The owner of a now-closed smoke shop in downtown McHenry has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to jail time after he was caught with a variety of drugs by a narcotics task force. Michael H. Brill, 70, of Holiday Hills, was charged in February 2025 with possession of LSD with intent to deliver, manufacturing or delivery […]
Sam Borcia
Sam Borcia is the CEO and Publisher of Lake and McHenry County Scanner based in Gurnee, 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].
Posted inLocal News
Residents left homeless after fire causes extensive damage throughout house in Waukegan
Residents were left homeless after a fire broke out and caused damage throughout their house in Waukegan, sending heavy smoke billowing from the scene. The Waukegan Fire Department responded around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday to the 1800 block of West Greenwood Avenue in Waukegan for a report of a structure fire. Waukegan Fire Department Battalion Chief Todd […]
Posted inLocal News
Former Round Lake woman arrested for allegedly giving chewable laxatives to very young kids at daycare center
A former Round Lake woman was arrested after police say she gave several children, who were two and younger, laxatives while working as a teacher at a daycare center in St. Charles. The St. Charles Police Department was notified around 9:43 a.m. on February 3 about an attempted aggravated battery involving several children. Multiple parents […]
Posted inLocal News
Students at schools across McHenry County walk out of class in protest of ICE, Trump administration
Students at numerous schools across McHenry County led walkouts from class this week in protest of ICE and the Trump administration, saying they need to “stand up for what is right.” Students at McHenry High School’s Upper Campus and Freshman Campus led walkouts in between sixth and seventh periods. The students met up outside by […]
Posted inLocal News
3 years in prison for Cary man convicted of killing police officer in wrong-way driving crash in Barrington
A Cary man has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to killing a police officer, who was also a Cary resident, in a speeding, wrong-way driving crash in Barrington. Barrington Police Chief David Daigle said a 2020 Kia Forte, driven by Christopher Lopez, 24, of Cary, was traveling northbound on Northwest […]
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Multiple suspects on the run after forcing entry and burglarizing sports bar in Ingleside
The sheriff is investigating after multiple suspects forced entry and burglarized a sports bar and grill in Ingleside early Friday morning before fleeing. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 4 a.m. Friday to Rookies Sports Bar and Grill, 26440 West Wooster Lake Drive in Ingleside. Lake County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Matthew Harmon said deputies […]
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Lake in the Hills man charged with sexually assaulting two children, including one who suffered years of abuse
A Lake in the Hills man was arrested after officials say he sexually assaulted a girl for years, starting when she was seven, and also sexually assaulted a second child in McHenry County. Michael Montero, 35, of Lake in the Hills, was charged with five counts of predatory criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony, […]
Posted inLocal News
Residents left homeless after fire breaks out, sending flames from house near McHenry
Residents were left homeless after an overnight fire broke out and sent flames and smoke from their house near McHenry Saturday morning, fire officials said. The McHenry Township Fire Protection District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 1:52 a.m. Saturday to the 2500 block of North Freedom Drive in unincorporated McHenry for a report […]
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‘Careless and reckless’: Prosecutors say man was driving 90 mph, never braked before killing victim in fiery crash in North Chicago
Prosecutors say a Round Lake man had alcohol and THC in his system as he drove 90 mph, slamming into another car without braking and killing another man, whose car erupted in flames in North Chicago. Anebal Hicks, 24, of Round Lake, was charged with two counts of reckless homicide by motor vehicle, a Class […]