A man and his teenage daughter were awarded a record $6 million in a lawsuit settlement stemming from a 2006 crash in which they were struck by a truck while riding a motorcycle in southwest suburban Joliet. The settlement is reportedly a record for a personal injury case in Will County.

A man was critically injured when he was shot while walking with a wanted man Sunday night. Sources indicated the 23-year-old victim was in "extremely critical condition" at Silver Cross Hospital where he was taken after being shot three times.

A proposed hike in property taxes faced more questions Monday from homeowners and the Joliet City Council. A 20 percent increase in the city tax rate already was facing criticism. But at the budget meeting Monday, staff noted that the actual increase in the city's portion of a property tax bill would be closer to 24 percent because a past abatement is being eliminated.

Opponents of Canadian National Railway Company are celebrating a recent decision by the federal Surface Transportation Board that will see third-party oversight of CN's monthly and quarterly reports on its newly acquired suburban rail line.

For decades, the Brownie Factory on the edge of Gardner was a sweet addition to the village's tax and job base. There were other benefits, too. "On Tuesday, you could always smell cookies in town," said Mayor Tom Wise. That will only be a memory as the factory's owner, Kellogg, hut the 38-year-old factory down and moved operations to another factory it owns in Seelyville, Ind.

Facing a $7.5 million deficit in March, Plainfield School Board touted that Superintendent John Harper agreed to freeze his salary for a year. What the board didn’t say was Harper a got five-year contract valued at about $1.6 million. At the same meeting, the board cut 86 jobs.

Plainfield Superintendent John Harper said anyone can find out his compensation by requesting his contract through the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. That’s exactly what The Herald-News did. But Harper’s contract isn’t an easy read.

Karie Beck, president of the Association of Plainfield Teachers, was a bit surprised to learn about the superintendent’s contract deal. The contract gives Plainfield Superintendent John Harper 100 sick days and possible payment of $91,938 for unused vacation days.

Recent housing starts show the city's economic-stimulus program is having a positive effect, said City Administrator Tim Schloneger.The city has had 14 housing starts since Sept. 1 -- compared with 15 for the eight months preceding September, Schloneger said i