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Finish line in sight

. With mayoral race close, turnout is everything By Tim Hadac With polls predicting an extremely close mayoral runoff on Tuesday, April 4, both Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson had their campaigns in high gear this week, rolling out final endorsements and exhorting voters to cast ballots. For the first time in his campaign, Johnson…

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Frank Schuch, you’re the b-e-s-t

. . By Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • [email protected] So many signs of life as we pull out of this pandemic, like early-blooming daffodils after a long, harsh winter. One of those signs is the return of the annual spelling bee at Byrne Elementary School, after a two-year absence.…

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Sweet surprise for police

Everyone likes cookies, especially when they’re Girl Scout cookies delivered by a sweet, smiling Scout–as illustrated by police at the Eighth District station last week. Officers, detectives and sergeants were delighted to grab one of 20 boxes of Thin Mints, S’mores, Do-si-dos, Samoas and other varieties from Charlotte Caughey of Brownie Troop 125. The young…

Blaire and Brooke Bestwina, owners of The Feed Store, sell thousands of birds each year. --Supplied photo

Egg prices drive chicken interest

Some becoming backyard farmers By Kelly White Complaints about the price of eggs have been so common in recent months, some folks who have never considered backyard farming are now thinking of buying a hen or two. To help educate people about the matter, The Feed Store, 5408 S. Harlem, is also hosting “Intro to…

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Stickney wins $550,000 grant from county for roadwork

The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved funding last week for transportation-related projects in Stickney and the South Side of Chicago. These projects are part of the county’s Department of Transportation and Highways. These projects are designed to boost economic development, build up regional transportation and improve the quality of life throughout Cook County. In…

Amber Tacker, RN, clinical coordinator (from left), David Trondsen, chaplain, Angela Seitz, dietitian, and Cathy Lasak, RN, manager of patient care, were thrilled to get a visit from Buddy, an Old English Sheep Dog, at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital. (Photo supplied by Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital)

Buddy returns to Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital

Therapy pets have been proven to be an effective tool for lifting the spirits of hospital patients of all ages. Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital last week announced the return of the pet therapy program that had been on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Buddy, an Old English Sheep Dog, and his handler Marty Strubin…

Abbey Murphy, a member of the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team, was the grand marshal at the 52nd annual Independence Day Parade in Evergreen Park. (Photo by Joe Boyle)

Evergreen Park receives IDOT approval for Independence Day Parade

By Joe Boyle The Village of Evergreen Park has made it official by requesting the Illinois Department of Transportation to approve temporary street closings for the annual Independence Day Parade. The parade will be held Friday, June 30. The annual event will require the temporary closure of all lanes along 95th Street, from Pulaski Road…

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Worth mayor looks forward to spring events

By Joe Boyle Spring arrived on Monday and Worth Mayor Mary Werner is looking forward to several activities that will be held in the southwest suburbs next month. Werner mentioned during the Worth Village Board meeting Tuesday night that the annual Spring Arts, Crafts and Vendor Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3…

U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th) shakes hands with Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson (D-1st), moments after the congressman announced his endorsement of Johnson last Friday at La Villita Community Church. --Supplied photo

Choosing sides in mayoral race

. SW Side endorsements start to emerge By Tim Hadac While neither Paul Vallas nor Brandon Johnson has campaigned on the Southwest Side to any significant degree, their supporters in this area are starting to go public. The latest endorsement to be snagged occurred last Friday, when U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th), who failed…

Chicago Police Department

Crime spree in Back of the Yards

Armed bandits commit 10 robberies in less than two hours By Tim Hadac A burst of armed robberies in the Back of the Yards area has prompted police to issue a community warning. The 10 stickups occurred in less than two hours on Wednesday, March 15. Crime scenes include: 4600 block of South Albany at…

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Star student earns college scholarship

