Good morning, Joliet.

A burning candle left unattended caused a residential fire on Wednesday at a home on Union Street, and first responders arrived within four minutes to extinguish the flames by 2:20 p.m.—the scene was under control—and no injuries were reported.

Chick-fil-A will open at 201 S.

Larkin Ave. in Joliet on Aug. 21 with a cow costume giveaway offering a free entrée or kid’s meal — it is the chain’s second location in town, will employ 90 workers, and will donate $25,000 to Feeding America to support the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

Illinois education officials approved new test cut scores on Wednesday that adjust benchmarks so student performance aligns with college readiness while learning standards remain steady.

The updated scores will mark more students as proficient in English and math compared to last year—officials said the change corrects past misclassifications after an 18-month review.

Several Illinois high schools are launching officiating courses to counter a referee shortage that has worsened since 2012 and accelerated after the pandemic—students learn sports rules and professional skills to officiate local youth games and gain practical, paid experience.

This new focus in training has already led many juniors and seniors toward certification and early officiating opportunities.

Joliet is adding 15 bilingual volunteers to its new Certified Emergency Response Team of 50 members to help Spanish-speaking neighbors during emergencies.

The first class was held on Aug. 1 at the Spanish Community Center—designed to improve communication in crises—and officials say the training will boost the team’s local response.

Twins Braden and Jack Curran are set to finish their high school football careers at Hall as they lead a push to improve a team that fell short last season.

Coach Nick Sterling expects the siblings to bring their experience and leadership to revitalize the program for future success — continuing a cherished tradition.

The Herald-News area girls volleyball season looks set to be competitive with Lockport, Joliet Catholic, and Providence ready for a big postseason hunt—Lockport faces a tough Southwest Prairie Conference while Joliet Catholic gets a new head coach and Providence aims to win a trophy for the first time since 1998.

12th Annual 815 Day Celebration

12-5 p.m. — Nowell Park — Free entry — Celebrate community spirit with live music, local vendors, and activities for all ages.

Old-Growth Measurements Workshop

9 AM – 12 PM — Pilcher Park Nature Center — Free — Engage in measuring and photographing features of rare old-growth forests for community science.

Wine, Jazz and Art Fest

3:30-9 p.m. — Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park — $20 entry — Savor fine wines and enjoy local jazz while browsing unique art by local artists.

LAPS Track Days Event #3 (High Performance Driver Education)

All day event — Autobahn Country Club — Pricing varies — Experience high-speed driving and improve your racing skills in a safe environment.

Lake Erie Crushers vs. Joliet Slammers

1-4 p.m. — Duly Health And Care Field — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy an exciting baseball game featuring local favorites, the Joliet Slammers.

Stepping Up Virtual 5K

Anytime from Sep 7-14 — KSKJ Life — Registration required — Step up for lung health and support national parks while enjoying a 5K at your own pace.