I was born in Joliet and grew up across from Nowell Park on the city's far east-side where I delivered the Joliet Herald-News. I attended grade school at St. Mary Nativity on Broadway. Some of my favorite memories growing up revolve around St, Joseph's Park where I played Little League baseball and had several Catholic Youth Organization basketball games.
At 13, our family moved to Plainfield. By the time I was 16, I knew I wanted to be a journalist. As a teen, I made a few extra bucks as a sports stringer for The Plainfield Enterprise taking photos and covering Plainfield's high school football and basketball games.
I graduated with a journalism degree from Eastern Illinois University. I have had a strong passion and commitment for public service journalism ever since. I am grateful to have covered so many different places throughout the greater Midwest.
After college, I worked for The South Bend Tribune, the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Omaha World-Herald and on the statewide investigative team for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, where I was based at The Post-Crescent in Appleton for five years.
I'm thrilled to be joining Patch as the Joliet Editor at this point in time when more and more people prefer to access their local news through web-only platforms and mobile devices.
Joliet and Will County always seem to have a lot of news going on, and I will do my best to bring you a superior news product.
Edgar Hernandez-Martinez told Joliet police officer Knabel he had one 12-ounce can of Modelo about 10 to 15 minutes prior, prosecutors say.
Kevin’s life was filled with music, service, love for his community and love for his family, who were the heart of his world: GoFundMe
Joliet police responded to St. Joe's Hospital and spoke with the victim, but by the time they went to the Red Roof Inn, Mercado was gone.
Will County judge Derek Ewanic continues to keep more domestic violence in jail under the SAFE-T-Act. Rodolfo Gonzalez is the latest.
Andrew Planeta, 47, has remained inside the Will County Jail since Joliet police arrested him at Home Cut Donuts on Sept. 16.
In October, new University President Ryan Hendrickson revealed USF had been running at a $6 million deficit for a minimum of three years.
At one point, he held a small child and refused to place the child in their child seat, Joliet police said.
Joliet police said their suspect reportedly took a patio brick from outside the residence and shattered a window before fleeing the scene.
Joliet police officers located him in a guest room at the Motel 6, 1850 McDonough Street.
You have the right to film ICE and police activity and the right to refuse to sign anything, Warehouse Workers for Justice told residents.
Officers responded to the 900 block of Plainfield Road for a report of a man with a gun.
The silver Pontiac G6 sedan that Terhan Gordon of Joliet was believed to be driving at the time of his disappearance was found abandoned.
The Shorewood Police Department's Sept. 23 arrest of Juan Bello-Rivera is resulting in a civil forfeiture against the 2007 Honda Civic.
For over 10 years, Kevin could be heard on the airwaves throughout Will County on both 1340 WJOL and Star 96.7 radio stations.
Joliet Patch is the only news outlet to regularly bring you exclusives examining the Will County Courthouse civil docket. Here's our latest.
Corey Jacobs was denied pretrial release over the weekend. He broke his ankle during his West Jefferson Street wreck, authorities noted.
Will County Forest Preserve Police officer Caitlin Mosier spotted the 2021 Jeep Gladiator at the Rock Run Trail Black Road Access.
The man died after crashing his ATV while traveling the wrong way on I-55, state police said.
Camila had not been seen since Friday. Joliet police were seeking help to find her.
ABC Channel 7 in Chicago broke the news regarding the first traffic fatality for the month of November in the Joliet area.
