Local News
Viking girls are golden
The St. Laurence High School cheerleaders (aka the Golden Girls) won first place in their division at the Spartan Showdown at Marian Catholic High School late last month. Clearing and Garfield Ridge girls played a key role in the team’s success. Those girls (and their grade schools) are: Lauren Weyer (St. Jane de Chantal), Asia…
She kept her promise
. . By Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • [email protected] . Never underestimate a woman’s love for her man. Gary and Kimberly Hughes met in 1996. They fell in love and were wed in 1998. They bought a home near 61st and Natchez and were on their way to raising…
District 128 schools are going to the dogs and the kids love it
By Kelly White Pet therapy has also been shown to improve energy levels, self-esteem, social skills, verbal communication and mood, as well as decrease depression. Palos Heights School District 128 made the decision to bring pet therapy into the classroom to help both its students and staff reap these benefits while enjoying the company of…
Orland Park cops honored and defended
By Jeff Vorva The Village of Orland Park hosted its police awards ceremony last week and, as usual, Mayor Keith Pekau expressed his gratitude for the job the police force does. He also was irked by some comments he has seen online with negative comments on a post. On Jan. 7, Orland police responded to…
Casten scolds sheriff on new gun control law
Says he can’t pick which laws to enforce By Tim Hadac U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-6th) and several other Democratic members of the state’s Congressional delegation recently sent a letter to DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, expressing concern over his Jan. 13 statement that he will not enforce the Protect Illinois Communities Act (H.B. 5471).…
2023 Illinois tax filing season now open
From staff reports The Illinois Department of Revenue began accepting 2022 state individual income tax returns on Monday, the same date that the Internal Revenue Service began accepting federal individual income tax returns. “Taxpayers are encouraged to file electronically as early as possible in the tax season and choose direct deposit in order to ensure…
Palos Park tries to stay ahead of the curve on sextortion scams
By Jeff Vorva The Palos Park Police Department is trying to stay ahead of a disturbing trend that has not been talked about publicly very much. When it comes to the topic of sextortion scams, the Palos Park police are monitoring things very closely and Detective Ross Chibe was called on to provide some wisdom…
Former hospital employee charged in Palos Heights identity theft
From staff reports A Hazel Crest man was charged last week with aggravated identity theft stemming from an incident that happened on December 27. Palos Heights police took a report on December 27 from a patient at Northwestern Palos Hospital who reported their wallet was missing and then observed two unauthorized charges on her debit…
Despite serious health woes, Reed ready to keep serving for Palos Park
By Jeff Vorva G. Darryl Reed knows his time on Earth could be short. He gets it. He doesn’t like it. But he gets it. The Palos Park commissioner has been dealing with intestinal failure for the past two years and his doctors have not been sugarcoating it. Reed, a former Marine and lawyer, is…
LaGrange man charged in Summit phone store robbery
From staff reports A LaGrange man has been charged with the robbery last week of the T-Mobile store at 5640 S. Harlem Ave. in Summit. Michael Lang Anderson, 26, was arrested in LaGrange after he was found hiding under some stairs, police said. Police said he robbed the store on January 10. Community activist Raul…
Major League Rugby coming to SeatGeek Stadium
Chicago Hounds expansion team to play games at Bridgeview facility By Bob Bong A new professional sports team will be playing its matches at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview next month. The Chicago Hounds, an expansion team for Major League Rugby, will be calling Bridgeview home when they begin their inaugural season in February. “We’re honored…
17 EPCHS students named Illinois State Scholars
Evergreen Park Community High School Principal Bill Sanderson announced that 17 students from the EPCHS graduating class of 2023 have been designated as Illinois State Scholars. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the state’s college access and financial aid agency, presents this prestigious recognition of academic achievement to exceptional Illinois high school students annually. This year,…
Rev. Parker unveils new Emmett Till book in Summit
By Carol McGowan Nearly 150 people showed up to give support to Summit’s Reverend Wheeler Parker Jr. last week on the day his much-awaited book was released. The book, officially released on January 10, is called “A Few Days Full of Trouble,” and is described as “revelations on the journey to justice for my cousin…
Oak Lawn carjacking victim fights back
By Bob Bong Two would-be carjackers picked on the wrong victim Wednesday afternoon in Oak Lawn. Two men armed with handguns attempted to carjack an unsuspecting victim about 3:30 p.m. in the 6500 block of West 89th Place, Oak Lawn police said in a release. The victim was able to gain access to a weapon…
Orland Grassland Volunteers to hold annual Brats n Burn
The Orland Grassland Volunteers will celebrate the winter brush clearing season with their annual Brats N’ Burn event on Saturday, January 28, from 9 a.m. to noon. After clearing small shrubs and small trees, they will be burning large brush piles to remove the debris. While they are clearing, the brats will be sizzling on the…
Palos West students gather mittens for charity
Students at Palos West Elementary in Palos School District 118 recently collected 945 pairs of mittens for the school’s annual mitten drive. The donated mittens were delivered to several organizations in need including a women and children’s shelter in Chicago, Joliet School District 86, a local charity collecting items for the people of Ukraine, and…
