Local News
Summit Officer Earns National Honor, New Police Officer Joins Force
Summit Police Officer Armando Dominguez received a standing ovation at the Summit Village Board meeting after being named National School Resource Officer of the Year, an honor presented at the National School Safety Conference. The award recognizes school resource officers who have made specific and significant contributions to their local communities or school districts. “Getting…
Worth to honor victims of 9/11 tragedy
Worth public officials will mark a couple of events honoring veterans and will remember the tragedy that took place on Sept. 11, 2001. Mayor Mary Werner mentioned that the Marrs-Meyer American Legion Post 991 will take part in the opening ceremony of the Vietnam Veteran Wall on Thursday, Sept. 5, in Monee. “Members of the post will…
Missing woman’s body found, service set for Saturday
A missing 85-year-old woman who had been missing since September 1 was found Wednesday afternoon deceased. Chicago police said Wednesday Francisca Renteria’s body was found after a massive search through the Garfield Ridge area. Sources said her body was found by Cook County Sheriff’s Police near an industrial building at 51st Street and Meade Avenue.…
Annual Rhine VFW Post picnic called a success
The annual post picnic at Rhine VFW Post in Garfield Ridge took place on September 1. Post Commander Charlie Johnson says it’s a big hit every year. “We have 125-150 people come every year. It’s our annual picnic for our members, their families, and our auxiliary. “We are one of the best VFWs in the…
Step Back in Time: 31st annual River Rendezvous returns to Willow Springs
The 31st annual A River Thru History – The Des Plaines Valley Rendezvous will be returning once again this year to Columbia Woods Forest Preserve in Willow Springs for a weekend filled with historic facts, recreation and fun. Taking place at the intersection of Archer Avenue and Willow Springs Road, the event focuses on the…
Football | Steven Holmes runs for 4 TDs as Argo defeats De La Salle
Last season, Argo made the state playoffs in consecutive campaigns for the first time in program history On opening night in Chicago’s Bronzeville community, they Argonauts took their first step toward securing a third straight postseason berth, defeating De La Salle 45-0 in a non-conference matchup at Parente Field. Argo senior running back Steven Holmes…
Football | Late TD pass lifts Nazareth over Kankakee on opening night
A balanced ground game and the play of Logan Malachuk led Nazareth to a comeback victory over a familiar foe on opening night of the 2024 season. Malachuk threw for 359 yards and two touchdowns, including a redemptive game-winning score with 3:46 to play, and the Roadrunners topped Kankakee, 37-30, in a non-conference matchup in…
Orland Park man charged for shooting tow truck, taking victim at gunpoint
A 26-year-old Orland man was arrested last week after he fired shots at a tow truck driver and took another person hostage at the auto repair shop where he worked, Chicago Ridge police said. Mahyoub Dawabsha was taken into custody on Tuesday, August 20, by Chicago Ridge officers who responded to a call of shots…
Popular Bluegrass and Brews will return to Countryside next year
There will be a fourth Bluegrass and Brews in Countryside next year after this year’s third edition drew a big crowd to Countryside Park. “Absolutely,” Mayor Sean McDermott said when asked if there will be another concert in 2025. “I thought it was wonderful,” he said of the August 24 event. “I think it gets…
Larry Rice Way unveiled at Hodgkins Fest
A crowd gathered during the annual Hodgkins Fest for the unveiling of Larry Rice Way on August 24. Longtime Hodgkins Trustee Larry Rice passed away at the end of July, and Lyons Street in the village now bears his name in his honor. “More than 100 people were there just for the street naming,” said…
Orland puts annexation on hold; appoints interim clerk
Annexations of three areas of Orland Park will likely become a reality, but there will be some time for residents to soak things in and to ask questions. The village board voted on Aug. 19 to postpone annexing the 1455-14567 S. 82nd Avenue area, the Silver Lake Drive property and the Silver Lake Dells area.…
Worth Park District rejects Homerding Park bids
The Worth Park District Board of Park Commissioners voted during their Aug. 15 meeting to unanimously reject the bids received for the Homerding Park Improvements Project. “As a board, we felt this was the best direction at this time,” said Mike McElroy, president of the park board. “We could have moved forward with the project,…
82 Argo students earn Seal of Biliteracy
Eighty-two students at Argo Community High School completed the last school year with a Seal of Biliteracy. Al Hasan, who is assistant division chair and EL director, and Jennifer Julius, chair of the World Languages Department, are very proud of all of them. At the end of the last school year, a breakfast celebration was…
Lopez helps officers stay hydrated during Democratic convention
I’m guessing many of us watched parts of the Democratic National Convention or perhaps caught some reviews on the local news stations. When it was over, you probably heard some general accolades given, acknowledging departments and their heads for contributing to the outcome. As you know, there are lots of behind-the-scenes people and groups who…
Remember to honor working men and women on Labor Day
And just like that – its September. Happy Labor Day to all. Thank you to our laborers as we honor the American Labor Movement this Monday, Sept. 2. Some of the residents of the Beat 822 community put on their rubber gloves, grabbed a heavy-duty garbage bag, and cleaned up 55th Street near Central Park…
OLCHS Ancora choir to sing Saturday with Foreigner
