Sex Offender Photographs Kids | Wig-Wearing Bandits? | Child Stabbed

ILLINOIS — On the weekend, we present a week in review of the top stories and headlines from all across Illinois. Here's a roundup of some of the most-read stories across the state. You can also find your local Patch and catch up on those stories by clicking here.

Sex Offender Caught Photographing Kids, Gets 14 Years: Weis

Deputies arrived to find a shirtless girl, under the age of 10, in a creek with the 62-year-old registered sex offender. When the man was alerted to deputies' presence, he put his pants on backwards and exited the creek, officials said, adding he was not wearing underwear. When deputies searched his phone, they found photos of the young girl and her sister.

Suspects In Custody After Chase Bank Robbery: Cops

Two middle-aged men, possibly wearing wigs, attempted to rob the bank at gunpoint, authorities said. Approximately 15 people were inside the bank at the time of the robbery attempt.

9-Year-Old Child Stabbed By Mom's Boyfriend: Sheriff

A 30-year-old man was charged with attempted murder after he repeatedly stabbed the 9-year-old child in the home they shared, authorities said. The mother found the critically injured child when she arrived home after receiving a phone call asking her why the child wasn't at school.

Man Wins $1 Million In IL Lotto 3 Days After Breakup With Girlfriend

Reeling from a breakup days before Valentine's Day, he said, “You can say I haven’t had much luck in the love department, but that’s alright because now I really hit the jackpot!”

ShotSpotter Shown The Door, Mayor Will Not Renew Contract

Critics say the gunshot detection system has played a role in several deaths. In 2018, two police officers were killed by a train when ShotSpotter picked up gunfire. A man allegedly told police he found a gun lying on the train tracks and “tested” it by firing it. The mayor also called ShotSpotter “unreliable” and blamed the system of microphones for the death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo in March 2021, who was shot and killed by an officer responding to an alert.

Another Deadly Fire At A Love's Travel Center

Firefighters discovered the remains of the unidentified male after putting out the van fire in the middle of the night. In November, two victims died in an RV fire at the same location.

Public Defender Sues To Be Able To Display Photo Holding Rifle

She said she displayed the photo of her Israeli military service in her office for nearly 20 years before it was confiscated in the wake of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. "They told her ... supervisors that the Photo was comparable to a Nazi swastika," her complaint said.