Illinois
Dolton, Illinois Village Board meets for first time since Thornton Township brawl, investigation results
DOLTON, Ill. (CBS) — Extra security was in place Monday night for a Dolton Village Board meeting, following a brawl last week at a board meeting for Thornton Township.
At the Dolton Village Board meeting Monday night, anyone headed in had to be cleared by security. There had been numerous discussions by trustees as to whether it was safe even to hold the meeting in person —especially after the brawl at the township board meeting on Tuesday of last week.
At the Thornton Township Board meeting this past Tuesday night, Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard — who also serves as Thornton Township supervisor — jumped in the middle of a brawl.
The video of the brawl was seen around the world. It started after the public comments portion of the meeting. The last to offer public comments was Jedidiah Brown, who made a lengthy harangue directed at Thornton Township Supervisor Henyard that ended with his calling Henyard a “b****.”
Before Brown could get back to his seat, Henyard’s allies — including her boyfriend, Kamal Woods — confronted Brown. At that point, punches went flying.
Several men joined the tussle, where people threw punches and started kicking. Tables were tossed. Security tried separating the men.
Meanwhile, witnesses said Henyard — who was seated at a table at the front of the room with the board of trustees — ran toward the tussle. It was unclear whether Henyard was trying to break up the fight or to get involved herself, but she did lose a shoe and was thrown to the floor.
“I have been a resident of Dolton for 40 years,” Dolton resident Deborah White said at the village board meeting Monday night. “I’ve never seen such deplorable actions in our community.”
Those in the room for the Monday night meeting said they came to witness government business take place, not to watch a spectacle.
“The light been shining on roaches, and the roaches have scattered. They have scattered,” a man said during the meeting. “I don’t see many of them here today.”
Henyard did not show up to the Dolton Village Board meeting Monday night. Village business went on as usual.
The Dolton mayor has not shown her face publicly since she jumped in the middle of the brawl at the Thornton Township meeting.
The meeting Monday night was also the first for the Dolton Village Board since an independent investigation found widespread financial mismanagement in the troubled south suburb.
Many said Henyard must address former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s findings in the investigation eventually.
The report alleges Henyard and her administration deliberately tried misleading the public into not finding out about alleged “gross financial mismanagement” both in Dolton and Thornton Township.
“In light of what took place last week, I didn’t expect her to show up today,” said Dolton Village Trustee Tammie Brown. “But not responding to the Lori Lightfoot report? I didn’t expect her to respond to that anyway.”
However, current trustees say Henyard has an obligation to speak out about the findings of the probe — which clearly puts a stamp on the issues they have been raising for years as they have questioned the tax dollars spent.
“The residents are entitled to answers, so I do hope she gives some answers to that report,” said Trustee Jason House. “The residents want to hear, and they want to know.”
“So you owe them owe them a response to the findings of Lightfoot,” added Brown. “Whether they’re true or not, or whether you believe they’re true or not, you owe them a response.”
Trustees also said before the meeting that the optics of the brawl last week are detrimental.
“Now, the concerns have escalated to a point that is far beyond financial misconduct,” said Dolton Village Trustee Brittney Norwood. “Now, I’m receiving calls from residents who are scared to even attend public meetings. People are afraid of what they witnessed on Tuesday night — where violence and chaos overtook what should have been a peaceful and productive gathering.”
It was also revealed Monday night that the Village of Dolton defaulted on one of its life insurance policies for employees due to non-payment. This was claimed to be the result of a clerical error, which trustees said they are looking to fix immediately.
Voters head to the polls in Dolton in three weeks.
Illinois
Illinois Tollway proposing increased tolls in 2027 to fund $26.5 billion in road construction
Illinois drivers might soon have to pay more to drive on the state’s tollways.
The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has proposed an increase in tolls in 2027. If approved by the board, it would be the state’s first toll hike since 2012.
Anyone who drives in the Chicago area likely jumps on one of the Illinois tollways at some point.
“I try to avoid them, you know what I mean? But if I’ve got to get somewhere, and it’s like 10 minutes quicker, I’ll just take the toll,” said Shomari Dyson.
But that toll could cost Dyson and thousands of drivers who take it an average of 45 cents more per toll for passenger vehicles and 30% more per toll for commercial vehicles starting Jan. 1, 2027, if the Illinois tollway board approves the proposed toll hike, and those paying the tolls aren’t happy
“It’s ridiculous. I’m constantly getting tolls, charges, refills on my bank account when my iPass goes through. So, I can imagine it’s just going to happen more and more often,” Jon Jackson said.
