Will County Gazette

'No budget, no pay' was Mark Batinick’s idea not his opponent’s

By W.J. Kennedy | Oct 3, 2018

State Rep. Mark Batinick’s (R-Plainfield) opponent has been sending out campaign mailers with a message that Batinick could have dreamed up himself. In fact, he did.

Edgar County Watchdogs think police should be investigating DuPage Township finances

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 5, 2018

The auditors of DuPage Township’s financial transactions who uncovered ambiguous reports of stolen cash and questionable money dealings should have recommended an investigation by law enforcement, a government watchdog group says.

Will County officials questioning why convicted Joliet rapist was never deported

By W.J. Kennedy | Aug 22, 2018

Illegal Mexican immigrant and convicted rapist Miguel Luna was arrested 36 times for minor traffic offenses between 2001 and 2016, Will County sheriff and Circuit Court records show.

Edgar County Watchdogs: DuPage Township supervisor exceeded authority hiring attorney

By W.J. Kennedy | Aug 14, 2018

DuPage Township Supervisor William Mayer hired a law firm without the consent of the township's board as required by law, and memberships to civic groups were unlawfully paid for out of township funds in the latest irregularities uncovered by the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW).

Football coach responds to Dupage Township Trustees: 'saying that I called anyone a racist is totally inaccurate'

By W.J. Kennedy | Aug 2, 2018

Duane Bell, president of a youth football team in Bolingbrook, said that two DuPage Township Trustees mischaracterized his comments that appeared in a Will County Gazette story covering uneven township funding of local sports teams.

Charges of racial discrimination, favoritism and budget irregularities in DuPage Township

By W.J. Kennedy | Jul 20, 2018

Nearly half a million dollars spent by DuPage Township on community groups over the past five years has not only piqued the interest of a government watchdog group, but has led to allegations of racial discrimination for favoritism of one group over another.

Benford probing deeper into 'questionable' DuPage Township expenditures

By W.J. Kennedy | Jul 5, 2018

In May, information technology expert, Anthony D’Andrea, had his fill of helping DuPage Township.

County board member Balich seeks answers on why admitted rapist was never deported

By W.J. Kennedy | Jun 14, 2018

Will County board member Steve Balich is desperate for answers into why an undocumented immigrant, who in May pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault, was even in this country in the first place.

Fired DuPage Township employee gets job back in settlement

By W.J. Kennedy | Jun 7, 2018

Fired DuPage Township employee Linda Youngs won her job back and will receive back pay in a settlement of a case she brought against three members of the township board who voted to fire her during a March 27 board meeting, her attorney Joe Giamanco told the Will County Gazette.

From Kane County Reporter

Military vets 'infuriated' over statements by U of I graduate assistants want to ship 'them all off to North Korea'

By W.J. Kennedy | 6 years ago

The Graduate Employee Organization (GEO), a union of graduate students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), has inadvertently drawn military veterans into a battle over controversial legislation in the state House that would unionize research assistants who help teach courses under the GEO’s umbrella.

Will County board member on mission to open the curtain on employee bonuses

By W.J. Kennedy | May 9, 2018

Will County board member Steve Balich finally got some answers to his questions about the number and amount of bonuses given out to county employees over the past year after he erupted over the issue at a May 1 Finance Committee meeting.

DuPage Township embroiled in financial, legal battles

By W.J. Kennedy | May 9, 2018

Residents of DuPage Township looking for more insight into a lawsuit over the firing of a township employee, financial irregularities and even a charge of sexual harassment by a trustee were left with no answers last night as three of five trustees failed to appear and the regular board meeting lacked a quorum.

Indian Prairie superintendent spent $1,200 to fight funding bill beneficial to her district

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 1, 2017

Indian Prairie School Superintendent Karen Sullivan sided with many other Illinois school officials opposed to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s school funding plan even though their districts would have received more funding under the governor’s plan.