Local News
2 wounded in Bridgeview shooting
By Bob Bong Two men were wounded May 21 after two groups started arguing in the parking lot at Menards in Bridgeview. Police said the incident started at 8:05 p.m. with an argument between two groups in the parking lot at 9140 S. Harlem Ave. Police Chief Ricardo Mancha said police are trying to figure…
Water study finds 12 leaks in McCook system
By Steve Metsch A water study that McCook’s village board approved in March is paying dividends just two months later. Mayor Terrance Carr said that a dozen leaks have been found in the city’s water system, which had been losing 5 million gallons each month. “We found 12. We fixed all 12 of them. We…
Orland Park welcomes Rainbow Cone
By Kelly White Rainbow Cone was welcomed in to the Orland Park community on Friday morning when a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the franchise’s newest location, 15711 Harlem Ave., Orland Park. The location is run by the duo, John Buonavolanto and Fernando Toscano. “There are a lot of South Siders right here…
UPDATE: RidgeFest cancelled over flash mob safety concerns
Editor’s note: Chicago Ridge Mayor Chuck Tokar said Friday that RidgeFest originally set for July 28-30 was being cancelled for this year out of safety concerns as a result of the teen rampage last weekend at a carnival in Tinley Park. It’s the second area event called off because of the threat of teen flash…
Chicago man charged in Burbank hit-and-run
From staff reports A 21-year-old man has been charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident after being allegedly identified as the driver of a car that struck a Burbank grandfather riding his bike to work last week. Burbank police identified the man as Obidise Walker and said he was also issued several…
Improv comes to OLCHS
By Jeff Vazzana Teacher Amy Perras has launched a dynamic and engaging improvisational comedy program at Oak Lawn Community High School. The initiative featured talented students such as Safa Ali, Latifa Almatahen, Emily Butnariu, Austin Christensen, Bobby Davies, Nate Diaz, Emma Faucault-Miller, Juno Granados, Quinn Haywood, Collin Kalousek, Omar Marquez, and Amal Shariff. Improv comedy…
EPCHS names Valedictorian, Co-Salutatorians
The 2023 valedictorian and co-salutatorians at Evergreen Park Community High School were recognized during the Illinois Principals Association South Cook region’s annual Student Recognition Breakfast on May 4 at the Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park. The event recognizes the best and the brightest students in the south suburbs. EPCHS students recognized at the event…
Shepard wins MVCC culinary contest
The team of students from Shepard High School won first place at the Moraine Valley Community College Culinary Contest last month. The contest included nine teams from the high schools in the MVCC attendance area. Shepard students Jabari Harvey, who was part of the winning team for the second straight year, Emily Sheppard, and Isabelle…
Palos Park Doggie Dash is Saturday
Palos Park is going to the dogs on Saturday, May 20. Two- and four-legged friends are invited to the Palos Park Rec Center, 8901 W. 123rd St., for 1-mile fun run/walk (with or without your dog), and 5K run/walk with or without your dog. Free parking for the event is available next to the Rec Center…
Comcast launches service in Palos Park
Comcast announced that it has officially launched service in Palos Park. Village residents now have or soon will have access to Comcast’s full suite of Xfinity services, including gigabit+ internet speeds. Commercial and government entities will have access to the company’s full suite of Comcast Business services. Comcast said service would roll out in phases across town through the end of spring. Comcast will notify…
Ridge Central fifth-grade student council helps clean up Lucas Berg
The Chicago Ridge Ridge Central Fifth-Grade Student Council experienced nature up close and personal at the annual Chicago River Day 2023 cleanup at the Lucas Berg Nature Preserve in Worth on Saturday, May 13. The students, along with over 50 volunteers of residents, community groups and government officials participated in the cleanup of this approximate…
Police to hit the roof at Dunkin’ Donuts for Special Olympics
By Bob Bong Police departments across the south suburbs are gearing up for another high-flying fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois. Police will be hanging out at more than 325 Dunkin’ Donut coffee shops across Illinois starting at 5 a.m. Friday, May 19, for another edition of Cop on a Rooftop. They will be collecting donations…
Prospective foster parents receive advice, support
By Dermot Connolly Prospective foster parents can meet agency representatives and young adults who have gone through the system during a Foster Care Recruitment Picnic being held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the Thatcher Woods Pavilion in River Forest. Eight social service agencies that make up the Chicagoland Foster Care Recruitment…
A familiar face takes the reins in Indian Head Park
By Steve Metsch A new chapter in the history of Indian Head Park began at last week’s village board meeting. Amy Jo Wittenberg – who served two terms as a village trustee – was sworn in as the new mayor. Wittenberg, 59, who works in marketing for a printing company, lost re-election as a trustee…
When every day was Thanksgiving
. By Tim Hadac Editor, Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound (708) 496-0265 • [email protected] Adapted from something I wrote in November 2015. Those who know me in the real world, as opposed to in newspapers or social media, know that I am an extremely private man. I typically do not talk about my personal…
Baste becomes first Arab American on Bridgeview Village Board