The Oak Lawn Community High School advanced choir, better known as Ancora, will perform live this weekend with Grammy award-winning rockers Foreigner. At the beginning of April, Ancora teacher Samantha Elliott submitted a video audition to 97.1 The Drive’s radio contest for local choirs to sing with the band. They collaborated on an “I Want…
Hickory Hills gears up for annual carnival
Hickory Hills’ seventh annual carnival will be here this weekend for local families and friends to partake in the city’s final stretch for a sunny summer-ending hurrah. Angel Sanchez, the Hickory Hills Park District Recreation Manager for the past 12 years, and his dedicated team members have been tirelessly curating diverse activities for everyone to…
October hearing next for man charged with Bridgeview murder
Three months to the day after Arturo Cantu Jr. was shot to death outside his Bridgeview apartment, his alleged killer was back in court. Anthony Calderon, 20, of Bedford Park, appeared in Room 101 at the Bridgeview Court House before Cook County Circuit Court Associate Judge Margaret M. Ogarek for a status hearing. Unlike his…
Palos School District 118 names Dodds assistant director of student services
Terri Dodds, an administrator in Palos School District 118, has been promoted to Assistant Director of Student Services starting in the 2024-25 school year. In her new position, Dodds will be assisting in the management of the Student Services Department which identifies and provides supports to students with unique individual learning needs. She will also…
Shepard welcomes Class of 2028
Few experiences created more anxiety for young teenagers than the first day of high school. So long ago staff from District 218 chose to create a warm, welcoming, and friendly opening event – Freshman Day – for new students. In addition to smiling teachers and administrators, freshmen at Shepard High School encountered returning students who…
Illinois News
CAPITOL RECAP: State Supreme Court again declines to rule on FOID Act
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – In a 4-3 decision with a blistering dissent from the Republican minority, the Illinois Supreme Court declined to rule on a question of whether Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Act is unconstitutional. It was the second time the case of the People v. Vivian Brown came before the court and…
State audit finds billions in unemployment fraud
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A state audit released Thursday found nearly $2 billion in federal money intended to help unemployed Illinoisans during the pandemic was lost to fraudulent claims in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Employment Security blamed “insufficient and flawed federal guidance” and a lack of controls on a…
Death certificates of 5 men killed in East St. Louis riots found in state archives
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com It was a tale told by older generations to the younger generations, of men shot and killed and their bodies tossed into a creek during one of the fiercest race riots in the country. That tale was carried across the Mississippi River by those trying to escape the…
State Supreme Court declines to rule on FOID Act for second time
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In a 4-3 decision with a blistering dissent from the Republican minority, the Illinois Supreme Court declined to rule on a question of whether Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Act is unconstitutional. It was the second time the case of the People v. Vivian Brown came before…
Pritzker signs bills protecting sexual assault victims
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed two bills into law Thursday aimed at protecting the victims of sexual assault. One of those new laws allows victims to press charges, even if they were voluntarily intoxicated at the time of the attack. Another expands where survivors can access treatment…
UPDATED: State reports COVID-19 outbreak at Manteno Veterans’ Home
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – At least 16 residents and six staff at the state-run veterans home in Manteno have tested positive for COVID-19 and one COVID-positive resident who was in hospice died Wednesday morning, according to the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The number of residents reached 17 Thursday after…
State reports COVID-19 outbreak at Manteno Veterans’ Home
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – At least 16 residents and six staff at the state-run veterans home in Manteno have tested positive for COVID-19 and one COVID-positive resident who was in hospice died Wednesday morning, according to the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs. All of the positive residents had received at…
Pritzker expands state child care subsidy, increases reimbursement rates
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Thousands more families in Illinois will soon be eligible for subsidized child care and child care providers will see a pay raise under a series of initiatives that Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday. Starting July 1, the state will invest more than $175 million in additional…
Pritzker signs bills targeting wage theft, expanding HIV care options
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker has signed 401 bills sent to him this calendar year, leaving just 10 of those passed by lawmakers this year awaiting his action as of Monday. His most recent crop of signed bills from Friday, June 10, included a measure taking aim at…
ANALYSIS: Pritzker, Mendoza see record ‘rainy day fund’ balance as proof of fiscal achievement
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com The state’s “rainy day” fund – spent down to essentially nothing during the 2015-2017 budget impasse – now has its highest-ever balance of $750 million after a $320 million deposit this week. While statutory fund transfers don’t usually make for headline fodder, the fact that the state is…
