It was another strong week for the teams at or near the top of the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings as three new or returning teams joined the group. Check out this week rankings here:

Kankakee scored 20 unanswered points to close out Monday's 40-26 win over Plainfield South in the first round of the IHSA Kankakee Regional.

Kankakee secured a 40-26 win over Plainfield South in the first round of the IHSA Kankakee Regional on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.

IDOT announced that patching and resurfacing of the Interstate 55 west frontage road from Front Street to Bluff Road in Channahon will cause intermittent daytime lane closures starting Monday, Oct. 13.

At 1:30 p.m. Sunday, officers responded to the crash on the westbound lanes of I-80 at milepost 138, according to a statement from Illinois State Police.

Joliet Catholic likely needs to win out to make the playoffs this year, Morris stays perfect and more in this week's Herald-News Notebook.

Brayden Mooney scored two goals in a 3-0 win over Plainfield South to earn Athlete of the Week honors.

The Chicago Bears will return to practice at Halas Hall on Tuesday after their Week 5 bye. After a 2-2 start to the season, here are five big questions the Bears will need to answer.

Read the description of each pet to learn about it, including where it can be adopted in Will County.

Dwight football picked up its second win of the season with a thrashing of St. Bede and more in the Herald-News Saturday Prep Roundup.

Mark your calendar now for the Joliet Public Library fall book sale. Expect to find hardcovers, paperbacks, audiobooks, movies, and music.

The CCL/ESCC had a number of fantastic matchups this week further proving the power possessed by the strongest conference in the state. Steve Soucie takes a look at what we learned in Week 6.

Visitors will discover the wildlife that called the area that would become Will County home and view these creatures from the past through their fossils.

Business owners and landlord’s in Joliet’s Special Service Area are invited to have coffee with Emmanuel Lopez, the new executive director for the Joliet City Center Partnership.

To participate in this program, residents must place their branches at the edge of the parkway, cut ends facing the street, prior to 7 a.m. on Monday.

Dwight built a 35-point halftime lead Saturday on the way to a 48-14 victory over St. Bede in Peru.

More than 2,000 people have participated this year in the forest preserve district's Be a Trailblazer program, completing over 60,000 nature-themed missions.

This event will feature one-on-one matchups between youths in grades four through 10, vendors, music and family-friendly activities.

Naperville North finished first as a team at the Locktoberfest boys cross country meet Saturday while Lincoln-Way East's Brendan Hanrahan finished first as an individual.

Locally, SERVPRO-Joliet, which includes Crest Hill and Romeoville, opened in 2005, according to SERVPRO- Joliet.

A brief shelter in place order was issued to area residents on Friday morning when Joliet police executed a search warrant on the residence and arrested Reginald Rogers, 33, of Joliet.

Pfc. Vincent Vega was killed in the Korean War 75 years ago. He had been officially missing in action since a battle at Osan in Korea in June 1950 until his remains were finally identified earlier this year. A funeral Mass was held for him in Joliet on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. His burial was held later at Abraham Lincoln Cemetery in Elwood.

The ramp is scheduled to open by 10 a.m. Saturday, weather permitting, the Illinois Department of Transportation said.

On a fourth-and-inches from its own territory, Providence's Broden Mackert took the handoff and ran 81 yards to the end zone, putting the Celtics ahead 28-14 and closing the scoring on Providence victory over Marist.

Mariano Velasco caught a touchdown pass and had a pick-6, Dekker Zelensek ran for a pair of long touchdowns, Ammar Banire rushed for two more and Kaleb Stumpenhorst drilled a 50-yard field goal as Oswego celebrated homecoming with a 48-6 victory over Joliet West.

Lincoln-Way Central picked up a 28-20 homecoming win over previously undefeated Bradley-Bourbonnais in a Friday night clash between two of the state's very best Class 7A teams.

In a homecoming rivalry game, Plainfield North leaned heavily on its ground game, chewed up clock and played stout run defense to pull away from Plainfield East in a dominant 42-7 victory.

Lockport's Chris Miller scored what proved to be the winning touchdown, and fellow senior Nick Moerman had a huge quarterback sack as the Porters prevailed 14-7 over Naperville Central in overtime Friday.

The Coalers forced four Manteno turnovers, got four Connor Henline touchdown passes, and saw three players score at least two touchdowns apiece in a 55-0 win at Manteno on Friday

Mick Smith and Caeden Curran each scored twice on the ground as Morris remained unbeaten with a 37-14 win over Rochelle

Lincoln-Way Central held off Bradley-Bourbonnais for a 28-20 victory in Week 6 football on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025.

Joliet Catholic hosted a varsity football game against Niles Notre Dame at Busey Bank Field at Joliet Memorial Stadium on Friday, Oct. 3.

Coal City defeats Manteno 55-0 in Week 6 football on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025.

Lincoln-Way East's Jonas Williams broke the state passing touchdown record during a varsity football game against Metea Valley at Lincoln-Way East on Friday, Oct. 3.

The DeKalb football team met Lincoln-Way West Friday night in a nonconference matchup at DeKalb High School.

Joliet Central students are being dismissed at 1:15 p.m. following normal dismissal procedures, according to Joliet Township High School District 204.

Illinois State Police Troop 3 Commander Captain Patrick Manno announced the results of roadside safety checks held in Cook, DuPage, Kane, and Will counties during the month of September.

Troy Township and the Shorewood Police Department have announced a drive-thru shredding and medication disposal event. This free event is open to all Troy Township residents.

A look at the postseason paths ahead for Will County's girls flag football teams, including Joliet West, Joliet Central, the four Plainfields, Romeoville, Minooka and Bolingbrook.

Watch football and baseball playoff games at one of these lively sports bars in northern Illinois.

The company’s premiere of “The Great Gatsby” is a Broadway-style take on the iconic story.

The Chicago Bears get a chance to reevaluate the first four weeks of the Ben Johnson era with a Week 5 bye this weekend. Here's how Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar graded the Bears four games into the season.

Coal City was on the right side of a one-goal thriller with Herscher on the Coalers' home turf Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025.

Coal City got a late goal from sophomore Carter Hollis to pick up a 2-1 win over Herscher in Illinois Central Eight Conference play, the latest of a series of close battles between top ICE teams.

Joliet West, Lockport and Morris stayed hot on the volleyball court and more in Thursday's Herald-News Roundup

What astonished her most while observing chimpanzees in Tanzania in 1960 was the deep empathy they expressed. After her death at age 91, Jane Goodall’s environmental and conservation legacy resounds far beyond the wildlife she dedicated her life to protect.

A funeral will be held on Friday in Joliet for a soldier who fought in the Korean War after his remains were positively identified. 

Classic Car Show, a two-day event set for Oct. 4-5 at the Grundy County Fairgrounds, features classic vehicles, a swap meet, craft show and raffle drawings.

The “Marching Spartans” will host nine marching bands at the annual Spartan Classic band competition on Saturday.

HellsGate Haunted House in Lockport is now open for the 2025 Halloween season.