By Steve Metsch In the newly decorated board room at the Bridgeview Village Hall, in front a standing room only crowd of family and friends, Kalid Baste became part of history. He was sworn in as the first Arab American to serve as a village trustee in Bridgeview. Baste was given the oath of office…
North Palos asks Worth for help enforcing fire regulations on businesses
By Joe Boyle The North Palos Fire Protection District would like to see businesses that have numerous violations in Worth suffer the consequences. The fire department does not give out the citations specifically. They require an official from the village to give the offending businesses the citations. “North Palos Fire Protection District has been serving…
Chicago Hounds will host Dawg Town Block Party in Bridgeview
Shaquille O’Neal will perform at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview this summer. DJ Diesel, who is also known as former basketball star Shaquille O’Neal, and American Celtic band Dropkick Murphys are set to perform at the 2023 MLR Championship Final at SeatGeek Stadium, 7000 S. Harlem Ave., on Saturday, July 8. The Chicago Hounds rugby team…
Slice Factory makes a big debut in Lyons
By Steve Metsch Norberto Cisneros Jr., smiled after tasting the pepperoni pizza at the new Slice Factory in Lyons. “I like it,” he said. “It’s a big bang for your buck.” Cisneros, an administrative aide in the Lyons Village Hall, wasn’t kidding. “Each slice,” restaurant owner Domenico DiDiana said, “is about the length of a grown man’s forearm.”…
New Summit trustees take their seats
By Carol McGowan Three new trustees were sworn-in at last week’s Village of Summit board meeting. Lorena Manriquez, Sonia Ponce, and Aurora Rodriguez took the oath of office at the beginning of the meeting, then took their seats in the board room with other village officials. Judge Iris Chavira did the honor of swearing them…
Illinois News
Pritzker puts final stamp on $50.4 billion state spending plan
By ANDREW ADAMS & JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker signed the state’s operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year on Wednesday, marking the first spending plan of his second term as governor. The $50.4 billion spending plan anticipates about $50.6 billion in revenues for the fiscal year that begins…
New law limits venue for constitutional lawsuits to Sangamon, Cook counties
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – People who file lawsuits in state courts challenging the constitutionality of a state law, administrative rule or executive order will now have to file those cases in either Sangamon or Cook counties. Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed House Bill 3062, which applies only to cases…
As trial begins, politically connected businessman claims feds set him up to bribe legislator
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois [email protected] CHICAGO – Nearly four years after his name first surfaced in connection with a bribe arrangement between two sitting lawmakers, politically connected businessman James Weiss is finally having his day in court. Weiss, who is married to former state Rep. Toni Berrios, D-Chicago – the daughter of longtime…
Pritzker set to consider signing more than 500 bills in the next three months
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers passed 566 bills through both chambers of the General Assembly in the recently concluded legislative session – all but one of them in May. It sets the table for an approximate three-month bill-signing season for Gov. JB Pritzker. That’s because the state’s constitution gives…
Capitol Cast: End of Session Review
Capitol News Illinois · End of Session Review The Capitol News Illinois team breaks down the highlights of the just-completed 2023 spring session.
Cannabis regulatory reform bill fails to advance in spring legislative session
By NIKA SCHOONOVER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A proposed cannabis reform bill won’t get further consideration until at least the General Assembly’s fall veto session after stakeholders failed to come to an agreement during the spring session’s final stretch. Rep. La Shawn Ford, a Chicago Democrat and the bill’s sponsor, told Capitol News…
Top Democrats announce budget ‘deal,’ but details are scant as last-minute negotiations continue
By JERRY NOWICKI, HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] UPDATE: The budget was filed as a 3,409-page amendment to Senate Bill 250 late Wednesday evening. This story has been updated to reflect the latest developments as of Wednesday night. SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker and Democratic leaders announced Wednesday they’ve agreed…
Legislature approves bill to tighten restrictions on red-light camera industry
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD — Lawmakers in Springfield have unanimously approved a measure that would place new restrictions on the red-light and speed camera industry’s involvement in state and local elections and government. House Bill 3903 would ban automatic traffic enforcement companies or their officers from donating to candidates for public…
State board of education looking for new providers in preschool ‘deserts’
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Even though Gov. JB Pritzker has yet to sign the budget bill lawmakers just passed, the Illinois State Board of Education is seeking applicants for some of the new money contained in that bill. ISBE is looking for new providers to offer preschool programs in areas…
Pritzker touts new budget’s higher education spending
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker began a tour of the state to tout the new state budget that lawmakers passed last week, stopping at two university campuses Wednesday to highlight the spending plan’s increased funding for higher education. “With this new budget, we’re making it possible for nearly…
