Responding to a national animal welfare crisis, Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant has announced a series of ordinance changes that aim to expand the role of the county’s animal services. The changes include renaming the county’s animal welfare department to “Will County Animal Protection Services Department” to better reflect their enhanced mission. 

Will County and City of Joliet officials have begun preliminary discussions with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) on reducing truck traffic on local roads. These discussions kicked off on Thursday, January 31 with a meeting between the Will County Executive Office, Mayor of Joliet Terry D’Arcy, State Representative Larry Walsh Jr., and Secretary of Transportation Omer Osman.

Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant joined elected and community leaders from throughout Illinois at the White House to discuss the positive local impacts of federal investments from the Biden-Harris Administration. 

The Will County Division of Transportation (WCDOT) will host two virtual open houses to gather feedback on the future of transportation priorities in Will County. The feedback will be incorporated in the ongoing “Our Way Forward 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan,” which will guide the next 25 years of county-wide infrastructure projects.

The Will County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is reporting a significant reduction in water levels on the Kankakee River, as most ice jams have cleared between the City of Wilmington and the Des Plaines River confluence. Following the expiration of a Flash Flood Warning for the area, Will County EMA is partnering with local officials to fully assess local flood damage.