State’s fiscal heath looking good

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By Rich Miller After taking a pandemic-induced hiatus from proposing large, permanent base spending increases and instead using most revenue increases for one-time expenditures, Gov. JB Pritzker’s recently proposed Fiscal Year 2024 state budget appears to increase base operational spending by at least $2.75 billion, or 7.9%. Annual pension payments will also rise by a…

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Even now, Washington is an inspiration

PeggyZabicki

. By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327 Happy Birthday to George Washington, whose birthday is Feb. 22, 1732. He was our country’s first president, the Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the president of the Constitutional Convention that drafted the U.S. Constitution. Very…

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Police hunt Ashburn carjackers

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. From staff reports Four armed carjackings in the greater Ashburn area have prompted police to issue a community alert. Crime scenes include: 3300 block of West 83rd Place at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27. 8100 block of South Sacramento at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1. 3800 block of West 84th Place at 9:40 p.m.…

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Teacher shortage more complex than it seems

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. By Jessica Krim While there has always been an ebb and flow of teacher shortages and overages over time because of population, trends within generations of students, and enrollment in and support for university educator preparation programs, there are several factors that provide a unique twist to our current iteration of a teacher shortage.…

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Fiscal report makes sense, on paper

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. By Rich Miller The legislature’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability released its latest monthly fiscal report last week. The report claimed the state is still on track to match the commission’s revised November estimate of a $4.1 billion revenue increase for the current fiscal year. Revenue had originally been projected to fall from…

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Sign up now, play ball later

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. . By Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com . Looking to get your son or daughter off their cellphone screen and into the sunshine? The time is now to sign them up to play baseball or softball with Clear Ridge Little League, one of the best youth athletic…

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Teen creativity in bloom at library

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. By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 . This past week I checked in with Claudia Brand, the new Teen Librarian at the Chicago Lawn Branch Library, to see how it was going. She has just begun the Teen Creative Studio on Tuesdays from…

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Schools need to teach about Honest Abe

PeggyZabicki

. By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327 . Abraham Lincoln was born on Feb. 12, 1809. Lincoln is considered to be one of our greatest presidents. It seems appropriate that we celebrate his birthday and his many accomplishments insuring freedom for all people during African American…

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Rooting for the Chiefs this Sunday

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. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place •  (773) 284-7394 . Happy Super Sunday! I must be bipartisan in my writing but when it comes to this Super Sunday, I hope I can wish for Patrick and his Chiefs! (It’s just my opinion.) We do love…

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Super Hero fun at Our Lady of the Snows

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Catholic Schools Week was plenty of fun this year at Our Lady of the Snows School, as students were encouraged to dress as a super hero. Parents interested in checking out the school, 4810 S. Leamington, for 2023-24 are encouraged to call (773) 735-4810. – Supplied photo

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