Local News
Following the Aug. 7 sale of the first phase of the Stony Creek Promenade property at 111th and Cicero Avenue, Special Counsel Matt Welch presented an optimistic overview of the financial windfall that the TIF zone will eventually bring into the village. Welch noted that $6,643,517, the final sale price for the completed 14.5 acre…
Read More Tinley Park, IL — The Crisis Center for South Suburbia’s (CCSS) Auxiliary will host their 7th Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence on Saturday, August 8, 2015 — rain or shine. The Auxiliary is taking action by walking at Lake Katherine Nature Preserve in Palos Heights, IL. Check-in for the day will begin at 8:30am and…
Read More Daniel M. Vorberg, 32, was on parole for a previous public indecency conviction when Oak Lawn police arrested him for the same offense on June 18, and Oak Lawn Mayor Sandra Bury joined concerned residents and Chicago Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th) at Vorberg’s Tuesday appearance in Bridgeview Courthouse to see that he stays in jail.…
Read More The Oak Lawn Board of Trustees at its Tuesday meeting approved two ordinances that will raise the municipal utility tax on electricity and natural gas bills in the village Ñ a move most trustees agreed was the best option available to generate funds needed for infrastructure improvements. Together, the taxes are expected to generate $2.5…
Read More Health problems are causing a popular Oak Lawn restaurateur to sell her business, but Oak Lawn trustees showed no love for a prospective buyer’s request for a liquor license that would allow him to move ahead with his purchase. Sandra DiGangi is known for her food and her volunteerism. Since 2010, she has been preparing…
Read More In an effort to Òshop Oak Lawn,” village trustees at the Tuesday board meeting agreed to waive competitive bidding requirements and split a contract for streetlight bulbs and electrical supplies between the winning bidder and a local company, but not without their usual spirited discussion. When the issue came up on the agenda, Gerald Chickerillo,…
Read More Four years ago, Oak Lawn Trustee Robert Streit and his supporters gathered at Deja Brew Bar and Grille and anxiously awaited returns in an unexpectedly tight race in which a write-in candidate nearly defeated the veteran trustee. Things were much sweeter this time. There were no such worries on Tuesday night, as Streit was easily…
Read More Three of the six seats on the Oak Lawn Board of Trustees are up for election on April 7, and there will be at least one new face when voting is done. While Trustees Tim Desmond (1st) and Robert Streit (3rd) are running for re-election, Trustee Carol Quinlan (5th) is stepping down after two terms.…
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Oak Lawn Mayor Sandra Bury stressed the need to increase sales tax revenue, promoting the ÒShop Oak Lawn” theme during a wide-ranging State of the Village address given at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Tuesday at the Hilton Oak Lawn. With property tax bills recently issued, Bury pointed out that the village receives just 10.6…
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The Original Papa Joe’s restaurant will soon be moving from its longtime home at 10745 S. Cicero Ave. in Oak Lawn to new digs in Chicago Ridge. Joe Agate, owner of Papa Joe’s, said the restaurant would be moving into the former O’Connor Pub at 5900 W. 111th St., which closed earlier this month. ÒProbably…
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Comings & Goings
Pro Soccer Report: Fire II get first win; Red Stars fall to San Diego
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer When the soccer world woke up on May 15, the Chicago Fire II had not won an MLS NEXT Pro game and the Chicago Red Stars had not lost a regular-season game this season. That all changed late that afternoon. The Fire II won the first game in their short…
Area Sports Roundup: Marist knocks off Glenbard West in battle of nationally ranked volleyball teams
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Power on power didn’t work the first time around. Power here and there, mixed in with some savvy soft shots, did the trick the second time. In a battle of two of the top 11 teams in the nation, according to the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association May 11 rankings,…
Postseason Roundup: Lyons water polo teams vault to state via sensational sectionals
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Anyone looking for thrills and close matches at the two Lyons water polo sectionals were out of luck. Anyone rooting for the hosts, however, had a ball during that 24-hour stretch May 13 and 14. The Lions boys crushed Riverside-Brookfield, 17-5, in the semifinals and St. Rita, 12-3, in the…
Bust UPS driver on theft rap
By Tim Hadac A 26-year-old Back of the Yards man who works as a UPS driver was charged with felony theft last week after he was arrested at his workplace near 14th and Jefferson. Pedro Caudillo, of the 4700 block of South Honore, allegedly stole some $187,000 worth of high-end merchandise—specifically, Louis Vuitton purses and…
Burglar hits Gage Park businesses
From staff reports A cluster of burglaries in the Gage Park neighborhood has prompted police to issue a warning to local businesses. Crime scenes include: 5100 block of South Kedzie on April 28. 2400 block of West 51st Street on April 20. 2600 block of West 51st Street on April 7. In each case a…
