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Photo Via: John Ferak  A married couple from Plainfield were found dead in their home from an apparent murder-suicide.  Jennifer Heit, 40, and Ryan Heit, 40, died from apparent gunshot wounds in the early morning of Sept. 29. The Joliet Police Department responded to the incident on the 1800 block of Burshire Court placed by multiple neighbors after they reported hearing gunshots and screaming around early Monday morning.  According to an article by the Joliet Patch , Sargent Dwayne English said officers arrived at the scene a few minutes after multiple 911 calls were received. The officers reportedly found 40-year-old Ryan Heit unresponsive with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the lawn of the residence. 40-year-old Jennifer was discovered inside of the home with a fatal gunshot wound.  Joliet Police have determined this incident was a domestic dispute. It is believed that Ryan Heit shot his wife with a handgun inside of the home. He then proceeded to shoot himself...

  Dog The Love is a dog/puppy adoption center in the Joliet area that specializes in finding good homes for all sorts of dogs such as toy poodles, chihuahua's, pugs and other types of dogs. This organization also specializes in teaching new dog owners how to properly take care of their dogs when it comes to their food and other forms of health such as medical issues. This adoption center is one of many places in America that has had an increase in adoptions since the release of the new Superman movie which features the lovable and chaotic Krypto the Super Dog (according to director James Gunn). Dog The Love also categorizes their dogs by size, barking level, characteristics, coat type, shedding, size, trainability, and activity level. Dog The Love also specializes in helping new dog owners find a good way to give their new pets a name as it is something some dog owners can struggle with in this day and age. This is also one of the many places that ensure an animal's safety as i...

  Nathan Maul, Fighting Saints football bounce back after an 0-2 start WR Connor Engstrom celebrates a touchdown with OL Anthanasius Nwalozie. Photo Via: USF Flickr Account By Rudy Flores After a rough 0-2 start to the 2025 football season, the Fighting Saints football team has stormed back to a .500 record after four weeks of play.  The Saints began the season with a loss against last year's third best offense in the NAIA, Taylor University, which included allowing 42 points in the first half. They then travelled to Adrian, Michigan to face off against Sienna Heights University. After going into the fourth quarter with a lead, the Saints allowed two touchdowns and a field goal in the final ten and a half minutes in what ultimately ended up in a 24-21 loss.  One of the biggest questions the team had was their quarterback play. Outside of the 4th quarter, redshirt freshman Nathan Maul, who won the starting job in camp, had very little to show for in his first two starts. C...

Photo credit: biblebaptistromeoville.com BY: Morgan Jensen Bible Baptist Church of Romeoville is located at 301 Normantown Rd. It is just about 25 minutes from the University of St. Francis campus, making it accessible for students who have access to a car. The church places value in three main categories: worship, grow, disciple. They have church service at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday.  The church started as a weekly Bible study all the way back in 1960. The years following have been filled with tremendous growth and ten faithful pastors. The website states that each pastor in church history has been used by God to strengthen the church in specific ways.  Bible Baptist Church strives to be a Bible-centered church. They do this through worship service which includes singing, reading scripture (the Bible) and preaching from the Bible as well. The focus on spiritual growth is accomplished at this church through what they call "transformations groups". These groups serve as a place ...

  D4vd digs deeper By: Scarlett LaBuda Image from: Los Angeles Times David Anthony Burke, professionally known as d4vd, continues to be investigated for the death of Celeste Rivas. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was granted a warrant to search the residence being rented to d4vd on Doheny Drive in Hollywood. Officers involved in the investigation choose to remain anonymous, but have reported having obtained a variety of electronics and computers.  After the initial search was executed on Sept. 17, d4vd broke the leasing agreement and moved out just one week later on Sept. 24. Internet sleuths have started to question the urgency to move out of this residency after the search warrant was issued and completed. While some speculate that this was due to the increased visibility of his residency and the desire for d4vd to stay out of the public eye, it can be theorized that he did not want LAPD to have access to execute warrants moving forward. Once a suspect moves out of ...

  A Chicago man is being charged after he was found trespassing in the basement of a Joliet residence.    Darryl Jones, 58, is facing burglary charges after he was found in the basement of a Joliet residence as a family was returning home from vacation. Joliet police responded to the call on the 2100 block of Glenwood Avenue around 2:37p.m. this past Saturday. The homeowner reported that a man had been in their home while they were away on a trip.  Dwayne English, a police spokesman, reported that the homeowner noticed the front door of their residence seemed to have been forced open. After walking through the residence, the homeowner did not find anything suspicious. Jones was then caught walking up stairs from the basement by the rest of the family as they walked into the home.  The homeowner rushed outside and called 911 as Jones ran out of the residence. The residents reported that jewelry and money were missing. The 58 year-old was found by officers one blo...

