Forecasters are warning about dangerous, arctic cold moving into the Chicago area that is expected to bring wind chills as low as -40 degrees in the coming days. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued an extreme cold watch on Wednesday morning for the northern Illinois area. The watch covers the Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, Cook, […]
Sam Borcia
Sam Borcia is the CEO and Publisher of Lake and McHenry County Scanner based in Libertyville, Illinois. His focus is reporting on local news covering crime, government, traffic and more around Lake County, Illinois and McHenry County, Illinois. Sam founded Lake and McHenry County Scanner in January 2012 and has extensive experience covering news. His reporting has garnered coverage by major national and international outlets. He graduated from DePaul University in Chicago. You can get in touch with Sam by emailing [email protected].
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8 years in prison for machete-wielding suspect who physically restrained clerk during robbery at Mundelein store
A judge sentenced a suspect to eight years in prison after prosecutors said he beat and tied up a clerk during a robbery at a gas station in Mundelein while he was armed with a machete. Lexarez L. Beles, 44, of Highwood, was charged in January 2025 with armed robbery, aggravated kidnapping while armed, aggravated […]
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U.S. congressmen representing parts of Lake, McHenry counties file to impeach DHS secretary over immigration operations
Two U.S. congressmen who represent parts of Lake and McHenry counties have filed articles of impeachment against the DHS secretary, saying she has brought a “reign of terror” with her immigration enforcement operations. U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) have joined nearly 70 other members of Congress in co-sponsoring an […]
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Sheriff says driver was possibly intoxicated, leading to crash into tree that left him dead in Wonder Lake
Investigators say a 50-year-old driver found dead after his car drove off the roadway and crashed into a tree in Wonder Lake Monday morning was not wearing a seatbelt and was possibly intoxicated. The Wonder Lake Fire Protection District, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Wonder Lake Police Department responded around 8:29 a.m. Monday to the […]
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Police charge driver who was uninjured after crashing pickup truck into icy pond in Gurnee
Police say they have cited a man who was able to escape his pickup truck without injury after he crashed into an icy pond in below-freezing temperatures in Gurnee early Sunday morning. The Gurnee Police Department and Gurnee Fire Department responded around 3:15 a.m. Sunday to a pond located at the northeast corner of Lawson […]
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Cary man accused of burglarizing barber shop in downtown Crystal Lake, stealing hair clippers
A Cary man was arrested after officials say he forced entry and burglarized a barber shop in downtown Crystal Lake where he stole hair clippers during the overnight hours. Gerad L. Ales, 44, of Cary, was charged with burglary, a Class 2 felony; theft over $500, a Class 3 felony; and criminal damage to property, […]
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Driver sentenced to probation for multiple-vehicle crash that killed ‘loving mother, grandmother’ in Waukegan
A driver has been sentenced to probation after authorities say he drove through a red light while speeding and caused a three-vehicle crash that killed a “loving mother, grandmother” in Waukegan. Francisco J. Martinez, 52, of Waukegan, was charged in December 2023 with two counts of reckless homicide, a Class 3 felony. A Lake County […]
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Advocate Health Care employee from McHenry recognized as nurse leader of year at Chicago Bears game
An Advocate Health Care employee from McHenry who works at a hospital in Libertyville was recognized as the company’s nurse leader of the year and featured as a special guest during the Chicago Bears game. Advocate Health Care said two of its top nursing professionals were recognized at Soldier Field on Sunday as the Chicago […]
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3 seriously injured, 1 rescued from car that became engulfed in flames after crash near Algonquin
Three people suffered serious injuries, including one person who was rescued from their car that became engulfed in flames after a vehicle crash on Route 31 near Algonquin Monday morning. The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District responded around 6:50 a.m. Monday to the area of Route 31 and South Lundstrom Lane in unincorporated […]