
The Worth Public Library, 6917 W. 111th St., Worth, welcomed Rachel Snyder as the new library director in January. (Supplied photo)
New director joins Worth Public Library
Local News

Landek to retire from Illinois Senate
Porfirio will take his place on the ballot By Bob Bong In a move that had apparently been in the works for at least a month, Democratic state Sen. Steve Landek will not run for re-election in November. Lyons Township Trustee Mike Porfirio, a close ally of Landek since his days as his chief of staff in Springfield, is……

Fan Fest returns to Oak Lawn Library
By Kelly White Comic lovers of all ages joined forces this weekend and came together at Oak Lawn Public Library’s annual Fan Fest. The fest at the library, 9427 Raymond Ave., is a pop culture celebration and free comic book day. It provides an opportunity for the community to come to a local event without……

Huge turnout for meeting on Wolf Road widening in Indian Head Park
By Carol McGowan A crowd estimated at more than 150 packed Lyonsville Congregational Church in Indian Head Park last week to hear about plans to widen Wolf Road. The plans have been in the works since 2020 and call for Cook County to widen Wolf Road from 79th Street to Plainfield Road. Most of the……

More Wolf Road, Joliet Road overnight closures coming
Temporary, overnight lane closures are scheduled next week on Wolf Road and Joliet Road at the Tri-State Tollway to accommodate bridge beam removal for the reconstruction of the I-294 bridges over Joliet Road and Wolf Road in Indian Head Park. On Wolf Road, scheduled overnight lane closures will include intermittent full closures, each lasting 15……

Police investigate Palos Hills shooting
From staff reports Palos Hills police are investigating a shooting that occurred at 7:40 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4, in the 10700 block of Roberts Road. Police said they and paramedics of the North Palos Fire Protection District answered a call of a man shot. They found a man wh0 had suffered a gunshot wound……

Irvin gaslighting GOP voters
By Rich Miller Almost every weekday since the beginning of February, the Richard Irvin campaign has sent at least one press release to reporters about a host of issues, from crime to taxes to corruption to former House Speaker Michael Madigan to, well, you name it. Last week, however, the Irvin campaign was conspicuously silent……

Senator Muñoz steps down
Future son-in-law has clear path to succeed him By Tim Hadac State Senator Antonio “Tony” Muñoz (D-1st) whose district includes all or parts of Garfield Ridge, Archer Heights, Brighton Park, McKinley Park, has suddenly withdrawn from his re-election race. No reason was offered, but in a statement he said he plans to continue “supporting the……

‘We have to protect ourselves’
Women push back against crime By Tim Hadac Years ago, a woman taking firearms training was a rare sight, at least compared to the number of men enrolled. But with spikes in crimes like carjacking, robbery, battery and more, women are increasingly found at gun ranges and in firearms classes—so much so that sessions just……

Emily Pruim, a scholar with a bright future
By Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • [email protected] Spring is the season when, among other things, we celebrate the young people of Clearing and Garfield Ridge, their achievements and their future plans. It’s a wonderful and refreshing part of my duties to report this kind of good news. This week,……
Neighbors

ANALYSIS: Where does the GOP governor field stand on abortion?
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] Perhaps the biggest news affecting state government this week came not from Springfield but from Washington, D.C. That news was an unprecedented leak of a draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion that would overturn the landmark 1973 abortion rights decision Roe v. Wade. That case’s precedent protects access to…

UPDATED: Fitch, S&P announce Illinois credit ratings upgrades
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Fitch Ratings on Thursday raised the state of Illinois’ rating for general obligation bonds two notches, to BBB+, while S&P Global Ratings on Friday upgraded state bonds by one notch. That means all three major credit rating agencies have updated Illinois credit by two notches in…

Ceremony honors officers killed in the line duty
By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – As rain steadily fell in Springfield Thursday morning, there was a somber feeling among the law enforcement officers and elected officials that gathered at the Illinois State Library to honor 11 fallen officers killed in the line of duty in 2021. “I have a heavy heart…

Audit finds IDPH failed to intervene in early days of LaSalle Veterans’ Home outbreak
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A new report from the state’s auditor general found more fault with the Illinois Department of Public Health in its response to a deadly COVID-19 outbreak at a state-run veterans home than was found by a previous watchdog report that investigated the matter. A November 2020…

Fitch raises Illinois credit rating two notches
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Fitch Ratings on Thursday raised the state of Illinois’ rating for general obligation bonds two notches, to BBB+, making it the second rating agency to do so in recent weeks and marking the fourth time the state has received a credit upgrade in the last year.…

CAPITOL RECAP: Lawmakers react to leaked draft abortion decision
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats warned of an “end to the constitutional right to privacy” if a leaked U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the 1973 landmark decision in Roe v. Wade becomes finalized as precedent. “It means women who lose access to the full suite of medical advances…

Illinois has tangled history with abortion despite recent liberal push
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A leaked draft of an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision that could overturn the landmark 1973 case Roe v. Wade reignited a political debate over whether access to abortion is a constitutional right or something that can be regulated by the states. The draft opinion was…

Illinois lawmakers respond to leaked Supreme Court abortion decision
By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats warned of an “end to the constitutional right to privacy” if a leaked U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the 1973 landmark decision in Roe v. Wade becomes finalized as precedent. “It means women who lose access to the full suite…

Pritzker signs bills aimed at easing teacher shortage amid data suggesting progress
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed a package of bills Wednesday aimed at easing the state’s shortage of teachers and other education professionals, even as a new report shows Illinois just added a record number of new teachers to its ranks. Speaking in the library of Springfield High…

$309 million available through federally-funded mortgage assistance program
By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker was joined by the Illinois Housing Development Authority and local elected officials in Chicago Friday to promote the Illinois Emergency Homeowner Assistance Fund for struggling homeowners. Overseen by IHDA, the emergency assistance fund is funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act and…