Local News
Late Evergreen Park teacher, coach preached character, family
By Joe Boyle Words of praise have never been scarce from the Evergreen Park community for John Elias “Coach” George. Relatives, friends, colleagues and former students were in attendance during a memorial service for George, a longtime teacher and coach at Evergreen Park Community High School. George died June 3, 2020, but a public memorial…
Squatters may have started fire in Worth building
By Bob Bong A fire that heavily damaged a former plumbing supply company on 111th Street in Worth early Sunday morning may have been caused by homeless people living in the abandoned structure. “The fire started on the second floor, which used to be a beautiful and spacious apartment,” Worth Mayor Mary Werner said Monday.…
3 juveniles arrested for setting off fireworks inside Chicago Ridge Mall
From staff reports Initial reports of gunshots inside Chicago Ridge Mall on Wednesday afternoon turned out to be fireworks set off by three juveniles who were later apprehended. Chicago Ridge police said they responded to reports at 3:50 p.m. of gunshots inside the shopping mall at 95th Street and Ridgeland Avenue. Several 911 callers stated…
Oak Lawn approves license plate readers at village entrances
Business license fees on hold for one year By Joe Boyle A series of cameras will be set up in Oak Lawn to monitor vehicles entering and exiting the village that may be involved in acts of crime. A resolution waiving the competitive bidding requirements awarding a services agreement with the Flock Camera Safety network…
Oak Lawn salon owner vows to rebuild after car totals business
By Dermot Connolly The Scissor Hands hair salon, a longstanding business in Oak Lawn, sustained heavy damage Saturday night when a car careened out of control through the storefront at 10822 S. Cicero Ave., destroying the interior of the salon. Jayne Molony, the owner, said the salon had closed at 4 p.m., about three hours…
New Palos Heights fire chief passionate about firefighting, new community
By Isabella Schreck Even after more than 30 years in fire protection, Michael Daly said he was still excited to come to work. “I’m very lucky to have a career that I enjoy,” said Daly, who became fire chief for the Palos Heights Fire Protection District in March. “I still like to work. I enjoy…
Angelo Luna put in the work and broke the St. Laurence record for RBIs in a season
By Steve Millar Correspondent Angelo Luna produced one of the greatest offensive seasons in St. Laurence history last season. Luna, an outfielder and an Illinois-Springfield recruit, broke the Vikings single-season RBI record with 56. He also finished with the second-best single-season totals in program history for hits (55), runs (50) and doubles (17). “Now that…
Marist soccer standout Gina Czochara fulfills goal of breaking program’s single-season goals record
By Steve Millar Correspondent Gina Czochara had no doubt what she wanted. After watching teammate CeCe Light break Marist’s school record for goals in a season with 27 in 2021, she was inspired. When the RedHawks coaching staff asked players to write down a goal of theirs on a sticky note before the 2022 season,…
Area Sports Roundup: Miami Heat’s Max Strus returns to roots as host of youth basketball camp
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer When Max Strus was in second grade, he walked through the doors of Stagg High School to attend a youth basketball camp. He did that year after year and summer after summer. On Monday, he walked through those same doors and headed to a basketball camp. This one was different.…
Pro Soccer Report: Stoppage time goals one minute apart give Red Stars improbable draw
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Chicago Red Stars have reached the halfway point of their 22-game NWSL schedule and find themselves in second place, one point behind front-running San Diego. They had a chance to climb into first place, but their chances slipped away with wild 2-2 draw to last-place North Carolina on July…
Car crashes into Oak Lawn hair salon
A burning car crashed into an Oak Lawn hair salon Saturday night and caused extensive damage to the business and the building. No injuries were reported. Firefighters received a call about 6:45 p.m. that a Nissan Altima with an engine on fire had crashed into Scissor Hands, 10822 S. Cicero Ave. The car reportedly was…
Neighbors
Comings & Goings
Illinois News
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,…
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.…
