Local News
Director tells city council in-person programs are back at Palos Heights Library
By Jeff Vorva In-person programs started back at the Palos Heights Public Library this month. Library director Jesse Blazek spoke at the May 3 city council meeting to give an update after Alderman Don Bylut questioned the lack of in-person programs at a council meeting in April. “Our plan was to have in-person programming in…
Pekau says Orland Park is trying to fix Triangle ‘disaster’
By Jeff Vorva It’s almost like Oliver Hardy turning to Stan Laurel and saying, “Well, here’s another fine mess you’ve gotten me into,” in the old movie comedies. Whenever progress on the Orland Park Main Street Triangle is made, Mayor Keith Pekau can’t resist taking shots at previous village boards for what he says is…
Orland Township celebrates seniors for Older Americans Month
By Kelly White Orland Township cares about its residents and looks for ways to recognize them and their commitments. For the month of May, the township is honoring its senior citizen residents by inviting them take part in the celebration of Older Americans Month. Older Americans Month is a month-long observance in the U.S. devoted…
Son charged in murder of Chicago Ridge man
By Bob Bong The son of a man found stabbed to death in his Chicago Ridge home early Monday morning has been charged with second-degree murder. Francisco Duran, 21, was charged Tuesday in the death of his father, Salvador Duran, 47, Chicago Ridge Police Chief Jim Jarolimek said in a release Wednesday. Jarolimek said police…
Palos Park police to hold Coffee with a Cop on Thursday
From staff reports Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk is inviting the community to visit with the police as part of a Coffee with a Cop event today at noon at the Plush Horse, 123rd Street and 86th Avenue. Polk said residents can sit down with police officers over a cup of coffee and have…
Road rage shooting upsets Oak Lawn officials
Village proclaims Skip Sullivan Day By Joe Boyle Rising crime has Oak Lawn officials concerned, especially after reports of a road rage shooting that took place in the village Tuesday night just before the village board meeting. According to Oak Lawn Police Chief Dan Vittorio, two men began shouting at each other from their vehicles while driving…
Man shot in apparent road rage incident in Oak Lawn
By Bob Bong A man was badly injured after he was shot Tuesday night in the 10700 block of Cicero Avenue in Oak Lawn in what police say appears to be a road rage incident. Gerald Vetter, Division Chief Investigations, said in a release that a police sergeant heard two gunshots in the area of…
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…
2 police officers, firefighter treated after Orland Park fire
From staff reports Two Orland Park police officers and one Orland Fire Protection District firefighter were injured last week night while responding to a house fire in the 8200 block of Legend Lane in Orland Park. The police officers were treated for smoke inhalation and the firefighter suffered minor burns on April 26, Orland Fire…
More road closures this week for Roberts Road, 87th Street
From staff reports Road closures with detours are scheduled for this week on Roberts Road and 87th Street to accommodate bridge beam removal for the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project. In addition to overnight closures, this work will require a weekend-long closure of both local roads at their intersection under I-294. Delays are expected. On Roberts Road under I-294, up to two…
Area Sports Roundup: Lyons eyes back-to-back state gymnastics titles
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Time will tell if the Lyons boys gymnastics team can win its second straight IHSA state championship. But the Lions have taken a good first step in achieving that goal. Lyons won its own sectional May 5 with 149.3, nearly 10 points better than runner-up Naperville North. Senior Randy Yonan…
Girls Soccer: O’Conner, Alsheikh lead Sandburg in conference-clinching win over Lockport
By Steve Millar Correspondent As a four-year starter at defender, Erin O’Connor has been a rock on the back line for Sandburg her entire high school career. “She’s just so reliable,” Sandburg coach Tom Kubowicz said. “She’s a great leader back there, she’s dependable and she’s just so solid. We know what we’re going to…
Baseball: Brother Rice closing in on Catholic League Blue crown
By Steve Millar Correspondent Hitting in the seventh spot in the Brother Rice lineup, senior outfielder Nick Daugherty knows he will usually have a shot to drive in a run or two when he steps to the plate. “It’s great,” Daugherty said “I think every time I come up to bat there’s a runner at…
Fan Fest returns to Oak Lawn Library
By Kelly White Comic lovers of all ages joined forces this weekend and came together at Oak Lawn Public Library’s annual Fan Fest. The fest at the library, 9427 Raymond Ave., is a pop culture celebration and free comic book day. It provides an opportunity for the community to come to a local event without…
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Comings & Goings
Former lawmaker sentenced in bribery scheme
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Former state Rep. Luis Arroyo was sentenced this week to nearly five years in prison for his role in a bribery scheme involving a state senator and one of Arroyo’s private lobbying clients who sought favorable legislation for the sweepstakes gambling industry. Arroyo, 67, is a…
Republican governor candidates on the issues
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Abortion, January 6, Donald Trump, Critical Race Theory and whether Joe Biden is rightfully the president of the United States were the basis of questions asked to a field of six Republican candidates for Illinois governor Tuesday. A pair of debates took place on two stages…
CAPITOL RECAP: Republican candidates debate
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – The six Republican candidates for Illinois governor faced off Tuesday night in Chicago, albeit on two separate debate stages, hours after a shooting at a Texas elementary school that dominated a large portion of the debates. A scheduling conflict between two TV networks – WGN and NBC 5 –…
ANALYSIS: Illinois’ official U.S. census numbers have not changed
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker said Tuesday that he is asking President Joe Biden and the federal government to increase Illinois’ share of federal funding to reflect the results of a recent Census Bureau study showing the state was very likely undercounted in the 2020 census. The news…
GOP debate: Candidates address rising crime, Texas school shooting
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The six Republican candidates for Illinois governor faced off Tuesday night in Chicago, albeit on two separate debate stages, hours after a shooting at a Texas elementary school that dominated a large portion of the debates. A scheduling conflict between two TV networks – WGN and…
GOP Floor Leader Batinick ready to ‘pass the baton’
By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Illinois House Republican Floor Leader Mark Batinick, a self-described “policy guy,” came to Springfield with the goal of pushing good policy. A father of five who resides in Plainfield with his wife, Batinick said after eight years in the General Assembly, it was either time to…
Longtime lawmaker reflects on time in General Assembly, calls it ‘honor of lifetime’
By GRACE KINNICUTT Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – House Majority Leader Greg Harris, the number two Democrat in the Illinois House of Representatives, never imagined landing the role of state representative – or that he would leave office feeling that he has been successful at it. The first openly LGTBQ leader in Illinois History,…
11th contempt citation filed against DCFS director
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – On Thursday afternoon, a Cook County judge found Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith in contempt of court for the 11th time for violating court orders to move children to proper placements. The 11-year-old girl at the center of the case has…
Criminal case against senior staff at state-run hospital dismissed
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The official misconduct case against a Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center senior staff member was dismissed on Thursday. Union County State’s Attorney Tyler Tripp dropped the charges, related to a cover-up of abuse at the state-run facility, against Choate’s quality assurance manager Gary Goins. The…
ANALYSIS: Fuel retailers sue over ‘compelled speech’ at the gas pump
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] “As of July 1, 2022, the State of Illinois has suspended the inflation adjustment to the motor fuel tax through December 31, 2022. The price on this pump should reflect the suspension of the tax increase.” Those two sentences may be coming to a gas pump near you…
