Briefs: Bank robbery suspect denies charges

A teenager charged with holding up a Huntley bank earlier this year and trying to rob another in nearby Union formally pleaded not guilty to the charges Thursday. Justin Fasel, 18, of Hinckley, asked for a jury trial on charges of armed robbery, attempted armed robbery and theft stemming from the stickup March 10 at Castle Bank in Huntley and attempted heist two weeks later at the First Midwest Bank in Union. Fasel, who is free after posting $20,000 bond, is scheduled to return to court Dec. 18. His co-defendant, Matthew Reno, 18, also of Hinckley, is expected to enter not guilty pleas when he appears in court next week.

Huntley census begins today:

Special census enumerators will begin going door-to-door through Huntley today to conduct interviews as part of a special census to determine the village's current population. Interviewers will be walking through neighborhoods from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. They will be asking residents five questions; the interview should take about seven minutes. Answers are private. All interviewers have passed background checks and are required to display Census Bureau identification badges. Huntley officials expect census results will help the village qualify for additional federal and state funding.