after a confrontation with Texas law enforcement, according to Joliet police.

JOLIET, Ill. (CBS) -- Seven people were found shot and killed in two different homes in Joliet Monday afternoon, and a manhunt has been launched for a suspect, police said. Police also believe a fatal shooting on Sunday is connected with the mass-casualty incident. At a news conference, Joliet police Chief Bill Evans said at 12:04 p.m., Joliet police were notified by the Will County Sheriff's office about several people found dead in two separate houses in the 2200 block of West Acres Road, near Madison Street. Responding officers found a total of seven people in two houses who had...

A Democratic prosecutor is sounding the alarm over an Illinois law that will end cash bail A Democratic prosecutor in the Chicago-area is sounding the alarm over a criminal justice reform law that will "tie the hands" of prosecutors and "destroy the criminal justice system in Illinois." The Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act, signed by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, D-Ill., in 2021, will implement sweeping reforms to Illinois’ criminal justice system, though it has drawn criticism from law enforcement professionals across the political spectrum. "I never, in my 40-years in this profession, ever thought I'd ever see anything...

JOLIET, IL — A 40-year-old Joliet woman is now in the Will County Jail facing felony charges after she set a 34-year-old woman on fire early Wednesday morning, Joliet police announced. The 34-year-old victim was airlifted from St. Joe's hospital to the Loyola University Medical Center after suffering severe burns to a large portion of her body. As for Shanna Simpson, she was put in the Will County Jail on two charges of aggravated domestic battery and two counts of aggravated battery. Joliet police cars and Joliet Fire Department engines rushed to the 200 block of Comstock Street around 3:25...

A judge is scheduled Monday to consider former Chicago-area police sergeant Drew Peterson's motion to vacate his 2012 conviction in the murder of his third wife. Officials have said Peterson will not attend the hearing and it is not known if Will County Judge Edward Burmila will make an immediate decision on the motion. The judge has appointed an attorney and an investigator to assist Peterson and experts have said that such an investigation could take months to complete. Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder in the 2004 killing of Kathleen Savio and sentenced to 38 years in prison. He...

SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- Thousands of fetal remains were found at the home of a former South Bend abortion doctor, WSBT reports. The remains were discovered while family members were searching through the home of Dr. Ulrich Klopfer, who passed away on Sept. 3. His home is in Will County, Illinois. WSBT reports Kloper used to practice at the Women's Pavilion in South Bend. His medical license was suspended in 2015 after he was accused of failing to report an abortion on a 13-year-old girl.

ChampionNews.net has a sad tale to tell of the recent meeting of the Will County, Illinois Republican Party. It is an example of why the Illinois GOP is not accountable to the voters in any way. In fact, it proves that many parts of the Illinois GOP isn't even accountable to the elected committeemen! It is the story of Committeeman Mark Batinick of Plainfield, an elected member of the Will County GOP. In this tale of woe, Batinick details how even the votes of the committeemen are ignored by the "combine" styled, powermongers of the moribund Illinois GOP. He reveals...

JOLIET, Ill. Officials in Will County want to change Illinois law so they can bill criminals for their stay in the county jail. The Will County Board has asked its lobbyist to push for the change so all counties can try to recoup jail costs. County auditor Steve Weber proposed the plan after hearing about its success in a county near Detroit. He says taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for criminals' room and board. Officials say they'd likely charge inmates on a sliding scale based on ability to pay -- with the lowest rate being six-dollars a night....