Abortion protected in Illinois
Lawmakers react to draft Supreme Court opinion By Grace Kinnicutt Capitol News Illinois and Tim Hadac Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats have 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…
Giddyup! Pony ride business trots along
Garfield Ridge teens’ venture a success By Tim Hadac While the pandemic has contributed to the demise of a number of businesses in Clearing and Garfield Ridge—like Dallas Restaurant, Lindy’s/Gertie’s and Angel Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream—one has proven pandemic-proof. Two years after they launched their head-turning, smile-generating pony ride business, Garfield Ridge residents Matthew…
Adoration chapel open at St. Clare
By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 When the pandemic hit us hard, forcing the temporary closure of so many places–including Catholic churches–it did give parishes the opportunity to create new programs and find new ways to serve the faithful. In our area, St. Rita…
Seeking good buys, finding friendship
By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 April showers bring May garage sales. I’m glad our neighborhood has lots of them coming up. These sales give people a chance to connect with their neighbors, sell their stuff and hunt for treasures. Here’s a reminder about the 26th Annual Community…
Vols make AHCA Easter egg hunt a hit
By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 “The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves.” — Helen Keller I chose this quote after reading the Archer Heights Civic Association’s May newsletter. After many trials…
Illinois News
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…
Pritzker signs bill requiring serialization of unfinished ‘ghost guns’
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFILED – Owners of firearms that do not have serial numbers – referred to as ghost guns – will have 180 days to take them to a federal firearm dealer to have them serialized or they will risk being charged with a misdemeanor. Gov. JB Pritzker signed the…
What’s in the SAFE-T Act? A look at the 2021 criminal justice reform and how it has evolved
By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Amid a campaign season in which every constitutional office and seat in the Illinois General Assembly will be up for vote, rising crime and a landmark criminal justice reform passed in 2021 have become dominant topics for Republicans trying to loosen Democrats’ hold on state government.…
Cost of Statehouse renovation higher than estimated but within state’s budget
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The cost of renovating the north wing of the Illinois Statehouse will be more expensive than officials initially estimated. Only one bid came in for the project, which is about to get underway. CORE Construction Services of Illinois Inc. priced the job at $243.5 million, well…
10th contempt citation filed against DCFS director as 13-year-old locked in psych ward
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] Leah is a 13-year-old girl under Department of Children and Family Services care who lives in a psychiatric ward in a Chicago hospital. Capitol News Illinois is using a pseudonym to protect her identity, but has confirmed she’s been held for months behind locked doors despite a doctor…
Pritzker signs bill aimed at addressing organized retail crime
By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Friday that is aimed at cracking down on high-profile “smash-and-grabs” and other organized retail theft. “This important piece of legislation will help to combat these unlawful activities by addressing the problem from multiple angles,” Chauncey Rice, government relations manager for the…
ANALYSIS: Poll shows ‘undecided’ leads GOP governor field, followed by Irvin, Bailey
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] We’re about a month and a half from the June 28 primary, and “undecided” was the lead vote-getter this week in a new poll of 1,000 likely GOP primary voters, with 36.9 percent of respondents falling into that camp. For those polled who have picked a candidate, Aurora…
Audit finds DCFS failed to implement reforms
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Ta’Naja Barnes was two years old when she was found wrapped in a urine-soaked blanket amid rodent droppings, garbage and rotting food. The temperatures dipped to 45 degrees inside the Decatur home on Feb. 11, 2019, the day Ta’Naja was found. Medical personnel couldn’t get a…
CAPITOL RECAP: Former lawmakers seek back pay for raises they voted against
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Two former state senators who sponsored and voted for bills to reduce lawmakers’ pay and forgo annual cost-of-living adjustments are now asking the Illinois Supreme Court to declare those measures unconstitutional and award them their back pay. Former Sens. Michael Noland, D-Elgin, and James Clayborne, D-Belleville, have been successful…
Pritzker urges Congress to ‘be like Illinois’ in protecting abortion services
By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker called on Congress Wednesday to “be like Illinois” and codify abortion access into federal law. Pritzker made those comments at a Fairview Heights abortion clinic, touting steps Illinois has taken to protect abortion services should a U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the 1973…
