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Hot Pants / Bra Bust / Animal Cruelty Case / Boy-Fondler Arrested Again

Week in Headlines: Gambler Mom Left Kid: Cops / Grumpy Old Women / Jewel Workers Slashed

Miss a day, miss a lot. Let's catch up on the week:

Pants on Fire — Exploding E-Cig Battery Burned Up Man’s Pants: Lawsuit

An exploding electronic cigarette battery engulfed a man’s pants in flames and left him severely injured, according to a lawsuit filed in Will County court.

Bra Loaded With Heroin Lands Lady in Jail: Cops

A woman with heroin hidden in her bra was arrested when she drove through Braidwood, police said.

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Pit Bull Seen Hanging From Fence: Cops

A Joliet man was charged with animal cruelty after the cops investigated a report of a pit bull hanging from a fence, police said.

Joliet Woman Jailed For Fondling Boy Gets Locked Up Again

A Joliet woman jailed for fondling a young boy’s penis was locked up again for allegedly violating the state’s rules for sex offenders.

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Gambling Mom Left Kid in Car While She Pushed Her Luck at Gaming Place: Cops

A Lockport woman left her kid in the car while she gambled at a Joliet gaming place, police said.

‘Grumpy Old Women and Their Wives’ Post By Board Member Draws Ire

A Will County board member said he meant no offense when he posted a quote referring to participants in the Women’s March on Washington as “grumpy old women and their wives.”

Jewel Workers Slashed By Liquor-Stealing Ex-Con: Cops

A liquor-stealing ex-convict slashed as many as three Jewel workers and sent at least one to the hospital, police said.

Old Lady Back in Jail For Allegedly Punching Jim Moustis in Shoulder

An old woman indicted on felony charges this week for allegedly straightening up from her walker long enough to punch county board speaker Jim Moustis in the shoulder was back behind bars Friday morning.

New Dress Boutique Specializes in Communion and Teen Formalwear

Two local moms opened a boutique that specializes in teen formal wear and communion dresses. Following a two-week soft opening, a grand opening trunk show is scheduled for Saturday.

ER Patient Exposed His Penis, Grabbed Woman Around Waist: Cops

A patient in the Presence St. Joseph Medical Center emergency room exposed his penis to a female staffer, then grabbed her around the waist and wouldn’t let her go, police said.

State Trooper Sues Trucker Who Crashed Into His Cop Car

A state trooper allegedly injured when a tractor-trailer slammed into the back of his stopped squad car is suing the truck driver who crashed into him.

Armed Robber Wanted For Speedway Stickup: Cops

A University Park man was charged with an October armed robbery at a Speedway station.

Addy Pusher Pinched: Cops

A woman was arrested right after she sold 21 Adderall pills from her pickup truck Tuesday night, police said.

Ex-Fiancee Refuses to Return $42K Engagement Ring: Lawsuit

A Willow Springs woman has refused to return a $42,300 engagement ring to her former fiance, according to a lawsuit filed in Will County court, and she also stiffed him on $10,000 in loans.

Rolling Meadows Cops Throw in Towel, Give Up Search For Serial Killer’s Victim in Joliet House: Source

After searching the crawlspace of a not-very-large Joliet house for nearly a full week in hopes of locating the victim of a 1970s serial killer, the Rolling Meadows police have given up, a police source said.

Brandon Road Bridge Won't Open Till March 20 — At Best

The Brandon Road bridge will remain closed until at least March 20, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced Tuesday.

Truck Trailer Struck Viaduct, Forces Closure of Northbound Scott Street

A truck trailer struck the viaduct crossing Scott Street north of Irving Street Tuesday morning, causing structural damage and forcing the closure of northbound Scott, police said.

Man Shot to Death While Sitting in Parked Car Had Been Shot Before While Sitting in Parked Car

Howard Blankenship took bullets to his arm and leg while he was sitting in a parked car more than 16 years ago. Blankenship survived that gun attack. Friday night he was shot again while he sat in a parked car. He wasn’t so lucky this time.

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