Local News

Deja Brew benefit for Danny Golden
Oak Lawn’s Deja Brew Bar & Grill is selling a special burger to support CPD Officer Danny Golden, who was shot a paralyzed, anytime between July 21 and July 28. The Back the Blue burger is a 10-ounce beef patty, with maple bourbon BBQ sauce, cheddar, onion ring and thick cut bacon, along with a…

Pekau, Rossi visit paralyzed Chicago cop Golden
By Jeff Vorva Chicago police officer Danny Golden received a visit from Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau and the village’s police chief, Eric Rossi, Monday afternoon. Golden is paralyzed from the waist down after he was shot in the Beverly neighborhood in Chicago while trying to break up a fight at a bar on July…

Archdiocese to hold job fair at St. Linus
The Archdiocese of Chicago announced it will hold job fairs to fill parish and school positions at three locations, including St. Linus in Oak Lawn, on Thursday, July 28. The job fairs are aimed at recruiting new and experienced teachers, early retirees and those seeking career change to fill full- and part-time teacher and principal positions,…

Gaelic Park to host Continental Youth Championships
The Chicago Gaelic Athletic Association will host the 2022 Continental Youth Championships at Gaelic Park this July 28-31. The CYC is an annual tournament that rotates cities and features hundreds of Gaelic football, hurling, and camogie games. Over 1,500 youth players representing 22 clubs from all over the United States as well as Canada will…

Hot Dog Day in Palos Park
The Village of Palos Park presents: Hot Dog Day on Thursday, July 21, from 5-7:30 p.m. on the Village Green, 8901 W. 123rd Street. Music is provided by LEGACY, playing vintage rock and soul. Come on out and enjoy fresh grilled hot dogs with friends and family! Picnic tables will be available. Hot dogs –…

Palos South assistant principal cited for work promoting safe schools
Palos South Assistant Principal Meagan Doornbos has been recognized by the Illinois Chapter National School Public Relations Association for her work promoting the efforts of the Palos South Save Promise Club. Doornbos received the Award of Excellence in the school administrator category at an awards luncheon in Bolingbrook on May 13. Her efforts have included…

Orland Fire District dedicates training center in honor of former Chief Robert Buhs
The Orland Fire Protection District, ranked as having one of the highest “save rates” in the nation, dedicated the Robert M. Buhs Education & Leadership Development Center on July 15 in honor of a former fire chief who officials said was the district’s chief architect. Orland Fire Chief Michael Schofield said the Fire District Board of Trustees, including President…

Veterans and families enjoy a banner day on Orland Park
By Jeff Vorva When former Stagg teacher Diane Gurnea looks up and sees the banner displayed on Ravinia Avenue and 143rd Street in Orland Park, she can’t help but to be proud. Her father, John Langevin, and uncle, Robert Langevin, share a banner that was recently erected. The Village of Orland Park held its Hometown…

Bridgeview man’s body recovered from I&M Canal
By Bob Bong A Bridgeview man’s body was recovered last week after he slipped and fell into the Illinois & Michigan Canal in Willow Springs. He was identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office as Servando Padilla, 61, of Bridgeview. His death was ruled as an accidental drowning. Padilla was walking along the I&M…

Pro Soccer Report: Houston’s hat trick too much for Red Stars; Bezerra hat trick not enough for Fire II
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Bad things came in threes for the Chicago Red Stars. Houston’s Ebony Salmon scored three goals against the Red Stars’ defense and Chicago lost by three, 4-1, in an NWSL match July 16 at PNC Stadium. It snapped the Red Stars nine-game unbeaten streak. The loss dropped the Red Stars…

Palos Park police chief invites public for coffee on July 29
The Palos Park Police Department in inviting the community to attend Coffee with the Chief on July 29 at 7 p.m. at the Palos Park Police Station, 8999 W. 123rd St. Chief Joe Miller will be available for an open discussion with members of the public. Attendees can stop by for a short time or…

IHSA releases 2022 football schedule
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer It’s that time of year. The IHSA has released the 2022 football schedule. So, from now until Aug. 26, one can go on the IHSA website, look at the schedules and see all of the blanks where the results and scores will be. It’s a clean sheet for all, and…

50 years later, alum looks forward to class reunion
By Bob Bong It seems like only yesterday I was one of the Meteors donning a purple cap and gown and preparing for commencement as a member of the T.F. North High School Class of 1972 in Calumet City. Ours was to be the first outdoor graduation. We practiced a few times. On graduation day,…
Neighbors
Comings & Goings

Regulatory work behind 1 million EV push in full swing in Illinois
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Ten months after Illinois lawmakers passed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act which set a goal of putting 1 million electric vehicles on state roads by the end of the decade, state agencies are engaged in a flurry of regulatory planning aimed at meeting those goals.…

10-day sales tax reduction on clothing, school supplies begins Friday
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Beginning Friday and lasting through Aug. 14, the state will reduce its sales tax rate from 6.25 percent to 1.25 percent for certain clothing items costing less than $125 and school supplies. The “tax holiday” was included in Gov. JB Pritzker’s “family relief plan,” one prong…

Pritzker highlights Rebuild Illinois funding for Cahokia Heights sewers, Rend Lake Resort
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinoi [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – When state lawmakers voted on bipartisan lines in 2019 to double Illinois’ motor fuel tax and raise several driving-related fees, it laid the groundwork for a $45 billion infrastructure plan, the largest in Illinois’ history and the first in nearly a decade. The plan, spanning six…

CAPITOL RECAP: Democrats choose Hernandez as new party chair
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – The vote for state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez as the Democratic Party of Illinois’ first Latino chairwoman was unanimous and uneventful Saturday morning – the drama had occurred in the days prior in a power struggle of some of the state’s most prominent Democrats. Hernandez was backed Gov. JB…

Pritzker: Monkeypox disaster declaration will aid in vaccine distribution
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker issued a public health emergency declaration and declared Illinois a disaster area in response to the monkeypox virus Monday, a move his office said would help mobilize resources. The governor’s office said the proclamation will aid in moving vaccines to the most impacted…

Dems seek unity as new, former chair take no questions from media after party vote
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The vote for state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez as the Democratic Party of Illinois’ first Latino chairwoman was unanimous and uneventful Saturday morning – the drama had occurred in the days prior in a power struggle of some of the state’s most prominent Democrats. Hernandez was…

Democratic Party chair bows out in re-election bid, paving way for state Rep. Lisa Hernandez
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A contentious race for leadership of the state’s Democratic Party appears to be down to a single candidate ahead of a Saturday morning vote after the party’s current chair pulled herself from the running Friday. State Rep. Lisa Hernandez, backed by Gov. JB Pritzker and House…

State announces plan for $760 million in opioid settlement money
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced plans Friday for how the state will distribute its share of funds from a national settlement with opioid companies. Illinois expects to receive approximately $760 million over 18 years from a $26 billion national settlement with three…

Thompson Center sale finalized with Google to be building’s lone occupant
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – After years of failed efforts that spanned multiple administrations, the state has finalized the sale of the controversial James R. Thompson Center in Chicago to a company that will make it the new Chicago home of tech giant Google. Gov. JB Pritzker made the announcement during…

CAPITOL RECAP: Illinois Democrats hoping to host 2024 nominating convention
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Democrats are vying to make Chicago the host city for the Democratic National Convention in 2024. Officials for the Democratic National Committee were in Chicago on Tuesday as state leaders, including Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, called a news conference to tout the city as…