Local News
Orland Park to add 7 names during Memorial Day ceremony
The Orland Park community is invited to join the village this Memorial Day in remembrance of those who have given their lives for our country. The ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 30, at the village’s memorial, Ara Pace – Place of Peace, located outside of Village Hall at 14700 S.…
New ward map OKed
Reflects Madigan’s power By Tim Hadac The City Council this week approved a new ward map that, among other things, will see all of Clearing and most of Garfield Ridge shifted to the 13th Ward. Midway International Airport also would shift from the 23rd Ward to the 13th. Monday’s 43-7 vote means the issue will…
Pop’s to celebrate National Italian Beef Day with week of specials
Palos Heights-based Pop’s Italian Beef & Sausage is beefing up May this year with a week-long celebration of National Italian Beef Day at each of their locations. As part of the celebrations, Pop’s is hosting an interactive contest on their Facebook page during the week of National Italian Beef Day from Monday, May 23, through…
‘Small Island, Big Song’ workshops enrich classroom learning at MVCC
From staff reports Coming from some of the smallest islands in the world, performers from “Small Island, Big Song” talked about climate change, indigenous cultures and island history from their homelands to students in select sociology and geography classes at Moraine Valley Community College last month. The group performed their musical and spoken word endeavor…
Pathlights names new executive director
From staff reports Elaine Grande has been appointed Executive Director by Pathlights’ Board of Directors effective May 30. Grande brings more than 30 years of successful leadership experience and becomes only the third Executive Director in the Palos Heights nonprofit’s 46-year history. She currently leads all Pathlights program and services as Director of Program Development…
‘You knew this would happen’
Neighbors angry, but not surprised by shooting By Tim Hadac What a number of Southwest Siders living along the Pulaski corridor have been warning about appears to have occurred. A 22-year-old man was shot in the abdomen and buttocks as he stood with a group of people in a parking lot at 7050…
Cubs come through for Gage Park
Leaders of the Gage Park Baseball & Softball Association, along with Chicago Park District officials, are all smiles as they celebrate the coming renovation of their diamonds, courtesy of a grant from Cubs Charities. Details in today’s Gage Park column. –Supplied photo
Health care expansion planned for Brighton Park
Esperanza secures $4.2 million for 47th/California From staff reports Esperanza Health Centers is one of 26 finalists to receive more than $33.5 million in grant funding from the city’s Recovery Plan Community Development grant program. The award of $4.2 million will enable Esperanza to break ground on a long-awaited expansion of its current Brighton Park…
Forgive Ukraine’s debts, Chuy says
Bill passes House, issue heads to Senate From staff reports Legislation designed to bring debt relief to Ukraine—a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th)—was passed last week by the U.S. House of Representatives. The measure instructs U.S. representatives at international financial institutions to use their voice and vote to pursue comprehensive relief…
Midway bouncing back
UBAM hears update from airport chief By Dermot Connolly Midway International Airport is bouncing back from the pandemic, and the $333 million Midway Modernization program is nearing completion, Chicago Department of Aviation officials told local business leaders last week. Elizabeth Granados-Perez, managing deputy commissioner of Midway, and Alex Leon, deputy commissioner in charge of design…
Orland Park police arrest 2 men for commercial burglaries
By Bob Bong Orland Park police have arrested two men suspected of committing multiple commercial burglaries throughout the Chicago area and northwest Indiana. Police have been hunting the men since they were believed to be responsible for a March 13 break-in at Binny’s Beverage Depot at 103 Orland Park Place. Police said they responded…
Grand reopening Friday for Bedford Park Walmart
Bedford Park residents can get a first look at the newly remodeled Walmart Supercenter at 7050 S. Cicero Ave., on Friday, May 20. The store will celebrate its ReGrand Opening with activities for the community beginning at 9 a.m. Along with a disc jockey who will play hit tunes, community residents are invited to enjoy complimentary beverages and snacks…
New ward map OKed
Reflects Madigan’s power By Tim Hadac The City Council this week approved a new ward map that, among other things, will see all of Clearing and most of Garfield Ridge shifted to the 13th Ward. Midway International Airport also would shift from the 23rd Ward to the 13th. Monday’s 43-7 vote means the issue will…
Big Tom still shows the way
By Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • [email protected] I recently had the pleasure of talking to Quinn Markham, daughter of the late Thomas “Tom” F. Markham Jr., who lost his valiant fight with cancer five years ago, at age 59. Earlier this month, Tom Markham was awarded an honorary street…
New owner will not tolerate violence at Worth tavern where 2 died
By Joe Boyle The owner of a new tavern in Worth said his business will not tolerate any misconduct that plagued the previous lounge where two men were shot and killed. The incident took place in the early morning hours of Jan. 10 at the former Crossing Bar and Grill, 6959 W. 111th St. Another man was injured in…
Gaming issue dies, bush and fence issue will get fresh look in Palos Heights
