Local News
Orland getting ready to welcome Pete’s Fresh Market next year
By Jeff Vorva Orland Park’s Board of Trustees made some decisions for Pete’s sake. During Monday night’s board meeting, the trustees passed modifications of building codes as well as approving special use permits to build a Pete’s Fresh Market at 15080 S. LaGrange Road, a spot that housed the Art Van Furniture Store. This project…
Guinea pigs rescued from Palos Heights dumpster
From staff reports Palos Heights police rescued four guinea pigs last week from a dumpster behind 7500 College Drive. Police said someone saw the animals being thrown into the dumpster on July 28 and called authorities. Police Officer Dave Delaney, Cadet Matthew Kroll and Community Service Officer Matthew Murray, whose father is a veterinarian, jumped…
First responders live it up at Orland’s National Night Out
By Isabella Schreck With a helicopter overhead, police cars and fire trucks to climb into, free giveaways, food, and music, Orland Park’s annual National Night Out looked like it had something for all ages. Residents agreed. “The free hots dogs, the helicopter flying and seeing all of the different vendors makes it a fun event…
Palos Heights cops looking for help from citizens’ cameras
By Jeff Vorva Palos Heights police and the city council are asking residents to SCRAM. Alderman Robert Basso said the police are hoping Palos Heights homeowners with security cameras will join the Palos Heights Police Department’s Surveillance Camera Registration and Mapping program, a.k.a. SCRAM. “It’s an initiative that provides information from their home security camera…
Oak Lawn police defend use of force against teen
Federal lawsuit filed against police department, individual officers By Joe Boyle The 17-year-old who was arrested by Oak Lawn police last week after a brutal encounter with officers after he ran away from a traffic stop was released from the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center Tuesday afternoon. Hadi Abuatelah, of Palos Hills, left the detention…
Oak Lawn residents enjoy National Night Out
By Joe Boyle A large crowd attended the Oak Lawn National Night Out Tuesday night, which did not surprise Police Chief Dan Vittorio. “We draw large crowds every year,” the Oak Lawn police chief said. “Last year, we had a lot of people, too. The year before that we did not have it because of…
Palos Heights police host National Night Out
By Jeff Vorva Throughout the country, police departments held their National Night Out event on Tuesday. Palos Heights continued its tradition of hosting the event near the police station. Easton Daggy, 4, of Oak Forest gets behind the wheel of a fire truck Tuesday at Palos Heights’ National Night Out.There was plenty to do –…
Palos Hills builds bonds between police, residents at National Night Out
By Kelly White Palos Hills officials are always looking for ways to form bonds between the city and the community. Doing just that, the city held its sixth annual National Night Out event on Tuesday at Town Square Park, 8455 W. 103rd Street. “The city of Palos Hills is again proud to sponsor our annual…
Taste of Orland Park kicks off on Friday
From staff reports The Village of Orland Park’s annual Taste of Orland Park returns to Orland Park Village Center from Friday, August 5, through Sunday, August 7. Now in its 19th year, the Taste of Orland Park showcases Orland Park eateries, community organizations and several bands throughout the weekend. Special events within the fest include…
Back to School sales tax holiday kicks in on Friday
With the start of a new school year fast approaching, state Rep. Fran Hurley is encouraging parents to take advantage of a state sales tax decrease on school supplies, clothing, shoes and other items over a 10-day period from Aug. 5 through Aug. 14. “Back-to-school shopping can sometimes be a real hit on a parent’s…
46th Junior PGA Championships begin Tuesday at Cog Hill
Two of golf’s major junior championships return this week when the 46th Junior PGA Championships tee off Tuesday at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Palos Park. The championships run until Friday. This is the first time both the boys and girls championships are at the same venue since 2017. Sandburg’s Jillian Cosler, of…
Area Sports Roundup: Costa and Busker named top athletes at Trinity; St. Rita’s Talty to kick for Tide
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer Former Richards volleyball standout Alex Costa led the NAIA with 508 kills and 613.5 points last season. Not a bad season for the Trinity Christian College sophomore. It gets even better. Last week, Costa was named TCC’s Male Athlete of the Year. The Oak Lawn native also had top numbers…
Pro Soccer Report: San Diego rookie Shaw, 17, scores lone goal in 1-0 win over Red Stars
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer The pregame attention went to 32-year-old Alyssa Mautz. The postgame attention – and surely a lot more attention to come – went to 17-year-old Jaedyn Shaw. Mautz announced that last Saturday’s game against the San Diego Wave would be her final last for the Chicago Red Stars. She has accepted…
