Good morning, Joliet.

Officials will assess August storm damage in Will County by having teams from FEMA + IEMA + SBA and county emergency management go door-to-door from Monday, Aug.

31 through Wednesday, Sept. 2; their evaluation will help determine if residents, businesses, and nonprofits qualify for disaster relief assistance.

Will County featured Pets of the Week on Aug.

31, showcasing six adoptable animals from local shelters — including lab mix Zella, rescue cat Bonnie, beagle Winnie, playful kitten Zuko, gentle Sunflower and social Chatty Carnelian — available for adoption inquiries.

Coaches shared previews for the 2026 girls cross country season in local schools.

Teams from Newark, Oswego, and Yorkville detailed top returners and key newcomers as they prepare for upcoming meets and aim for competitive progress.

CCL Week 2 saw Mount Carmel rally from a 30-0 deficit to win 48-44 over St. Joseph Regional in Chicago and Montini’s 25-game win streak end with a 35-28 loss to Sandburg in Orland Park — other local matchups in Chicago, La Grange Park and Joliet delivered strong plays.

Former high school football stars Jonathan Ward and Josh Gesky secured NFL practice squad spots, with Ward joining the Baltimore Ravens on Aug.

17 + Gesky signing with the Green Bay Packers on April 25. Both men built on years of experience to further their football careers.

On Monday, St. Anne girls volleyball improved to a 3-0 record with a home win over Hope Christian while Gardner-South Wilmington lost on the road and Donovan fell at home in early season contests.

Friday Night Drive podcast episode 363 delivers analysis of Week 2 high school football featuring hosts Steve Soucie and Matt Rodewald.

The discussion highlights team trends and strategies for Joliet-area fans (as part of the 2026 season).

Joliet Slammers offer $12 infield reserved tickets through Thursday at 5 p.m., with $2 per ticket donated to the Imagination Library in memory of Dolly Parton to support childhood literacy.

Fans can get tickets by saying Dolly at purchase+use the promo code ThankYouDolly online.

Joliet Central rallied from a 14-0 deficit to win 27-26 Friday night with a touchdown pass from Jeffrey Woods, boosting hopes for their first playoff spot since 1976.

Joliet West, after a tough home opener, remains confident in its game plan, said coach Daniel Tito.

Kaneland senior Gavin Smith switched from football to cross country last year to improve track times and became the No. 3 runner.

He posted a personal-best 15:53.2 at the Kane County Invitational on Saturday and now aims to compete in college while majoring in accounting (college offers pending).

Joliet Central secured a 2-0 record with a dramatic last-minute stop that qualified the team for the playoffs for the first time since the 1960s.

The season now allows teams with even two wins to advance under the new playoff system.