St. Laurence High School senior Priscilla Bonilla stands with her family, minutes after learning she has earned a four-year academic scholarship to the University of St. Francis. In college, she plans to study theology and secondary education, with a hope to return to St. Laurence one day as a teacher. A West Elsdon resident, she…

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Worth Park District asks voters to support parks

Worth Park District officials will ask residents on April 4 if they are willing to pay a little more to support facilities. The district will ask voters to approve a 0.2000 percent tax rate increase. If approved, residents would pay about an additional $5 per month for every $100,000 of equalized assessed value of their…

The OLCHS Contest Play team. (Supplied photo)

OLCHS, Richards Contest Play advance to state finals

Both Richards High School and Oak Lawn Community High School Contest Play productions advanced to state finals March 24 and March 25 at Glenwood High School in Chatham after earning the title of Sectional Champions. OLCHS’ Mariana Salazar, Mariam Chuli, Melanie Cabrera, Jet Peleaz, Matthew Perry, Shawn Perry, Vasili Patrianakos, and Kathryn Fragapane were all…

Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough is joined by Paul O'Grady (far right) and other elected officials to help recruit 1,000 Election Day poll workers. (Photo by Bryan Docter, Cook County Clerk's Office)

Yarbrough and O’Grady join elected officials to recruit Election Day workers

Facing a critical shortage of election poll workers, Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough on Tuesday joined Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady and Maywood Library Board Director Erica Sanchez to ask suburban residents to heed the call, help their local community, and get paid to volunteer as poll workers for the upcoming April 4 Consolidated…

Freshly shaved Stagg High School junior Oswaldo Macias, of Bridgeview, reacts as he watches his classmate Max Slanda, of Orland Park, gets his St. Baldrick's haircut at the Palos Hills school on St. Patrick's Day. (Photos by Dermot Connolly)

At Stagg, bald is beautiful for St. Baldrick’s Foundation

By Dermot Connolly Students and staff at Stagg and Sandburg high schools raised thousands of dollars for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation on St. Patrick’s Day, with many going all out and getting their heads shaved. Leah Ellis, a counselor at Stagg, has been coordinating the Palos Hills school’s participation in the annual fundraiser for the…

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Sterling Estates woman charged in death of 19-month-old son

By Bob Bong A woman from unincorporated Sterling Estates in Justice was charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment stemming from an incident involving her 19-month-old son that started in October, Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced Thursday. On Oct. 17, Sheriff’s Police responded to a residence in the 800 block of Victory Lane in unincorporated…

Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau said that plans for a band shell at Centennial Park west have been in the works for 20 years. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Centennial Park West band shell project ready to roll

By Jeff Vorva A project that has been 20 years in the making finally is good to go. The Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees voted Monday, March 20, to give a green light to the Centennial Park West project. The revamped park will have a permanent stage to host three major concerts a…

U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th) announces his endorsement of the mayoral candidacy of Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson (D-1st).--Supplied photo

Taking sides in mayoral race

. Clearing, Garfield Ridge endorsements start to emerge By Tim Hadac While neither Paul Vallas nor Brandon Johnson has campaigned to any significant degree in Clearing or Garfield Ridge, their supporters—including several here in the neighborhood–are starting to go public. The latest endorsement to be snagged occurred last Friday, when U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García…

Congressman Sean Casten speaks to a crowd during a town hall meeting in Orland Park. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Casten still learning the lay of the land in the south suburbs

By Jeff Vorva Sean Casten is getting to know his new mayors. Casten, the Democratic Congressman of the revamped 6th District, has been spending a lot of time meeting 40 mayors in recent weeks after he was sworn into office in January. Casten beat out Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau in the November election, but…

election day april 4 2023

Court’s in session for Palos Park mayoral candidates

By Jeff Vorva Yes, they are lawyers. And they know how to give a closing argument. Longtime Palos Park Commissioner Nicole Milovich-Walters and Ronette Leal McCarthy are a pair of lawyers seeking the job as mayor to take over for John Mahoney, also a lawyer, who is retiring and did not seek a fifth term. …

