Daily Joliet Logo Daily Joliet

Thursday, January 29th, 2026

SHARE

Good morning, Joliet. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 29th of January.

COMMUNITY NEWS

  • The Joliet Public Library is mourning Digital Media Studio manager Josh Phillips, who passed away this weekend as his innovative work transformed library programming and built a supportive team environment.  Herald-News

CULTURE NEWS

  • Downtown Joliet is set for a weekend of live music, comedy and a wedding expo at Rialto Square Theatre — today the Vitamin String Quartet performs while Brett Young and Drew Lynch follow, and a beer tasting in Crest Hill complements the festivities.  Herald-News

EDUCATION NEWS

  • Dirksen Jr. High reopened Wednesday after a Friday fire in its music room caused smoke and water damage, prompting cleaning, air quality testing and the relocation of students and teachers. Three affected rooms remain closed while the building was inspected and cleared for occupancy by school officials.  Herald-News

GOVERNMENT NEWS

  • The Ruby Street bridge in downtown reopened Wednesday morning after an electrical failure closed it Sunday — IDOT said repair crews are still assessing the extent of needed repairs.  Herald-News

HEALTH NEWS

  • Advanced Family Dental in Crest Hill offers a patient-centered approach to ease dental anxiety by encouraging questions and using relaxation techniques so nervous patients feel comfortable during routine appointments.  Herald-News
  • Versiti Blood Center of Illinois is seeking blood donations, especially O-negative and O-positive blood, to restore hospital supplies after winter weather reduced donor turnout. Donors can visit local centers such as Joliet Blood Donation Center at 2625 W Jefferson St or schedule an appointment.  Herald-News

SPORTS NEWS

  • Peotone rallied from a double digit deficit to beat Beecher 64 to 52 on Wednesday, Jan. 28 as Ethan McNeil scored 21 points and Alex Chenoweth added 18, powering a strong second half that turned the game around.  Herald-News
  • Plainfield South’s young basketball team outscored Morris 57-29 on Wednesday night as first-year varsity players, led by Brayden Ablin’s 15 points, shined on defense + shot well in the first half. Coach Jeff Howard says the win highlights their continued growth this season.  Herald-News

EVENTS

SUBMIT EVENT
  • Emo Night LIVE featuring All American Throwbacks

    8 PM – 12 AM — The Forge — Ticket required — Relive the emo era with live performances and a vibrant atmosphere at The Forge.

    Fri, 2/13/26

    View event

REAL ESTATE

SUBMIT LISTING

No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.

JOB BOARD

SUBMIT JOB

No new job posts today. You can submit one here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SUBMIT

No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.

TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

Know who said this? Send us an email!

Reveal the author
About Daily Joliet

Welcome to the Daily Joliet, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Joliet, Illinois community. If you like the Daily Joliet, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Joliet.

Advertising Opportunities

Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Joliet and across Illinois. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.

Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.

Community, delivered

Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.

You can unsubscribe at any time.

Subscribe to Daily Joliet

A free Joliet community newsletter.

Daily local news
We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
6AM City
A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.

© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here