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
Pritzker announces new IDPH pick, further scales back COVID-19 orders
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Illinois will soon have a new Department of Public Health director and its first electric vehicles coordinator after Gov. JB Pritzker announced those appointments in recent days. Dr. Sameer Vohra, a Springfield pediatrician, will still need approval from the state Senate to become the permanent replacement…
Pritzker pushes for assault weapons ban, federal action
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] 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…
Temporary tax relief measures to begin Friday in Illinois
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans will receive some modest tax relief starting Friday when the state’s new fiscal year begins. That includes some income tax rebates, property tax rebates, a suspension of the state’s 1 percent tax on groceries, and a six-month pause on the scheduled inflationary increase in the…
FOID, red flags and restraining orders: How state laws regulate firearm purchases
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] A mass shooting in Highland Park at a Fourth of July parade prompted questions about how the suspect was able to obtain a gun in a state with some of the strictest gun laws in the nation. Law enforcement officials have said that the Highland Park shooting suspect,…
CAPITOL RECAP: Holder White seated to state Supreme Court in historic ceremony
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – Lisa Holder White was sworn in Thursday, July 7, as the first Black woman to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court. Holder White, who previously served on the 4th District Court of Appeals, was chosen to succeed one of her mentors in the legal profession, retiring Justice Rita B.…
Major fundraising underdogs among challengers to unseat incumbents
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Four months before the general election, six incumbent state lawmakers appeared primed for an early rejection by voters based on unofficial tallies this week. The longest-serving of the incumbents to lose their primary election was Democratic Rep. Mike Zalewski, of Riverside, a founding member of the…
State general revenues top $50 billion for first time in FY 2022
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – State tax revenues grew by $5.5 billion in the fiscal year that concluded on June 30, exceeding $50 billion for the first time in Illinois’ history, according to a new report from a state budgeting agency. The 12 percent base revenue growth in Fiscal Year 2022…
Holder White sworn in as first Black woman on state Supreme Court
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Lisa Holder White was sworn in Thursday as the first Black woman to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court. Holder White, who previously served on the 4th District Court of Appeals, was chosen to succeed one of her mentors in the legal profession, retiring Justice Rita…
Man sentenced for Wayne County deputy’s murder seeks to withdraw guilty plea
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois [email protected] On Sept. 2, 2005, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, had no water or electricity. Tired and dirty evacuees headed to the parish to try to escape the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. In anticipation of the historic Category 5 hurricane’s landfall, an inmate, known then as Gary Moudy, was evacuated five hours north to…
Timeline unclear for special session on abortion rights
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker and top Democratic leaders in the Illinois General Assembly said Tuesday that while they still plan to call a special session this year to strengthen abortion rights, they expect to take the “remainder of the summer” to craft policies before lawmakers return to…