Currently, tolls run as low as 30 cents and as high as $1.50 at various toll plazas.
This proposed hike could place the average toll well over a $1 every time drivers pass through an automatic toll plaza.
“I like to know where my money is going, and then [Interstate] 294 has been under construction for the last 15 years, and that is frustrating,” Frank Faso said.
The tollway said the hike is needed to handle projected repairs for road widening, bridge repair, and new technology. It’s all tied to a 15-year capital improvement program estimated to cost $26.5 billion.
The tollway board also wants automatic inflation-based increases every two years starting in 2029.
“We pay our taxes, man, you know what I’m saying? So all that extra, it’s nonsense,” Dyson said.
“If we’re going to void and not take part in things like the World Cup and Soldier Field that’s going to bring tax revenue to the state, they shouldn’t charge me for it,” Faso said.
The board must hold a dozen meetings in various counties to get the public’s take before voting on the toll hike. The first one kicks off in August, but drivers question if the public hearings are really about input.
“I think they’re just going to keep going through the motions,” Jackson said.
Illinois
Illinois has already broken the record for number of tornadoes in a year — and it’s only June
Illinois has seen more tornadoes in 2026 than in any year on record.
Following several more tornadoes confirmed this week across the state, Illinois has recorded 143 tornadoes so far in 2026, beating the previous record of 142 tornadoes set in 2024. With reliable records dating back to 1950, Illinois averages just 54 tornadoes per year. But in recent years, the state has experienced many more:
- 2023: 121
- 2024: 142
- 2025: 126
- 2026: 143 and counting
Unlike 2024, when a record two-day tornado outbreak accounted for a large share of the year’s tornadoes, the activity in 2026 has been spread out across several months.
On Thursday, June 11, a tornado outbreak brought at least 21 confirmed tornadoes to northern Illinois and northwest Indiana, 13 of them in Illinois. Two tornadoes that day — in Streator, Illinois, and Hebron, Indiana — reached rare EF-3 intensity, with winds over 135 miles per hour. Numerous injuries were reported from the storms, but there were no fatalities.
Confirmed tornadoes from June 11:
- Long Point to Streator, IL: EF-3
- Wenona/Osage Township, IL: EF-1
- Graymont to Dwight, IL: EF-1
- Lee, IL: EF-U
- Harpster to Elliott, IL: EF-0
- Pembroke Township (Leesville), IL: EF-U
- St. John to Schererville, IN: EF-0
- Paxton/Loda, IL: EF-1
- Merrillville to Hobart, IN: EF-2
- Ludlow, IL: EF-1
- Cedar Lake, IN: EF-0
- Schneider to Hebron, IN: EF-0
- Watseka, IL: EF-0
- Hebron to Kouts, IN: EF-3
- Wellington/Prairie Green Township, IL: EF-1
- Bartlett, IL: EF-1
- Boswell to Atkinson, IN: EF-1
- Ade to Mount Ayr, IN: EF-0
- Naperville to Lisle, IL: EF-0
- Hickory Hills to Garfield Ridge: EF-2
- Morocco, IN: EF-0
Though most of the Chicago area dodged severe weather from storms this week, the National Weather Service confirmed a brief tornado touchdown Wednesday night in Lake County near Grayslake. The EF-0 tornado had estimated winds of 80 miles per hour and was on the ground for about a quarter-mile. Damage consisted of several downed or split trees and sporadic minor roof damage along a narrow corridor in the Saddlebrook Farms subdivision.
Four more tornadoes were confirmed Wednesday in western and central Illinois. NWS crews are still surveying damage in central Illinois, and more tornadoes may be added to the count in the coming days.
With 143 tornadoes so far this year, Illinois leads the nation in tornado count for the third time in the last four years — a remarkable statistic for a state not typically thought of as being in Tornado Alley.
The recent increase in tornado activity across Illinois and the Midwest fits research showing a shift in tornado-favorable environments away from parts of the traditional Plains Tornado Alley and farther east into the Midwest and South. Climate change is one likely factor, as warming temperatures are expected to make the Plains hotter and drier overall, shifting tornado ingredients eastward toward the Mississippi River.
A person was fatally hit by a Metra train in Palatine, Illinois, early Friday morning.
Around 5:10 a.m., Metra said Union Pacific Northwest train No. 602 hit a pedestrian at Baldwin Road and Northwest Highway.
Metra confirmed the person died at the scene. The victim has not been identified.
Metra said train service on the Union Pacific Northwest line is suspended.
This is a developing story. CBS News Chicago will continue to provide updates.
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