Chicago Ridge man charged in Palos Heights forgery
From staff reports A Chicago Ridge man was charged earlier this month with one count of forgery stemming from an incident that happened in October. Ammar Najjar, 45, was charged January 4 with a felony count of forgery, Palos Heights police said. Palos Heights police took the original report on October 21 from a resident…
Shepard JV cheerleaders win at Lockport; varsity records highest score ever
Over the long weekend, the varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders from Shepard High School hit the road twice to compete. They returned with new hardware. The junior varsity team, coached by Cecelia Welker, won first place at the Lockport Invitational and fourth place at the Oak Forest Bengal Invitational. Varsity, coached by Shepard graduate Felicia…
Worth welcomes new public works superintendent
By Joe Boyle Worth has a new superintendent of public works, and officials did not have to go far to find him. Ed Urban, who has served many years in the public works department, was unanimously chosen to become the new superintendent during the Worth Village Board meeting Tuesday night. Urban replaces Wayne Demonbreun, who had served…
Newman? Yes, Democrat Newman presented with Orland Park award by Republican Pekau
By Jeff Vorva In recent years, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau had more negative things to say about former Congresswoman Marie Newman than positive. When Pekau, a Republican, announced he was running for Congress in November 2021, he lumped the Democratic Newman in with Sean Casten and Nancy Pelosi and said they “put special interests,…
Illinois News
Gun rights advocates file opening legal challenges to Illinois’ assault weapons ban
By HANNAH MEISEL For Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A trio of gun owners and a firearms retailer in southeastern Illinois have filed the first two lawsuits in what’s expected to be a flurry of litigation against the state’s new law banning the sale and manufacture of assault weapons in Illinois. Democratic leaders who…
UPDATED: Report predicts billions in motor fuel tax revenue losses if state meets EV goals
By NIKA SCHOONOVER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Despite Illinois’ efforts to smoothly integrate electric vehicles into the state’s economy, a new report from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute is warning of a potential steep decline in transportation revenue as the process of electrification accelerates. The primary issue is motor fuel taxes, which will…
Report predicts billions in motor fuel tax revenue losses if state meets EV goals
By NIKA SCHOONOVER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Despite Illinois’ efforts to smoothly integrate electric vehicles into the state’s economy, a new report from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute is warning of a potential steep decline in transportation revenue as the process of electrification accelerates. The primary issue is motor fuel taxes, which will…
Pritzker signs reproductive rights expansion
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law Friday expanding access to abortion and other reproductive health care services. House Bill 4664, passed Tuesday during the General Assembly’s “lame duck” session, came in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in June overturning the 1973 Roe…
Sheriffs say they want no role in enforcing state’s assault weapon registry
By HANNAH MEISEL For Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Dozens of county sheriffs in Illinois — approximately “80-ish,” per Illinois Sheriffs’ Association head Jim Kaitschuck — say they’ll refuse to enforce a provision of a new assault weapons ban that would require owners of such guns to register them with the state. In the…
Bill guaranteeing workers five days of paid leave will head to governor
By NIKA SCHOONOVER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would guarantee a minimum of 40 hours of paid leave per year for all Illinois workers passed both chambers of the General Assembly Tuesday and will soon head to Gov. JB Pritzker, who says he will sign it. Under Senate Bill 208, workers…
After frenzied ‘lame duck’ session, 103rd General Assembly is sworn in
By NIKA SCHOONOVER & HANNAH MEISEL for Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A mix of incumbents and newly minted lawmakers were sworn into their terms in the 103rd General Assembly Wednesday following a hectic week of “lame duck” action in the House and Senate. The crowning achievement from Democrats who wield total control of…
After stepping down as minority leader, Durkin to exit Illinois House
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin will leave the Illinois Statehouse Tuesday for the last time as a state legislator. After a bruising 2022 election cycle in which House Republicans lost five seats, Durkin did not seek another term as leader of the caucus. But on…
Legal protections for abortion providers, seekers poised for Pritzker’s signature
By HANNAH MEISEL For Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Democrats in the General Assembly on Tuesday approved a wide-ranging measure aimed at shoring up Illinois’ position as a “haven” for abortion access in the Midwest, including legal protections for health care professionals and patients traveling from states where abortion access is illegal or restricted.…
UPDATED: Pritzker signs assault weapon sales, manufacturing ban
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – On the first full day of his second term, Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed a bill banning the sale, distribution and manufacture of high-power assault weapons, .50 caliber rifles and ammunition, and large-capacity magazines while still allowing people who already own such weapons to keep…
