The health department announced two confirmed human cases of West Nile virus in McHenry County, the first since 2024, with three additional probable human cases under investigation. The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) said Thursday that they identified the first two human cases of neuroinvasive West Nile virus in McHenry County since 2024. Both […]
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 sborcia@lakemchenryscanner.com.
Posted inMcHenry County
‘Dedicated and patriotic’: 21-year-old Illinois National Guard soldier from Algonquin area dies after fiery crash
A 21-year-old Illinois Army National Guard soldier, who is from the Algonquin area, died in a fiery crash while on his way home from an assignment, as state officials say he was a “dedicated and patriotic man.” The Illinois Army National Guard announced Wednesday that it was mourning the death of 21-year-old Aiden Mrotek, who […]
Posted inLake County
‘Random, inexplicable act’: Gunman charged with murdering 50-year-old father after asking him if he was a gang member
A gunman has been charged with murdering a 50-year-old father — shooting him in the head — unprovoked in Waukegan after approaching him and asking if he was a Latin King gang member, which he was not, prosecutors said. Santiago N. Gutierrez-Munoz, 19, of Waukegan, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, a Class […]
Posted inLake County
Lincolnshire-based Essendant Company says it expects to shut down, cutting over 600 jobs in Illinois
The wholesale distributor Essendant, which has operated for over 100 years, says it is laying off over 500 employees at its Lincolnshire headquarters and expects to shut down. Essendant Co. informed the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, along with Lincolnshire Mayor Elizabeth Brandt and Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart, about the layoffs […]
Posted inLake County
Bystanders confront suspect after hearing woman scream for help during sexual assault in Waukegan parking garage
A suspect allegedly sexually abused a woman sleeping in a parking garage in downtown Waukegan, until two people came to her aid, before the suspect then called 911, claiming the woman committed a crime. The Waukegan Police Department responded on August 16 to a parking garage at 111 North County Street in Waukegan, which is […]
Posted inLake County
3 extricated by firefighters, 2 transported to hospital after multiple-vehicle crash causes heavy damage near Gurnee
Firefighters had to extricate three people and transport two of them to the hospital after a multiple-vehicle crash caused heavy damage along Route 45 near Gurnee, fire officials said. The Gurnee Fire Department, Gurnee Police Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 6:39 p.m. on September 3 to the area of Route 45 and […]
Posted inLake County
Coroner identifies 50-year-old father who was discovered fatally shot on Waukegan’s south side
The coroner has released the identity of a 50-year-old father from Waukegan who died after he was shot multiple times on the south side of Waukegan last week. The Waukegan Police Department received a report of gunshots fired around 11 p.m. on August 31 in the area of Lincoln Avenue and 9th Street in Waukegan. […]
Posted inLake County
‘Callous monster’: 46 years in prison for Gurnee man who murdered his own brother on Christmas
A judge sentenced a man to 46 years in prison for murdering his own brother by punching and kicking him so many times that he stopped breathing on Christmas Day in Gurnee after he became “embarrassed” by his brother. Kevin N. Biron-Bomis, 54, of Gurnee, was charged in December 2022 with one count of first-degree […]
Posted inLake County
‘Major victory’: Lake Forest police officer arrives back in U.S. on medical flight after being critically injured on vacation
A family says they are grateful for the community’s donations, which allowed a Lake Forest police officer to return to Chicago on Tuesday on a medical flight after being critically injured on vacation in Nicaragua. The family of Lake Forest Police Officer Filip Czarnecki told Lake and McHenry County Scanner in a statement that they […]