Samantha Moilanen – Page 5

Charles Baird's sister Danielle, 25, mother Jennifer, and brother Ryan, 18, stand outside the Will County Courthouse in Joliet where the bench trial for a Harvey man accused of shooting Charles in 2020 was held. Baird's family members wore clip-on cards featuring Charles' face throughout the trial. (Samantha Moilanen/Daily Southtown)

Harvey man convicted of murder in 2020 New Lenox gas station shooting of Charles Baird

March 21, 2025 at 11:17 a.m.

Friends and relatives of Charles Baird gathered outside a Will County courtroom Wednesday, tears of relief streaming down their faces as they embraced one another after a judge convicted a...

Family members of Charles Baird gather outside the Will County Courthouse in Joliet on March 18, 2025, after the trial of a Harvey man accused of his shooting. Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak will decide the case. (Samantha Moilanen/Daily Southtown)

‘Justice for Charlie’: Family of man killed at New Lenox gas station in 2020 hopes for closure as judge deliberates

March 18, 2025 at 4:23 p.m.

The family of Charles Baird, 19, killed at a New Lenox gas station in 2020, hopes for closure as a judge deliberates the case.

A memorial outside Circle K, 471 Nelson Road, in New Lenox, honoring Charles Baird, 19, who was fatally shot May 11, 2020. (Samantha Moilanen/Daily Southtown)

Eyewitness in 2020 shooting of Charles Baird testifies he was pressured to identify shooter

March 19, 2025 at 2:51 p.m.

Inmate Marquez Whitfield, 20, of Hazel Crest, recalls police and his mom pressuring him to identify shooter in New Lenox killing.

MariKate Thomas, co-owner of Kakadoodle Farm with her husband, looks at their chicken coops on her farm in Matteson on Jan. 23, 2025 after losing their entire flock to bird flu. The couple also lost a $220,000 grant to remodel their pole barn after the federal funding freeze. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

Matteson farm hit by bird flu loses $220,000 grant amid federal funding freeze

March 14, 2025 at 2:50 p.m.

Weeks after a family farm in Matteson lost its entire flock of nearly 3,000 chickens to bird flu, the owners learned their federal funding to remodel a pole barn is...

Photos and other memorabilia celebrate the life of New Lenox resident Charlie Baird on a table during a celebration of life service after he was fatally shot on May 11, 2020. (Hannah Kohut / Daily Southtown)

Witness testifies he was with shooter who killed Charles Baird at New Lenox gas station

March 13, 2025 at 4:43 p.m.

Marquez Whitfield, an inmate, said he was with the defendant and saw him shoot Charles Baird in 2020 at a New Lenox gas station.

Frankfort Mayor Keith Ogle, left, Todd Morgan running for village trustee, Justin Ozinga running for mayor, and trustees Eugene Savaria, Dan Rossi and Michael Leddin, seeking reelection, answer questions at a candidate forum March 11, 2025. (Samantha Moilanen/Daily Southtown)

Economic development, growth key issues for Frankfort mayoral, trustee candidates

March 13, 2025 at 2:58 p.m.

Frankfort Mayor Keith Ogle, challenger Justin Ozinga, and trustee candidates debate growth, housing and economic development.

Charles Baird's sister Danielle, 25, mother Jennifer, and brother Ryan, 18, outside the Will County Courthouse in Joliet where the bench trial for a Harvey man accused of shooting Charles in 2020 is underway. Baird's family members are wearing clip-on cards featuring Charles' face throughout the trial. (Samantha Moilanen/Daily Southtown)

Testimony, DNA connect Harvey man to 2020 New Lenox gas station shooting

March 12, 2025 at 4:46 p.m.

In the trial of a Harvey man charged in a 2020 shooting of Charles Baird, 19, witnesses and DNA connect him to the crime scene.

Dave Baird, left, watches as his wife, Jennifer Baird, waters flowers Aug. 29, 2020, at a memorial where their son, Charlie, was fatally shot May 11. 2020. Charlie Baird's friend, Nathan McAvoy, 19, right, made the wooden cross that achors the display at a Circle K gas station, 471 Nelson Road, New Lenox. (Ted Slowik / Daily Southtown)

Murder trial begins for Harvey man charged in fatal 2020 New Lenox gas station shooting

March 11, 2025 at 3:26 p.m.

Almost five years after 19-year-old Charles Baird was shot outside a Circle K gas station in New Lenox — the village's first homicide in two decades — the trial for...

Midlothian public works employees, represented by Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, form a picket line March 3, 2025, outside Village Hall with an inflatable Scabby the Rat, a symbol of labor disputes. (Samantha Moilanen/Daily Southtown)

Midlothian reaches tentative agreement with Local 150 in public works labor dispute

March 10, 2025 at 3:42 p.m.

Midlothian public works employees returned to work Friday after reaching a tentative contract agreement, to be voted on Wednesday.

Mokena Village Hall. (Ted Slowik / Daily Southtown)

Mokena Mayor Frank Fleischer faces a challenge from longtime Trustee George Metanias

March 10, 2025 at 2:55 p.m.

Mokena Mayor Frank Fleischer seeks a fourth term against Trustee George Metanias, with both focusing on downtown redevelopment.

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