As Shaw Media celebrates its 175th anniversary, we looked back at four front pages from May 14

Much of the focus for the softball season is on the upcoming postseason, but that hasn’t taken away from the fact that several conference races have yet to be decided.

Willis Ellis, 58, has been charged with the first-degree murder of another man killed in a May 8 shooting on Nicholson Street in Joliet.

The City of Lockport has approved a contract for the demolition of the former Dellwood Tire property and surrounding buildings for future development.

Joliet West High School honored Payton Palesh and Calloway Walsh as its 2026 Mr. and Ms. Alpha Omega at Senior Awards on May 6, recognizing them as the school’s best all-around seniors.

The Herald-News honors the everyday heroes making a difference in Will County through their hard work, kindness and dedication.

A group of Will County women are quietly supporting multiple local charities every year through a dedication to financial contributions.

Elisabeth Patton, Fairmont School principal, said Rachel Clayton’s “dedication and strong work ethic are evident in everything she does.“

Angela Roudis, a sixth-to eighth-grade teacher in the Cross-Categorical program at Coal City Middle School, said she’s worked with Gina Pens the last four years and called her “an amazing person who always puts others before herself.”

Tina Vasquez, a paraprofessional at Bonnie McBeth Learning Center in District 202 in Plainfield, has organized district-wide collection drives of candy, cookies and toiletries to support military members stationed overseas

Eric Balluff has coached tennis, wrestling and football for 17 years at Lincoln-Way Central. Before that, he served six years in the army including a tour in Iraq.

Oak Park resident Scott Mortenson was named the Will County Forest Preserve District's Volunteer of the Year for 2025 this spring, due to his ongoing dedication as a preserve steward.

Grand Prairie Elementary School physical education teacher Andrea "Queen P" Paplaski-Grygiel was named an Educator of Excellence by the Will County Regional Office of Education in April.

As president of the Joliet Township High School (District 204) school board member, he gives his time selflessly, working behind the scenes to support students, families, and educators.

Cornerstone President and CEO Ben Stortz carries that title very well.

Phyllis Holmes said she works five hours a day, three days a week, at the Broadway Head Start, despite needing oxygen to help herself breathe.

A nonprofit CEO who never sits behind his desk. A school board member who makes sure every voice is heard. A retiree who filled Joliet with Little Free Libraries. Meet the Herald News 2026 Everyday Heroes nominated by our readers.

Thanks to Bev, many area children are learning to love reading so for the impact that she makes,

Bob and Janet Palkion of Joliet have fostered more than 30 children, adopted three of those fosters and serve the foster community in multiple ways, despite their own health challenges.

Grassroots community activist Trista Brown also has a heart for low-income seniors and serves the residents of Joshua Arms Senior Residences in Joliet whenever she can.

Although Gloria Zamudio’s official title is “clerical aide,” her role is “everyday hero” for Zamudio performs dozens of everyday tasks around the school and helps foster “good office camaraderie” by learning about each other working together as a group, she said.

Area teams from Kankakee, Bradley-Bourbonnais and Lincoln-Way East, Central and West were among 18 teams competing in the IHSA Class 3A Chicago Heights Girls Track and Field Sectional on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

Mia Forystek of Lincoln-Way Central led a wealth of girls state track and field state qualifiers in Wednesday's Herald-News Roundup.

Lincoln-Way East appeared to get started on the right foot on Wednesday, but Lockport's Trace Schaaf had other ideas as the Porters collected a 6-0 win over the Griffins in a pivotal SWSC matchup.

Yorkville scored 112.5 points as a team at the Southwest Prairie Conference Boys Track championship to finish in first place.

Sycamore put up six runs in the second inning, including a three-run home run for Jackson Macdonald. But RJ Kennedy, Cade Laudeman and Morris never stopped fighting back in an 8-6 win on Wednesday.

Joliet West host the Southwest Prairie Conference championship on Wednesday afternoon.

The City of Lockport voted to approve the concept plan for a new residential development between Smith Road and Basham Drive.

A crash on Interstate 80 bridge in Joliet led to serious injuries to two people and caused a vehicle to become fully engulfed in flames.

A termination hearing that began Wednesday for a Joliet police lieutenant who is accused of misusing the Flock license plate reader will continue to another date but it’s yet not clear when.

Organizers promise 'a new experience' when Race Fan Rally returns to downtown Joliet in July along with NASCAR races at Chicagoland Speedway.

A closed-door termination hearing is being held Wednesday for a Joliet police lieutenant who is accused of misusing a license plate reader system.

A Will County judge allowed the jail release of a witness against a Lockport man charged with indecent solicitation of a child after his attorney said his absence from court was an “honest mistake.”

A single-family residence located at 302 Meadow Drive in Shorewood changed ownership on April 28.

A single-family home located at 1712 Scarlett Oak Court in Plainfield has a new owner since May 4.

They each received cash prizes, awarded by the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce Foundation, through Lewis University’s support.

The band South Side Exiles will kick off the Joliet Area Historical Museum's 2026 Roof Top Concert Series on Friday, May 15.

Members of local police departments will be participating Friday in the annual “Cop on a Rooftop” fundraiser to benefit Special Olympics Illinois beginning at 5 a.m.

A single-family house located at 25143 West Glen Oaks Lane in Shorewood changed ownership on April 28.

Future of controversial Earthrise plan now in the hands of the Will County Board.

Brady Kozlowski and Brayden Carlson led Minooka's offensive explosion, Gavin Berger, Tryce Farrell and Kellen Forsythe led one for Coal City and more in Tuesday's Herald-News roundup.

Anthony Couch had two hits, inckuding a home run and four RBIs, from the three hole in the Ottawa Marquette batting order in a 15-0 win over Seneca, while pinch-hitter Rocky Hajduk slugged a three-run homer.

Coal City senior Masyn Kuder threw a shutout in the final Illinois Central Eight Conference softball game of her career Tuesday, leading the visiting Coalers to a 3-0 win over Reed-Custer.

The seeds have been set for the IHSA Girls Soccer playoffs. Now it's just about teams positioning themselves for the big push.

A judge on June 30 could change her decision granting a new trial for a woman serving a life sentence for the 2013 Joliet murders known as “Nightmare on Hickory Street.”

A Joliet man who appeared intoxicated to officers was accused of trespassing at City Square and attempting to fight a man in front of the Rialto Square Theatre, police said.

The Joliet Police Department received a call on Tuesday from an “unknown” person communicating a threat “related to the outside vicinity” of Joliet Central High School.

A judge allowed the jail release of a Romeoville woman charged with recklessly firing a gun in the direction of another woman near a Joliet bar.

A 1,944-square-foot single-family residence, built in 2005, has changed hands.

A single-family home located at 1306 Riverhaven Trail in Joliet changed ownership on April 28.