Local News
Let’s keep those sidewalks salted
By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 Merry Christmas 2022 to all! I can’t believe I am actually saying that already. I just hope January and February go by quickly. Please remember to take care of your sidewalks and walkways during inclement weather. A…
Head to the library over Christmas break
By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 The West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St., is a good place to bring your kids during Christmas break. Pick out some books to read together. The library will be having some activities for parents and little ones next week. On…
We must always build bridges
By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 No matter our religion, our beliefs or how we have spent the holidays over the years, it has always been a special time to connect with family and friends. Last week the International Human Relations Council hosted their…
Boys Basketball: St. Rita picking up speed after slow start to season
By Steve Millar Correspondent Morez Johnson is committed to Illinois, where he will one day compete against Michigan State coach Tom Izzo in the Big Ten. The junior forward from St. Rita was happy to see Izzo in attendance last week to watch a dominant performance by the Mustangs in a 70-41 win over St.…
College Notebook: NIU’s Francesca Bertucci named MAC Defensive POY
By Mike Walsh Correspondent The 2022 season is likely one that will not be soon forgotten by Northern Illinois women’s volleyball player Francesca Bertucci. Not only did the sophomore libero/defensive specialist win four Mid-American Conference’s West Division Defensive Player of the Week, she also was lauded as the MAC’s Defensive Player of the Year. Bertucci,…
Area Hoops Wrap: IHSA releases basketball postseason assignments
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Most of the holiday basketball tournaments have not even started, but the IHSA has already released its 2023 postseason assignments. For some area schools, the placements into some sectionals are not exactly gifts from Santa. Area teams Reavis, Brother Rice, Hubbard, Marist, St. Rita, Oak Lawn, Sandburg, Shepard and Stagg…
Area Sports Roundup: Mother McAuley’s Gigi Navarette voted best player in the U.S.
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer It was Navar in doubt. Mother McAuley senior Gigi Navarrete easily won a public vote conducted by Scorebook Live for best high school girls volleyball player in the country. Of 30,761 votes cast, 16,197 (53%) were for the Mighty Macs libero. Coming in a distant second was Ava Safara of…
‘A good man, among the very best’
Doherty earns MCC’s Firefighter of the Year Award By Tim Hadac Many people who deserve awards are modest, sometimes to the point of being surprised and even a bit befuddled when they receive an accolade. Mike Doherty is one of them. The longtime Garfield Ridge resident recalled the day earlier this month when he received…
Challenging minds, changing lives
Gebel named MCC’s Teacher of the Year By Tim Hadac Speak with parents of students at Byrne Elementary School about Robert Gebel, and you’ll hear their insights into the character of the man recently named the Midway Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. “His passion for teaching and helping his students is outstanding,”…
St. Bede gets a new crossing guard
Concerns over kids’ safety on 83rd Street By Tim Hadac A struggle this school year to get a crossing guard stationed at a grade school in the Scottsdale neighborhood appears to have a successful outcome. Children and parents at St. Bede School, 4440 W. 83rd St., now have a crossing guard for both morning arrival…
Small salesman, big results
Victor Duque Jr., a preschooler at Our Lady of the Snows School, accepts a 5-pound World’s Finest chocolate bar from OLS Principal Christina Avis as a reward for being the top seller of World’s Finest bars in the entire school in OLS’ recent fundraiser. Victor sold a whopping 480 chocolate bars. In addition to the…
Biz leaders back to serve seniors
Offering home safety help By Tim Hadac For the second time this year, three leading businesses serving Clearing and Garfield Ridge are stepping up to serve the community’s elderly residents. All Exterior Contractors, Mike Riordan State Farm Agency and First Rate Realty—all members of the Midway Chamber of Commerce—are teaming up to offer safety inspections of seniors’ homes, all…
Time to don those ugly sweaters
By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 Happy Ugly Christmas Sweater Day to all. This is a real national holiday celebrated on the third Friday of December each year. If you don’t have an ugly Christmas sweater you can create one by wearing a red or green sweater and…
A dozen days you’ll like at Senior Center
By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 As you read this issue of the Greater Southwest News-Herald today, we are in the midst of the 12 Days of Christmas at the Southwest Regional Senior Center, 6117 S. Kedzie. It began Tuesday, Dec. 13 with the…
Boys Hoops: St. Rita hands Brother Rice first loss
By Steve Millar Correspondent St. Rita came into this season with plenty of hype, boasting a stacked roster led by the top three junior recruits in the state. Three early losses may have left some people questioning whether the Mustangs are legit, but junior forward Morez Johnson said he and his teammates are ready to…
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Illinois News
‘Omnibus’ health care bill passed amid criticisms
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A law recently signed by Gov. JB Pritzker will extend the deadline for the state to transfer criminal defendants deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial from jail to a mental hospital. That same bill, House Bill 240, also gives nursing homes in Illinois two more years…
Veteran Statehouse reporter Hannah Meisel joins Capitol News Illinois reporting team
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS [email protected] Longtime Statehouse reporter Hannah Meisel has joined the Capitol News Illinois team as a full-time state government and politics reporter. She’s had a number of assignments covering the Statehouse and Illinois government since the 2014 legislative session, most recently serving as Statehouse editor for NPR Illinois from 2020 until after…
Replacing Illinois institution as secretary of state, Giannoulias makes modernization push
By NIKA SCHOONOVER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – For newly sworn-in Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, customer service is the central mission as he assumes the state’s second-largest constitutional office, replacing the man who had held it for nearly a quarter century. “Modernization and bringing new technology is going to be at the forefront…
UPDATED: State preparing further defense of assault weapons ban
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Monday filed a petition asking an appellate court to vacate a temporary restraining order that was issued late Friday afternoon blocking enforcement of the state’s recently-passed assault weapons ban. Raoul’s office filed the petition in the 5th District Appellate Court in…
State preparing further defense of assault weapons ban
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker and legislative leaders said they were disappointed but not surprised by a judge’s decision late Friday putting a temporary and limited halt to enforcement of the state’s recently-passed assault weapons ban. Effingham County Judge Joshua Morrison issued the temporary restraining order late Friday…
Rifle Association files federal suit against assault weapons ban
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Rifle Association has joined forces with other gun rights advocates in filing a federal lawsuit challenging the state’s new ban on the sale and manufacture of semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines. It’s the latest legal challenge to the law, which went into effect…
DCFS, director face lawsuit filed on behalf of jailed wards
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services on Thursday was named in a federal class-action lawsuit on behalf of children in state care who have been held in juvenile detention centers after a judge ordered their release. Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert is a…
