A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder after he “recklessly” shot a rifle, fatally shooting a mother as she read to her baby in her Zion home last month. An arrest warrant has been issued for Zechariah C. Myles, 16, of the 2800 block of Enoch Avenue in Zion, for first-degree murder, according to […]
Category: Local News
Authorities identify 77-year-old man who died after catching himself on fire in McHenry
The coroner has identified a 77-year-old man who died after he tried lighting a cigarette in his apartment and caught himself on fire last week in McHenry. An autopsy was completed on Friday on Larry R. Branklin, 77, of McHenry, and toxicology results are pending, according to McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein. The McHenry […]
Kyle Rittenhouse breaks down while testifying, says that first man he shot threatened to kill him, ‘rip his heart out’
A judge ordered a recess in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial Wednesday morning after Rittenhouse began crying and choking up while testifying about the moments leading up to when he shot the three men. Rittenhouse, 18, formerly of Antioch, said he now lives in Walworth County, Wisconsin, and is studying nursing at Arizona State University. Rittenhouse, […]
Nearly a dozen families displaced after extra-alarm fire at apartment building in Round Lake
Fire officials say 10 families were displaced after an extra-alarm fire at an apartment building in Round Lake Tuesday afternoon. The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday to North Fox Trail and West Turtle Creek Lane in Round Lake for a report of smoke coming from a building. Greater Round […]
Appeals court overturns Round Lake Beach man’s sexual assault conviction, sentence due to error made by prosecutors
An Illinois appeals court overturned a Round Lake Beach man’s conviction and sentence in a child sexual assault case, ruling that prosecutors made a technical error while charging the man. Efrain V. Ortega, 55, of Round Lake Beach, was charged in 2003 with predatory criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault of a child and […]
Kyle Rittenhouse’s defense presents their case during trial Tuesday after prosecutors rest their case
Prosecutors finished presenting their case on Tuesday in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial and Rittenhouse’s defense team began presenting their side. As the trial resumed Tuesday morning, Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder said that someone was caught filming the jurors as they arrived in the courtroom on Monday. Deputies forced the person to delete the […]
Authorities identify 23-year-old man ejected, killed in high-speed crash in Lake Villa
The coroner’s office has identified a 23-year-old man who was killed Sunday evening after he drove his car off the roadway and struck two utility poles in Lake Villa. An autopsy showed that Brandon Holmgren, 23, of Lake Villa, died from multiple blunt force injuries, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek. The Lake Villa […]
Judge dismisses curfew charge against Kyle Rittenhouse as prosecution rests their case
The judge in the Kyle Rittenhouse case dismissed the curfew charge against Rittenhouse Tuesday as prosecutors rested their case in the trial. As the trial resumed Tuesday morning, Kenosha County Judge Bruce Schroeder said that someone was caught filming the jurors as they arrived in the courtroom on Monday. Deputies forced the person to delete […]
‘Groundbreaking program’: McHenry County creates countywide police social worker program
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with local police departments to have social workers respond alongside officers to certain calls involving mental health crises. Officials called it a “groundbreaking program,” which was developed in cooperation with the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, the McHenry County Board, and the McHenry County Mental Health Board. It will […]