Local News
Hoops Wrap | Morton College taking aim at national title
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Morton College’s women’s basketball team took its first postseason step in its quest for a national championship. The Panthers, who finished second in the nation in the National Junior College Association Division II Tournament last year, handily defeated Moraine Valley, 91-51, on March 4 in Rockford to head into the…
Job Fair at Brookfield Zoo on Saturday, March 4
Looking for a fun and unique work environment, then head to Brookfield Zoo’s Job Fair on Saturday, March 4, from noon to 3 p.m. The zoo’s business partner, SSA Group, which oversees the concessions, retail, and catering, is hiring for the upcoming busy season. Seasonal positions for energetic and guest-service oriented individuals are available at…
Crusader basketball team seniors honored
The eight seniors on the Kennedy High School boys basketball team were recently honored as their final prep hoops season winds down. Receiving plaudits were Nate Carrero, Ian Martinez, Kenneth Villa, Juan Juarez, Pedro Araiza, Brett Gomez, John Kurysz and Jeremiah Stigger. The honor came on the Crusaders’ home court on the same night Kennedy…
Mayoral candidates to come courting
. . Vallas, Johnson may mine vote-rich Clearing, Garfield Ridge By Tim Hadac With the Clearing and Garfield Ridge aldermanic races decided in landslide victories on Feb. 28, attention now turns to the mayoral runoff, set for Tuesday, April 4. Both former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson (D-1st)…
Learn about city history at library
. . By Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • [email protected] Apologies for the late notice, but I’ll include this bit of news for those who receive the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound early on their doorstep—or better, for all of us who subscribe online for about 4 cents a day. Join…
Stars & Stripes 5K run returns
Will honor fallen CPD Officer Ella French By Tim Hadac Hundreds of men, women and children will run, jog, walk or roll through the streets of western Garfield Ridge this summer, in part to honor the ultimate sacrifice made by a Chicago Police officer. The Stars and Stripes 5K Run will be held Saturday, July 1…
Area Sports Roundup: Reavis swimmer Countryman wins two more state medals
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The best boys swimmer in Reavis history came close to achieving the school’s first individual state championship in the sport. Rams senior Joey Countryman took second in the 100 freestyle with a time of 45.23. Rockford East senior Camden Taylor won the event in 43.72 on Feb. 25 at the…
Boys Basketball Class 4A | Bloom downs Marist for regional title
By Steve Millar Correspondent With Marist missing two key guards, freshman TJ Tate came up from the junior varsity team and got an opportunity to play in the playoffs. Tate made the most of the chance, coming off the bench and scoring 12 points in what would be the RedHawks’ final game of the season.…
The Hounds are here. And a few things you should know about pro rugby
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer So, about this new rugby team in town … The Chicago Hounds will make their historic home debut at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 5 against Utah at SeatGeek Stadium in a Major League Rugby battle. Given that rugby is not considered by most people to be a major sport around…
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Illinois News
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
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
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
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
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
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…
Advocates push for tax credit aimed at increasing affordable housing
By NIKA SCHOONOVER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers are considering bills that would create a new tax credit for affordable housing, referred to as the “Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit.” The legislation, contained in the identical House Bill 2044 and Senate Bill 1737, would mirror a federal program administered by the Illinois Housing…
Utility’s indicted CEO considered Madigan when hiring, witness says
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois [email protected] CHICAGO – In April 2017, a top staffer in then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s office was looking to leave his job after a combined nearly 18 years working for the speaker’s office and as his political director. Will Cousineau applied for a high-level job with electric utility Commonwealth…
House passes bill prohibiting book bans
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House passed a bill Wednesday that would prohibit libraries from banning books or other material because of partisan or doctrinal pressure, prompting strong opposition from Republicans who called it an assault on local control. House Bill 2789 is an initiative of Democratic Secretary of…
ComEd’s former top lawyer paints Madigan confidant as ‘double agent’ in testimony
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois [email protected] CHICAGO – Being the longtime friend of longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan granted Mike McClain certain privileges not afforded to other lobbyists in Springfield, jurors heard Tuesday in a federal corruption trial that, in part, centers around the relationship between the two. McClain “had pretty free access”…