Bobby Frasor steps down as coach at Brother Rice
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The wins. The mosh pits. The jokes. These are just a few of the things that will be missed by Bobby Frasor, who stepped down last week as the basketball coach at Brother Rice and is leaving the world of hoops. Frasor was a star player for the Crusaders who…
Marist kicks off inaugural Southside SummerFest
By Kelly White An inaugural music festival on the Southside brought live bands, food vendors and more to the Marist High School’s football stadium this past weekend. The premier coed Catholic college preparatory high school, 4200 W. 115th St. in Chicago, hosted its first-ever Southside SummerFest on Saturday, July 23. “The last few years have…
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Comings & Goings
Illinois Dems stump for 2024 Chicago convention as party chair vote looms
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Democrats are vying to make Chicago the host city for the Democratic National Convention in 2024 while considering who will lead their party for the next four years. Meanwhile, the state’s Republican Party is hearing calls for a censure of one of its sitting congressmen.…
Illinois jobless rate falls to lowest point since start of pandemic
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois economy added 18,800 jobs during June as the unemployment rate fell to 4.5 percent, the lowest it has been since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. That is down one-tenth of a percentage point from May, and down two full percentage points from June…
CAPITOL RECAP: Pritzker tests positive for COVID-19
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker has tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating at home, his office announced Tuesday, three days after he spoke at a gathering of Democrats in Tampa, Florida. Pritzker’s press office said he is experiencing mild symptoms and has received the anti-viral medication Paxlovid, a drug that…
ANALYSIS: Poll shows Pritzker’s popularity remains steady as Biden’s slides in Illinois
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] A new poll from the firm Morning Consult showed Gov. JB Pritzker’s approval rating at 51 percent among Illinois voters, or seven points “above water” in polling lingo. It’s the latest quarterly poll from the firm, and data included 14,258 registered voters polled from April 1 through June…
UPDATED: Pritzker has ‘mild symptoms’ after positive COVID-19 test, receives anti-viral treatment
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker has tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating at home, his office announced Tuesday, three days after he spoke at a gathering of Democrats in Tampa, Florida. Pritzker’s press office said he is experiencing mild symptoms and has received the anti-viral medication Paxlovid,…
Pritzker tests positive for COVID-19, receives anti-viral treatment
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker has tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating at home, his office announced Tuesday, three days after he spoke at a gathering of Democrats in Tampa, Florida. Pritzker’s press office said he is experiencing mild symptoms and has received the anti-viral medication Paxlovid,…
State Police broaden use of ‘clear and present danger’ reports
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police announced Monday they will start using a broader definition of what constitutes a “clear and present danger” when reviewing a person’s Firearm Owners Identification card. That’s a factor ISP considers when deciding whether to grant someone a FOID card or to revoke…
CAPITOL RECAP: Pritzker calls for federal action on guns, supports assault weapons ban
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – In the wake of a July 4 mass shooting in Highland Park that left seven people dead and dozens more injured, Gov. JB Pritzker is calling for a ban at both the state and national levels on military-style assault rifles and high-capacity magazines. The governor made those calls on…
Planned Parenthood announces Illinois-Wisconsin partnership in Waukegan
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Planned Parenthood affiliates in Illinois and Wisconsin said Thursday they have formed a partnership to expand services at an abortion clinic in Waukegan to help serve residents of Wisconsin, where abortion services are now banned. That announcement came three weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned…
DCFS yet to release timeline of involvement after death of southern Illinois 3-year-old
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – I’Kera Hill, 3, died of malnutrition and dehydration at a Carbondale hospital on June 22, 2022, according to the child endangerment charges filed in Jackson County against her parents, Isaac Hill and Katrina Simelton Hill. Her obituary stated that I’Kera died after a bout with COVID-19,…