 The Disability Resource Center is an organization in the Joliet area with the goal of helping people with disabilities strive for independence. This center is a non-profit organization that operates on grants and other forms of contributions such as partnerships with other organizations. The Disability Resource Center is also an organization that provides resources for people with disabilities such as Joliet Junior College (JJC), which helps students with disabilities strive in academic and workplace settings and people first language such as, "People with disabilities". They also give out services to assist anyone within this very community with services, one of them centered around independent living. The Disability Resource Center also hosts events that center around topics surrounding disability and advocacy. This center also publishes a newsletter that started in spring of 2021 that receives updates every couple seasons (Spring and Fall). This Joliet business offers ser...

At around 12:45pm the stillness of North Broadway Street was broken as gunshots were heard, and local neighbors and residents said that they came in rapid outbursts and woke up the locals.  According to Joliet police, there were two men aged 36 and 44 standing outside their apartment building when a man on a motorcycle drove by and opened fire on the first block of North Way Street. The 36-year-old sustained two gunshots to the leg, and the 44-year-old sustained one to the ankle. Both of the men were treated at the scene and then taken to Ascension St. Joseph Medical Center. Police said their injuries are not life-threatening. A resident who asked not to be named stated, "It sounded like fireworks, then I heard the screaming and realized it was much worse."  Detectives have gathered bullet casings from the scene, but no arrests have been made yet; the motive of the shooting also remains under investigation.  In a neighborhood where individuals, shift workers, and kid...

  Did d4vd do it? By: Scarlett LaBuda Photo from: AP Photos David Anthony Burke, known professionally as d4vd, is currently receiving a lot of backlash after a teen girl was found dead and decomposing in an impounded Tesla registered in his name.  D4vd released “Here with Me” and “Romantic Homicide” in 2022, and they gained widespread popularity on social media, more specifically TikTok. He kicked off his tour earlier in August and officially canceled his remaining tour dates on September 19. This was in response to being under investigation for the teen girl’s death. D4vd has also cancelled his European and Australian tour dates, as well as postponed the release of his deluxe version of his album.  The girl has been identified as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas. Rivas was reported as a runaway by her family in April of 2024 when she was just 13 years-old. She was discovered in the trunk of the Tesla after it was impounded from a Los Angeles street. The Tesla had been found aba...

Photo credit: sjbcatholic.org/our-history BY: Morgan Jensen St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is located at 404 N Hickory St, Joliet Ill. The parish teaches the Gospel using the Franciscan tradition. It was founded back in 1852 when the population was heavily German. They introduced Spanish Masses about 25 years ago, as the demographics of the neighborhood have shifted. Now, the Hispanic community is an integral part of the parish. The parish caters to both English and Spanish speaking residents of the Joliet area. When visiting their website, it is made easy for Spanish speaking visitors to navigate from page to page. There are specific times for English, Spanish, and Bilingual mass. There are many options for mass throughout the week, with at least one option offered each day. According to their website, sjbcatholic.org, there are two Fathers (or spiritual leaders) in the church. Father Larry Janezic, OFM is in residence at the parish. OFM stands for Order of Friars Minor, which m...

  Homecoming week at USF Alumni Homecoming schedule. Photo via: @alumniusf Instagram  The University of St. Francis, USF, has many things planned for their 2025 homecoming week. Whether you are a current student, staff, or alumni of the campus, there are plenty of things that people can attend. The main event of the week is the final event of the week, the homecoming football game. The fighting saints, coming hot off a victory against Lawerence Tech last week, will be taking on Madonna University at Joliet Memorial Stadium, with kickoff at 1pm. Before the game, there will be a tailgate hosted by the Criminal Social Justice Charter Club and Radio Club beginning at 11:30am in the parking lot of the stadium. Some clubs and departments will also be having reunions before the game, including the College of Nursing and the College of Education. There are also numerous other sporting events going on throughout the week. Last Friday, homecoming week was kicked off by the alumn...

Harrah's Casino is a casino in the Joliet area. Much like any other casino, Harrah's is known for their slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, poker and baccarat.  The one thing that makes this place unique is the fact that it's the only casino in the northern Will County area. Despite being a traditional casino, Harrah's busiest days are over the summer as that is typically the season where people tend to have a party attitude, which always fits cassino standards. The casino is also connected to its hotel, a place where the people would stay if they decided to spend an entire vacation spending money. Harrah's casino and hotel are considered to be prominent vacation spots for anyone who plans on vacationing to the Joliet area for a good old-fashioned getaway. One of the greatest aspects of Harrah's is their view of the Des Plaines River, another beautiful part of the Joliet area. Another great view that can be seen from Harrah's is the Joliet bridge...

Cleveland, Mississippi — According to college officials, the body of Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a 21-year-old Grenada native, was discovered early Monday morning dangling from a tree on Delta State University’s central campus next to the pickleball courts. Officers received a complaint regarding what seemed to be a Black male hanging from a tree at around 7:05 a.m., according to University Police Chief Michael Peeler. The Bolivar County Coroner’s Office and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation have been called in to assist with the inquiry. Initial investigations showed no signs of contusions, lacerations, broken bones, or other injuries that would suggest physical assault, according to Coroner Randolph Seals and Deputy Coroner Murray Roark. Investigators stressed that no evidence of foul play has been verified, despite speculations that have been making the rounds on social media. There has not yet been a formal autopsy. Daniel J. Ennis, president of Delta State University, sa...