Illinois News

‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’: Secretly recorded videos show ComEd lobbyists discussing alleged bribery scheme

‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’: Secretly recorded videos show ComEd lobbyists discussing alleged bribery scheme

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois [email protected] CHICAGO – Longtime Commonwealth Edison contract lobbyist Jay Doherty thought he was merely reminiscing and giving advice to a colleague and friend in a February 2019 meeting set up by ex-ComEd executive Fidel Marquez. But Marquez was wearing a hidden camera, having just a few weeks prior agreed…

Advocates call on regulators to reject natural gas rate increases

Advocates call on regulators to reject natural gas rate increases

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois [email protected] CHICAGO – Consumer advocates, environmentalists and Chicago residents gathered in front of the Chicago offices of Peoples Gas this week to call on the Illinois Commerce Commission to reject a proposed rate increase from the gas utility. Several advocacy groups, including the Citizens Utility Board, Blacks in Green…

Secretary of state backs proposal allowing noncitizens to receive standard driver’s licenses

Secretary of state backs proposal allowing noncitizens to receive standard driver’s licenses

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House advanced a measure last week that would allow noncitizen residents who are currently eligible for a “temporary visitor driver’s license” to instead obtain a “standard” driver’s license that can be used as identification. Lawmakers created the temporary visitor driver’s license, or TVDL, in…

Native American history, repatriation measures advance in Illinois House

Native American history, repatriation measures advance in Illinois House

By NIKA SCHOONOVER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to increase recognition of indigenous history and culture, lawmakers are considering measures to repatriate Native American remains and teach Native American history in public schools. Last week, lawmakers approved both measures that seek to address past harms inflicted on the Native American community…

Indoor vaping, cat declawing could be banned under recently passed bills

Indoor vaping, cat declawing could be banned under recently passed bills

By JERRY NOWICKI & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate passed 68 bills this week while the House had advanced 284 as of Friday morning with hundreds more to go before their adjournment for the week. It was the first in a two-week stretch of legislative deadlines for bills to…

Lawmakers approve kindergarten reform, plan to address childhood literacy

Lawmakers approve kindergarten reform, plan to address childhood literacy

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois [email protected] CHICAGO – Lawmakers are looking at several ways to improve learning outcomes and access for young students in Illinois. On Thursday, members of the House of Representatives approved a proposal that would require school boards in Illinois to provide full-day kindergarten starting with the 2027-2028 school year. The…

Former Madigan political director details push by speaker’s office for key ComEd bill

Former Madigan political director details push by speaker’s office for key ComEd bill

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois [email protected] CHICAGO – As was the case with many big legislative efforts in Springfield, former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s staff was deeply involved in negotiations over what would become the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2015 and 2016. FEJA had many backers in environmental circles and organized labor…

House narrowly passes bill allowing all-gender bathrooms

House narrowly passes bill allowing all-gender bathrooms

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House narrowly passed a bill Thursday that would allow businesses, universities and other building owners to designate multi-occupancy all-gender bathrooms if they choose to do so. The bill passed on a vote of 60-40, the bare minimum number of “yes” votes needed for passage…

House narrowly passes bill allowing all-gender bathrooms

House narrowly passes bill allowing all-gender bathrooms

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House narrowly passed a bill Thursday that would allow businesses, universities and other building owners to designate multi-occupancy all-gender bathrooms if they choose to do so. The bill passed on a vote of 60-40, the bare minimum number of “yes” votes needed for passage…

House narrowly passes bill allowing all-gender bathrooms

House narrowly passes bill allowing all-gender bathrooms

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House narrowly passed a bill Thursday that would allow businesses, universities and other building owners to designate multi-occupancy all-gender bathrooms if they choose to do so. The bill passed on a vote of 60-40, the bare minimum number of “yes” votes needed for passage…

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