A young girl was left critically injured but is recovering after she was involved in an ATV rollover accident in Hebron that required her to be flown to the hospital. The incident happened just before 7:15 p.m. on August 4, according to Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Chief Thomas Linneman. Linneman said family members brought a young child […]
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].
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Highland Park High School teacher arrested for allegedly placing her child in chokehold, hitting him in face in Wauconda
A Highland Park High School teacher has been arrested and placed on leave after authorities say she physically abused her child by placing him in a chokehold and hitting him in the face in Wauconda. Bridget B. Fahrner, 48, of Wauconda, was charged with domestic battery causing bodily harm, a Class A misdemeanor, and domestic […]
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14 years in prison for McHenry man who distributed horrific sexual abuse videos of children as young as infants
A McHenry man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after prosecutors say he distributed online horrific videos of children as young as infants being sexually abused. Robert S. Nolan, 37, of McHenry, was charged in June 2025 with 10 counts of reproducing or distributing child sexual abuse material, a Class X felony. The […]
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‘Filled every room she entered’: Funeral services held for Round Lake Beach mother of 4 who went missing, was found dead
Funeral services were held for a mother of four girls from Round Lake Beach who was found dead in Round Lake after being reported missing, with her being remembered for her personality that “filled every room she entered.” Laura Rodriguez-Vazquez, 44, of Round Lake Beach, was reported missing to the Round Lake Beach Police Department. […]
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Man charged with randomly attacking person with wooden object as they were landscaping, prompting SWAT response in Waukegan
A suspect has been charged after authorities say he randomly attacked a person who was landscaping at a home in Waukegan and then barricaded himself, prompting a SWAT standoff Friday. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team was requested Friday afternoon to assist the Waukegan Police Department at a home in the 600 block of […]
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City blames aging infrastructure after repeated water main, gas line breaks at site of Route 47 construction project in Woodstock
The city is blaming aging infrastructure amid criticism from residents and businesses following multiple recent water main and gas main breaks in a construction zone on Route 47 in Woodstock. The City of Woodstock said in an alert on Monday afternoon that the city was responding to a water main break near Route 47 and […]
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‘Much is unknown’: 15-year-old boy in coma after severe brain injury in e-bike crash with car near Crystal Lake school
A 15-year-old boy, who is the son of the owner of a Crystal Lake tattoo shop, suffered a severe brain injury and was in a coma after an electric bike crash with a car near Crystal Lake, as a fundraiser has been created for his family. Jack Beatty, 15, of Crystal Lake, was riding his […]
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‘Life ended far too soon’: Doctor, father dies after being found unresponsive in swimming pool at Deerfield recreation center
A 56-year-old man, who was a doctor, father and “devoted husband,” died after he was found unresponsive in a pool at a park district recreation center in Deerfield. The Deerfield Police Department and Northbrook Fire Department responded around 7:15 a.m. on July 31 to the Sachs Recreation Center, 455 Lake Cook Road in Deerfield, for […]
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‘Sends a clear message’: 5 years in prison for McHenry County serial window peeper convicted of 4th such offense
A man, who is a serial window peeper involving women, has been sentenced to five years in prison after prosecutors say he has window peeped in McHenry County at least six times. Dustin D. Hanabarger, 37, of Union, was charged in June 2025 with one count of enhanced disorderly conduct by window peeping, a Class […]