By Jeff Vorva Video gaming is out. The bushes and fence will stay up. The Palos Heights City Council meeting on Tuesday clocked in at roughly 40 minutes but it was eventful as two hot issues were addressed. Alderman Brent Lewandowski, the head of the License, Permits and Franchises Committee, said his committee is not…
Oak Lawn community honors late beloved coach
Varsity baseball park renamed Skip Sullivan Field By Joe Boyle Friends and associates of Skip Sullivan said that he was always a ray of sunshine even on the dreariest of days. The sky was actually overcast over the Oak Lawn Community High School varsity baseball field on Tuesday afternoon. But those who knew Sullivan said…
A sunny outlook after changes to Arrowhead Lake
By Jeff Vorva A funny thing happened at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Arrowhead Lake on Friday. It didn’t rain. The ceremony was originally set for May 3, but it was raining like crazy in the morning and postponed. A year Reclamation ago, when there was a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off this flood control project…
Orland acts are disappointing to some, but Pekau says concerts are a fun time
By Jeff Vorva The musical group Blood, Sweat & Tears had a monster hit in the 1960s titled “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy.” After the Village of Orland Park announced its 2022 concert series at Centennial Park West, there were some residents who were not very happy. The aforementioned Blood Sweat & Tears headlines…
Oak Lawn police arrest Chicago man in road rage shooting
By Bob Bong A Chicago man has been charged in the road rage shooting on May 10 near 107th Street and Cicero Avenue in Oak Lawn that left a man fighting for his life. Oak Lawn police detectives and U.S. Customs agents arrested Mario Mallard, 36, on Sunday at O’Hare International Airport after he returned…
Illinois News
ANALYSIS: Illinois’ official U.S. census numbers have not changed
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday that he is asking President Joe Biden and the federal government to increase Illinois’ share of federal funding to reflect the results of a recent Census Bureau study showing the state was very likely undercounted in the 2020 census. The news…
GOP debate: Candidates address rising crime, Texas school shooting
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The six Republican candidates for Illinois governor faced off Tuesday night in Chicago, albeit on two separate debate stages, hours after a shooting at a Texas elementary school that dominated a large portion of the debates. A scheduling conflict between two TV networks – WGN and…
GOP Floor Leader Batinick ready to ‘pass the baton’
By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Illinois House Republican Floor Leader Mark Batinick, a self-described “policy guy,” came to Springfield with the goal of pushing good policy. A father of five who resides in Plainfield with his wife, Batinick said after eight years in the General Assembly, it was either time to…
Longtime lawmaker reflects on time in General Assembly, calls it ‘honor of lifetime’
By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – House Majority Leader Greg Harris, the number two Democrat in the Illinois House of Representatives, never imagined landing the role of state representative – or that he would leave office feeling that he has been successful at it. The first openly LGTBQ leader in Illinois History,…
11th contempt citation filed against DCFS director
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – On Thursday afternoon, a Cook County judge found Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith in contempt of court for the 11th time for violating court orders to move children to proper placements. The 11-year-old girl at the center of the case has…
Criminal case against senior staff at state-run hospital dismissed
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The official misconduct case against a Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center senior staff member was dismissed on Thursday. Union County State’s Attorney Tyler Tripp dropped the charges, related to a cover-up of abuse at the state-run facility, against Choate’s quality assurance manager Gary Goins. The…
ANALYSIS: Fuel retailers sue over ‘compelled speech’ at the gas pump
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] “As of July 1, 2022, the State of Illinois has suspended the inflation adjustment to the motor fuel tax through December 31, 2022. The price on this pump should reflect the suspension of the tax increase.” Those two sentences may be coming to a gas pump near you…
CAPITOL RECAP: Survey: Illinois undercounted in 2020 census
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – The Census Bureau released new survey data Thursday, May 19, suggesting the population of Illinois may have been undercounted by nearly 2 percent in the 2020 headcount. That was one of the findings of the Census Bureau’s Post-Enumeration Survey, or PES, something the bureau does after each decennial census…
Census Bureau: Illinois may have been undercounted in 2020 census
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Census Bureau released new survey data Thursday suggesting the population of Illinois may have been undercounted by nearly 2 percent in the 2020 headcount. That was one of the findings of the Census Bureau’s Post-Enumeration Survey, or PES, something the bureau does after each decennial…
Illinois rejoins federal Title X family planning program
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Illinois has resumed participation in the federal Title X family planning program after refusing to take part for the past three years in protest over a Trump administration policy regarding abortion services. Gov. JB Pritzker announced this week that the state has been awarded $5.4 million…
