Latest news with #Henyard
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tiffany Henyard ordered to appear for contempt hearing
DOLTON, Ill. (WGN) — Tiffany Henyard is no longer the mayor of south suburban Dolton but legal cases continue to haunt her. A Cook County judge previously held Henyard in contempt of court for failing to turn over records from her tenure as required by state transparency laws. Henyard reportedly told the judge Friday she was the 'face' of the village but didn't handle record-keeping. The judge ordered Henyard to appear in person on Friday, June 6. Jason House sworn in as Dolton mayor, marking end of Tiffany Henyard era The Edgar County Watchdogs, Inc. sued the Village of Dolton for failing to produce credit card and other records after Henyard's administration ignored Freedom of Information Act requests in January of 2024. 'The massive public exposure given to the Defendant that has brought Illinois corruption into the national public spotlight needs to be addressed immediately to save further harm to the state's reputation,' read the Edgar County Watchdog's complaint. WGN-TV also sued Henyard's administration for failing to comply with state transparency laws. After Henyard's overwhelming re-election loss in the spring, the village resolved the dispute with WGN by releasing additional records. Henyard's spending and leadership have been the focus of nearly two years of reporting by WGN Investigates. WGN Investigates: Investigating public corruption, crime & fraud The FBI has also issued subpoenas and interviewed Henyard associates as recently as this spring. Henyard has not been charged with a crime. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Napoleon Harris sworn in as Thornton Township supervisor, replaces Tiffany Henyard
Four months after the basement of Thornton Township Hall erupted into a brawl that included the township's supervisor, hundreds of people packed the same space Monday in celebration of new leadership. The swearing in of new township officials marked the end of Tiffany Henyard's short, tumultuous period of leadership in the south suburbs. Jason House in Dolton and State Sen. Napoleon Harris in Thornton Township have taken the reins from the former mayor and township supervisor, with both having campaigned on a clean slate for their communities. 'This moment is for working families, for every small business owner, for their neighbors that believe that local government should be about service,' state Sen. Napoleon Harris told supporters Monday afternoon, after taking office as supervisor of the township of about 185,000 residents, according to the Thornton Township website. Federal investigators have at least twice before visited Dolton and Thornton Township in search of documents, including expense reimbursements and other payments made to Henyard. No charges have been filed. 'We speak in different voices. We live in different parts of this township, from Dolton to South Holland, Harvey to Lansing, Calumet City to Phoenix, Markham to Dixmoor. Make not mistake about it, we are one community. And with that being said, there is nothing we cannot achieve together.' Inaugurated alongside Harris were new township trustees Mary Avent, Casey Nesbit and Valeria Stubbs as well as reelected trustee Christopher Gonzalez. As they exited office, Harris presented service awards to officials who chose not to seek reelection, including Trustees Stephanie Wiedeman and Carmen Carlisle, Highway Commissioner Gary DePue and Clerk Loretta Wells. DePue was replaced by Antwon D. Russell and Wells by Casey A. Nesbit. Neither Henyard nor outgoing Trustee Darlene Gray Everett, who tended to side with the former supervisor in board conflicts, attended the ceremony. Henyard sought reelection as supervisor but was unable to get her name on the ballot. Harris gained the Democratic nomination during a caucus in December and sailed through the general election with 74% of the vote. In his first action as supervisor, Harris appointed Odelson, Murphy, Frazier and McGrath law firm to replace Del Galdo Law Group in representing the township. With full board approval, he also appointed a township administrator and an information technology director. With the swearing in taking place during a public meeting, attendees were given the opportunity to sign up for comment. Vivian Allen, a community activist in Dolton and Thornton Township, thanked the new administration for promising to lead with transparency and 'to fix what has been broken.' 'In 2025, we got our township back,' Allen said. ostevens@
Chicago Tribune
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Napoleon Harris sworn in as Thornton Township supervisor, replaces Tiffany Henyard
Four months after the basement of Thornton Township Hall erupted into a brawl that included the township's supervisor, hundreds of people packed the same space Monday in celebration of new leadership. The swearing in of new township officials marked the end of Tiffany Henyard's short, tumultuous period of leadership in the south suburbs. Jason House in Dolton and State Sen. Napoleon Harris in Thornton Township have taken the reins from the former mayor and township supervisor, with both having campaigned on a clean slate for their communities. 'This moment is for working families, for every small business owner, for their neighbors that believe that local government should be about service,' state Sen. Napoleon Harris told supporters Monday afternoon, after taking office as supervisor of the township of about 185,000 residents, according to the Thornton Township website. Federal investigators have at least twice before visited Dolton and Thornton Township in search of documents, including expense reimbursements and other payments made to Henyard. No charges have been filed. 'We speak in different voices. We live in different parts of this township, from Dolton to South Holland, Harvey to Lansing, Calumet City to Phoenix, Markham to Dixmoor. Make not mistake about it, we are one community. And with that being said, there is nothing we cannot achieve together.' Inaugurated alongside Harris were new township trustees Mary Avent, Casey Nesbit and Valeria Stubbs as well as reelected trustee Christopher Gonzalez. As they exited office, Harris presented service awards to officials who chose not to seek reelection, including Trustees Stephanie Wiedeman and Carmen Carlisle, Highway Commissioner Gary DePue and Clerk Loretta Wells. DePue was replaced by Antwon D. Russell and Wells by Casey A. Nesbit. Neither Henyard nor outgoing Trustee Darlene Gray Everett, who tended to side with the former supervisor in board conflicts, attended the ceremony. Henyard sought reelection as supervisor but was unable to get her name on the ballot. Harris gained the Democratic nomination during a caucus in December and sailed through the general election with 74% of the vote. In his first action as supervisor, Harris appointed Odelson, Murphy, Frazier and McGrath law firm to replace Del Galdo Law Group in representing the township. With full board approval, he also appointed a township administrator and an information technology director. With the swearing in taking place during a public meeting, attendees were given the opportunity to sign up for comment. Vivian Allen, a community activist in Dolton and Thornton Township, thanked the new administration for promising to lead with transparency and 'to fix what has been broken.' 'In 2025, we got our township back,' Allen said.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Thornton Township supervisor to be sworn in to replace Tiffany Henyard