Photo via: Will County Jail A Wilmington man is facing criminal charges after he assaulted a woman.  Cory Durflinger, 42, is facing five criminal charges after he physically attacked a woman earlier last week. Will County deputies responded to a call from Lake Will Recreation Club on Stripmine Road that reported a domestic incident. The victim of this incident spoke with police alleging Durflinger had bit her feet while she was sleeping, beat her with a closed fist and attempted to stop her while she tried to call police. According to the Joliet Patch, the victim reported, "I was sound asleep, and Cory came home and took off my sock and started chewing on my toes." Durflinger would then continue to verbally attack the victim and her mother before burning his clothes and demanding that the victim provide him with new clothes, the Joliet Patch reports. The assailant would proceed to argue with the victim before hitting her with a closed fist and shoving her against a wall. Durf...

  USF Womens’ Basketball Schedule Announced Senior guard Tykara Harrison drives to her right side. Photo Via: USF Flickr Account The University of St. Francis womens’ basketball team looks to follow what was a historic season last year. The Fighting Saints finished the regular season with a 25-8 record including going 15-5 on conference play, good for third in the CCAC. An underdog in the preseason rankings, coach John McGinty led the team to a championship game appearance in the CCAC tournament after a game winning shot by Le’Lani Harris in the semifinals against Olivet Nazarene. While the team took second in the tournament, they were selected as an at-large team for the NAIA tournament, where they went on to win a game against Rocky Mountain College. Over the past two weeks, the schedule for the team was announced on their instagram page. Their non-conference schedule was released on Sep. 2, followed by their conference schedule on Sep. 10.  They will begin their season ...

  Image from: Hollywood Reporter Primetime Emmys spark controversy By: Scarlett LaBuda This past weekend, the Primetime Emmys were hosted, not to be confused with the Creative Arts Emmys that were awarded two weeks ago. The Emmys are defined as “a collection of awards presented to individuals and programs that demonstrate excellence in the American television industry.” The Emmy Awards are presented by multiple organizations, including the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, NATAS, and the Television Academy. The Emmy Awards that are grouped into the Primetime Emmys show are: Primetime Emmy Awards, Daytime Emmy Awards, Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, Sports Emmy Awards, News & Documentary Emmy Awards, Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards, Regional Emmy Awards, and International Emmy Awards.  This year’s host of the awards show, comedian Nate Bargatze, offered an incentive to keep the acceptance speeches at the allocated 45 seconds per award in what i...

Photo by Shaw Local BY: Morgan Jensen St. Peter Lutheran Church is located at 310 N Broadway St in Joliet Ill. This church has been in Joliet for over 150 years. The church is currently led by Rev. David W Totsky Sunday's at 9:00 a.m. with Bible Study following at 10:30 a.m. A unique way to listen to their service is to tune in online to WJOL (1340 AM) at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Three main beliefs that identify the church are: gospel-centered, Christ-centered, and Confessional Lutheran.  Being gospel-centered as a church means that they highly value the gift that God has given to humans: the gift of salvation. They focus on this instead of trying to live perfectly for God. The Christ-centered focus means they teach and preach based on Jesus dying for us. This is what mended human relationships with God. And finally, the third focus, Confessional Lutheran. According to their website, this means that they believe the Bible is the verbally inspired and inerrant Word of God. Thi...

 September 13, 2025, Joliet, IL — The annual Fiestas Patrias Mexican Independence Day Parade, which honors heritage, service, and the thriving Mexican-American population that has shaped the city, is scheduled for Saturday, September 13 at 1:00 p.m. in the City of Joliet.  As it celebrates local Mexican-American soldiers and community figures who have made enduring contributions to Joliet and the country, this year's parade will have extra meaning. Lt. George Hernandez, a retired officer from the Joliet Police Department and Mr. Joe Belman, a 101-year-old World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, are the event's Grand Marshals. Additionally, Sgt. José Dueñez Jr. of the U.S. Army will receive a special tribute, and his father, Mr. José Dueñez Sr., will accept the honor on his behalf. Parade floats, marching bands, neighborhood associations, and a special float with the Grand Marshals are all part of the vibrant and joyous environment that attendees can anticipate. The par...

Image via: Will County Jail A Joliet drug dealer is facing his fourth conviction of the past 15 years.  Alexander Borrowman, 33, is facing multiple charges in connection with allegations of dealing ecstasy and cocaine. The Joliet Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad raided Borrowman's home on Maha Court on the evening of Sept. 3. Officers breached the door after knocking and announcing their presence to find the 33 year-old on the second floor of the residence.  Borrowman was questioned on whether he was in possession of contraband to which he stated he had “cocaine in the kitchen island, half a kilo of cocaine in the pantry, and a gun in the jacket pocket by the garage interior door,” court files show. The Joliet Narcotics Squad found a total of 595.48 grams of cocaine , 8.59 grams of ecstasy and 43 grams marijuana in the kitchen of the residence.  According to the Joliet Patch a 9mmm pistol and as well as a magazine with 89 9mm rounds of ammunition were in Borrowman’s poss...