Illinois
Joliet surpassed by fellow Chicago suburb as Illinois' third-largest city
Illinois now has a new third-largest city after new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau showed one Chicago suburb dethroning another for the title.
While Chicago and Aurora held steady as the state’s two largest cities, Naperville has now leaped over Joliet to take the No. 3 spot.
According to the latest estimates, which list the estimated population of each municipality as of July 1, 2024, Naperville now has a population of 153,124, a growth of nearly 2,000 residents from 2023.
Joliet is now the state’s fourth-largest city, with a population of 151,837. The two Chicago suburbs rank 178th and 179th across the United States, respectively.
The growth echoes population increases seen in both Chicago and nationwide, with the city of Chicago’s population by over 22,000 residents between mid-2023 and mid-2024, according to the Census Bureau.
In the same time period, Rockford, the state’s fifth-largest city, grew by just under 700 residents, reaching an estimated population of 147,486.
Another Chicago suburb ranked as the state’s sixth-largest city, with west suburban Elgin growing by just under 800 residents with an estimated population of 114,701.
The state’s seventh-largest city, Springfield, was the most populous municipality in the state to see a year-over-year population decline, dropping by just over 50 residents in the above timeframe.
Closing out the state’s top 10 cities in population were downstate Peoria and Champaign at No. 8 and No. 9 respectively, with north suburban Waukegan ranking as the state’s 10th-largest city.
More information on recent Census Bureau estimates can be found here.
Illinois
Tornado watches, warnings across Illinois on Father’s Day
ST. LOUIS – Sunday marked Father’s Day and the Summer Solstice; it’s been a tornado day, too.
Multiple storms across the region have had rotation that produced tornado touchdowns. As we wait for a cold front to pass through, more strong storms could be working through the region. Eventually, some dry time and some calm are in the works in for a few days this week. Rain and thunder are possible late week.
Meanwhile, a tornado watch was issued for most Illinois counties in the FOX 2 viewing area and nearly all of southern Illinois into Indiana until 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Tornado warnings were issued in Fayette and Marion counties until 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively.
Just after 5 p.m., new tornado warnings were issued for Madison, St. Clair, and Clinton counties in the Metro East. An area of rotation was spotted on the FOX 2 Power Doppler just south of Collinsville around 5:10 p.m.
At least two tornadoes were spotted in Marion County, Illinois.
Beginning at 3 p.m., tornado warnings were issued for Madison, Bond, and Fayette counties in Illinois. Those warnings are expected to end by 4:45 p.m. A tornado warning was issued for Jefferson County, Illinois, until 5:30 p.m.
On the Missouri side of the Mississippi River, a severe thunderstorm watch was issued for Crawford, Dent, Iron, Jefferson, Madison, Phelps, Reynolds, St. Francois, and Washington counties until 1 a.m. Monday.
A flood advisory for St. Louis City, St. Charles and St. Louis counties ended at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Illinois
Lake County detectives rescue girl from man they say drove to Illinois from Georgia to meet her
Detectives from Lake County, Illinois, Sheriff’s office rescued a girl under 14 from a grown man who had traveled from Georgia to meet her this weekend, authorities said Sunday.
At 4:40 a.m. Saturday, Lake County sheriff’s deputies were called to unincorporated Gurnee for a report of a missing girl under the age of 14. Deputies learned the girl had never run away before, and it was especially concerning that she did so in the middle of the night, authorities said.
Sheriff’s detectives learned the girl’s cellphone was not functioning, and she could not be found through any of her electronic devices. Detectives also found that a 24-year-old man from Norcross, Georgia, named Jordy Alexis Fuerte Perez had been communicating with her, authorities said.
Detectives learned that Fuerte Perez had made plans to drive to Illinois from Georgia and pick up the girl, and evidence indicates he told the girl he wanted a “romantic relationship” with her, authorities said.
Detectives homed in on a vehicle that Fuerte Perez may have been driving, and found the vehicle at the Independence Grove Forest Preserve near Libertyville, authorities said. Both Fuerte Perez and the girl were in the car in a parking lot when detectives arrived at 6 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.
The girl did not appear to be injured, but was taken to the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center for specialized advocacy and attention, authorities said.
Fuerte Perez was charged with two counts of solicitation of child pornography, and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, namely cocaine. More charges ar likely, authorities said.
“This type of case is a parent’s worst nightmare. Our Criminal Investigations Division took this case seriously and worked tirelessly from the moment the girl was reported missing until she was safely located,” Lake County Sherif John Idleburg said in a news release. “While there will undoubtedly be a long road to recovery and healing, I am grateful the victim was found safe and is physically okay. I am proud of everyone who played a role in rescuing this young girl and bringing the offender to the first steps of justice.”
Fuerte Perez was due in court on Sunday morning. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s office is asking to have him held while awaiting trial.
Illinois
Illinois Prison Closure Deepens Small Town’s Fears
In Lincoln, Ill., another pillar just fell. The New York Times’ Julie Bosman reports that the state plans to close Logan Correctional Center, a women’s prison that employs more than 500 people, stripping the Route 66 town of about 13,000 of one of its last major, stable job sources. State officials say the nearly century-old complex is too deteriorated to fix and will be replaced by a new, modern facility in Crest Hill, outside Chicago. Capitol News Illinois reports the Illinois Department of Corrections estimates it’ll take five years to build the new prison.
In Lincoln, where factories, a glass plant, and even a 157-year-old college have already called it quits, that decision feels like one more hit—and one that favors the Chicago area over downstate. Residents and local leaders, who spent years lobbying to keep the prison, now worry about a fresh wave of departures as families follow jobs elsewhere, further straining schools and small businesses already on the edge. For a look at what the loss of a single prison means for one Midwestern town—which takes particular pride in the fact it was uniquely named for Abraham Lincoln before he became president—read the full piece.
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