The Brief Napoleon Harris III will be sworn in as the new Thornton Township supervisor on Monday. He will succeed Tiffany Henyard, whose tenure was marred by multiple scandals, including a brawl at one township meeting. Henyard also lost her seat as the mayor of Dolton earlier this year. THORNTON TWP., Ill. - A new supervisor will be sworn in to lead Thornton Township on Monday, ending the controversial tenure of Tiffany Henyard. Napoleon Harris III, who also serves as a state senator, will be sworn in as supervisor at a meeting scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Other officials will also be sworn in, including Casey Nesbit as the township clerk, Cassandra Holbert Elston as the assessor, Antwon Russell as highway commissioner, and trustees Bryon Stanley, Christopher Gonzalez, Mary Carolyn Avent, and Valeria Stubbs. The backstory Harris scored a commanding victory in the April 1 consolidated election with almost 74% of the vote in a crowded field. He had already won the Democratic nomination over Henyard, but she still tried to run as a write-in candidate in the general election. She earned a little over 1% of the vote. Harris represents the 15th District in the Illinois Senate and played professional football in the NFL for seven seasons after playing his college ball at Northwestern University. Thornton Township is the largest township in the state with approximately 185,000 residents across 17 municipalities, according to the government website. Controversial tenure Henyard's time as supervisor was marred by controversy, disputes with trustees, financial struggles and even a brawl that broke out at a January board meeting. Residents were frustrated with the infighting, and some thought was a lack of transparency from her administration. Henyard also lost her seat as the mayor of Dolton and a similarly scandal-plagued tenure in that position. Jason House was sworn in earlier this month as Dolton's new mayor.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tiffany Henyard skips final regular meeting during tenure as Thornton Township supervisor
Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard was absent from the last regularly scheduled board meeting before new leadership is sworn in Monday, while attending trustees exchanged heartfelt goodbyes with community members. The Township Board voted to settle a lawsuit with employee Kathryn Granberry and to spend $3,000 for an 'employee luncheon.' The board also paid bills with the exception of several reoccurring services Henyard previously pushed. Meeting attendees, including newly elected trustees Mary Avent and Valeria Stubbs who take office Monday, expressed gratitude for board members Chris Gonzalez, Carmen Carlisle and Stephanie Wiedeman for their leadership during Henyard's three-year tenure as supervisor. 'I'll be forever grateful for all three of you,' Stubbs said. 'You came in, you did what we needed you to do,' Avent said, addressing Wiedeman. 'For that we say thank you, although I know we'll see you again.' Wiedeman, who residents voted onto the board in January to replace Gerald Jones who resigned three months prior, shed tears as she and other board members received bouquets of flowers. Neither she nor Carlisle sought another term, while Gonzalez was reelected as part of the slate that includes state Sen. Napoleon Harris, who will replace Henyard next week as supervisor. Also honored were Highway Commissioner Gary DePue and Clerk Loretta Wells, who tended to stay mum during clashes between Henyard and trustees. Neither official sought reelection this year, with Antwon D. Russell and Casey A. Nesbit, respectively, succeed them. 'This is bittersweet,' Wells said, choking up while noting she has worked with the township for 40 years. 'It was tough. I had to stay neutral … I'm just wishing nothing but love to the next administration and the next clerk.' Trustee Darlene Gray Everett, who has frequently voted alongside Henyard despite other board members' opposition to her, was absent. Henyard was unable to secure a spot on the ballot despite seeking reelection after losing the Democratic nomination to Harris during a caucus in December. In the historically Democratic voting region, Harris received 75% of the vote for supervisor. Independent candidate Nate Fields trailed with 11% of the vote, followed by Republican Richard Nolan with 10% and Harvey Mayor Christopher Clark, who had withdrawn from the race, with 5%. Henyard, who until recently was also mayor of Dolton, lost her bid for reelection in the village as well. Jason House and members of his slate were sworn in earlier this month. The new Thornton Township Board will be sworn in during a ceremony scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday at the Tiwnship Hall, 333 E. 162nd St. Gonzalez announced a short meeting will take place ahead of the inauguration at 12:30 p.m. Trustees didn't mention Henyard be name, but alluded to their issues with her that ranged from name calling to general lack of communication surrounding policies and meeting structure. Federal investigators have at least twice before visited Dolton and Thornton Township in search of documents, including expense reimbursements and other payments made to Henyard. No charges have been filed. 'This hasn't been an easy journey, but when you rally together, there is strength in numbers,' Carlisle said during the meeting. 'I just want to say thank you to you all for all your kindness that you've shown during this time, and just all the love and support … I think it's so important for people to see what's going on in these small communities, because there are so many changes that are needed.' ostevens@
