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The Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed that a 51-year-old Will County resident contracted West Nile virus in mid-August and is recovering while officials urge residents to use insect repellent and wear long clothing as mosquito batches testing positive were found near Plainfield (and other local communities).

The Plainfield School District 202 Foundation for Excellence is offering nine scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year — including two new awards for Angie and John Muhlig and Bonnie Hagen Rizzo—to recognize academic achievement and leadership.

Students may review eligibility and deadlines on the foundation website.

The Illinois Department of Transportation will reduce lanes on Interstate 55 at Interstate 80 in the Joliet area tonight and Thursday night for new steel beam installation on the I-80 bridge; detours will redirect traffic and lanes will reopen by early morning.

An interactive map now shows 2026 housing wages across 102 counties so readers can learn how much they must earn to afford rent.

The graphic was generated with National Low Income Housing Coalition data + fact-checked by Shaw Local.

Local homeowners can now tackle fall home and yard upkeep — cleaning dryer vents, gutters, and chimneys, checking weatherstripping, and planting trees — to prevent damage and lower repair costs after severe summer storms.

Northern Illinois hospitals have seen long emergency room waits as patients board when inpatient beds are scarce, and medical teams at Joliet and nearby areas are boosting triage efforts (one hospital cut delays by 65%) to better manage care.

Road closures due to construction will remain on several major routes in Will County for Labor Day weekend, causing travel delays during peak times Friday noon to 8 p.m. and Monday 2 to 5 p.m. across areas including Joliet, Rockdale, Channahon and Elwood.

Will County Forest Preserve District has announced a schedule of events starting Sept 7.

Highlights include a Sept 10 walking tour in Joliet, a sunset paddle on Sept 11 at Monee Reservoir, bike recycling, a fungus hike, yoga sessions & a living history encounter at local sites.