Local News

Pro Soccer Report: Cup runneth over — Red Stars v. Washington postponed because of exhibition tourney
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer SeatGeek Stadium was empty the night of May 7. The NWSL game between Washington and the Chicago Red Stars that had been scheduled was postponed, and will be played at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 8. The reason? It wasn’t weather related. It was a cool but dry night. A decent…

College Report: Illini football names scholarship after former Orland top cop Tim McCarthy
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer Many area residents know Tim McCarthy as the former longtime police chief of Orland Park. Those who know history know McCarthy was a U.S. Secret Service agent who took a bullet for President Ronald Reagan during John Hinckley Jr.’s assassination attempt in 1981. Not as well known is that McCarthy…

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whose district includes all or parts of Garfield Ridge, Archer Heights, Brighton Park, McKinley Park, has suddenly withdrawn from his re-election race.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…

Newman praised by Muslim group
U.S. Rep. Marie Newman (D-3rd) accepts a Courage Award from Oussama Jammal of the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations at the group’s annual Ramadan Iftar Dinner. She was recently praised by local Muslim leaders for objecting to “the illegal demolition of homes and annexation of Palestinian land [by Israel]; supporting legislation defending the human rights…

MWRD honors IUOE Local 150
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Mariyana Spyropoulos recently presented International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 President and Business Manager Jim Sweeney and Local 150 Business Agent Marty Durkan with a resolution hon- oring the IUOE on their 125th anniversary. “MWRD values the partnerships with our Labor Organizations. We are grateful for the dedication of…

Gardening time is here
By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 It’s time to garden! My mother-in-law always told me to wait to plant the flowers ‘til after Mother’s Day. So, I think it is safe to do so. (I never can wait and put up my petunias…

Liths lead aid drive for Ukrainians
By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 As war rages on in Ukraine, the needs of Ukrainian refugees in Lithuania have been noticed by the local Lithuanian population. As always, Nativity BVM Parish has done its part to help. Undergarments for women and children are…

Peace Walk offers glimpse into bright future
By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 The ASTRRONGU Youth Council continues to be a bright light in our neighborhood. They recently held their annual Peace Walk at West Lawn Park. ASTRRONGU means A Strong You and the letters stand for – Always Stick Together Resist Reach Out Never…

Pro Soccer Report: Red Stars catch lightning in season-opening win over Louisville
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Chicago Red Stars had not won a season-opener since 2015, and the prospects for beginning the 2022 campaign with a ‘W’ were not at their most promising. The Stars had never beaten their Game 1 opponent, Racing Louisville, a franchise that was an expansion team in 2021. Tierna Davidson,…

College Report: Moraine Valley celebrates 45 years of athletics in Finn fashion
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer Moraine Valley Community College celebrated its 45th year of offering athletics on April 30. Bill Finn has seen nearly all of them. Finn, the Cyclones’ athletic director, has spent 41 years at the college as a coach and administrator. The school opened up the Health, Fitness and Recreation Center for…

Rush accuses DOJ official of lying
Says never spoke with Laquan McDonald’s mother By Tim Hadac U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-1st) essentially accused the Biden Administration of lying this month, in the wake an announcement that the U.S. Department of Justice would not prosecute the police officer convicted of murdering Laquan McDonald. The congressman was reacting to U.S. Attorney for…

May is bursting with things to do
By Laura Ortega Your correspondent in Greater Ashburn 4214 W. 82nd Place • (773) 627-6679 First, I want to wish a most special birthday to my son, Ivan, who will be an official teenager on May 2. I will have three teens under one roof. Oy vey! Second, I want to congratulate my daughter, Lucia,…
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Illinois News

Garman to retire from state Supreme Court, setting up appointment to replace her
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Republican Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman announced Monday that she will retire on July 7, marking the end of a long legal career that has included 48 years as a jurist. She would have been up for retention this year, but the timing of her…

DCFS director: ‘Stuck kids’ docket a problem years in the making
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith has faced nine cases of contempt of court in recent weeks for failing to comply with a judge’s order to place the state’s most vulnerable children in an appropriate setting. In a recent interview with Capitol News…

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.…