Local News
Midnight Terror is bigger, better, uglier and scarier
By Jeff Vorva Justin Cerniuk, of Oak Lawn, is 31 but his philosophy is the same at it was when he was 10 years old and started a horror show in his front yard. “I’ve always had the same goals since I was 10 and that’s to have fun with a group of friends building…
New accountant impresses Worth officials
By Joe Boyle Kelly Zabinski wanted to make it clear that she was not your typical accountant. “I don’t come in with pencils or pens in my top pocket,” Zabinski told members of the Worth Village Board Tuesday night. “I’m not like most accountants. I have a sense of humor. If you have any questions, I would…
Evergreen Park opens door for cannabis dispensaries
By Joe Boyle The first step to allow the operation of cannabis dispensaries in Evergreen Park was given the green light this week. The Evergreen Park Village Board approved Monday night an amendment to the zoning code to provide for specific locations and regulations of adult use cannabis and medical use cannabis facilities. An ordinance…
SD230 joins discussion on special needs field in Orland
By Jeff Vorva The Village of Orland Park is not the only government body exploring the possibility of erecting a special-needs baseball/softball field in the village. Consolidated High School District 230 Assistant Supt. for Business Services John Lavelle brought up the possibility of tag-teaming with Orland School District 135 to provide a field for special-need…
New hours for Moraine Valley COVID-19 test sites
New hours for the free COVID-19 testing clinics at Moraine Valley Community College’s sites went into effect this week. The Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) saliva test is being administered in the Moraine Rooms in Building M on the main campus in Palos Hills, and at the extension sites in Blue Island and Tinley…
Zakat Foundation makes its mark on the world
Bridgeview-based Muslim relief agency celebrates 20th anniversary By Jeff Vorva Khalil Demir can’t keep up. How could he? How could anyone? His Zakat Foundation of America turns 20 this year and the generosity of the group is so far-reaching that there is no way he has been able to visit all of the places Zakat…
High School Football Wrap: Oak Lawn stops 2-pt convo try with no time left, edges Tinley Park
By Jason Maholy Sports Editor The Oak Lawn defense stopped a two-point conversion try with no time left to hang on for a 27-26 win over Tinley Park in a South Suburban Conference crossover. The Titans had pulled within one point when they scored on an untimed play brought about by a penalty against the…
High School Football: Shepard tops Evergreen Park for second straight win
By Jason Maholy Sports Editor Shepard coach John Rone would have preferred his Astros not dug themselves a hole by starting 0-4, but being faced with having to win their five remaining games to be playoff-eligible may have had some unintended benefits. Rone does not think having their backs against the wall helped the Astros…
Homecoming Wreckers: Sandburg ends 13-game winless streak v. LW East with stunning road victory
By Jason Maholy Sports Editor Facing a perennial state power might not be considered by some people to be the best medicine for a struggling team coming off its worst game of the season. But the only choice a team has is to play the next opponent on its schedule, so to Frankfort went Sandburg…
Four Sandburg golfers headed to state
By Jeff Vorva Correspondent A small contingent of area golfers will be at this weekend’s IHSA state tournaments. Sandburg’s Katie Mikso and Jillian Cosler qualified for the girls Class 2A tournament Monday, while the Eagles’ Caleb Negley and Brendan Joy made it to the Class 3A boys tournament. Mount Carmel’s Michael O’Keefe qualified for the…
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Illinois News
CAPITOL RECAP: Congressional redistricting hearings begin
By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD – The process of redrawing congressional district maps in Illinois got off to a slow start Thursday when only one person showed up to testify at the first legislative public hearing, which was held in Chicago. Ryan Tolley, policy director for the advocacy group CHANGE Illinois, urged the House Redistricting…
Task force considers changes to qualified immunity for Illinois law enforcement officers
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A new state task force continued discussions Thursday as to what changes could be made to the way state law approaches qualified immunity for law enforcement officers. Qualified immunity is a court doctrine granting protection for law enforcement officers and other government officials from certain civil…
Only one testifies at first congressional redistricting hearing
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – The process of redrawing congressional district maps in Illinois got off to a slow start Thursday when only one person showed up to testify at the first legislative public hearing, which was held in Chicago. Ryan Tolley, policy director for the advocacy group CHANGE Illinois, urged…
Plaintiffs: New legislative maps dilute Latino vote
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Plaintiffs in two lawsuits challenging the state’s legislative redistricting plan have filed new complaints in federal court charging that the district maps that lawmakers approved in August dilute Latino voting power and thus violate the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Mexican…
Officials outline progress in Cairo river port development
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – A proposed river port development in the southern Illinois town of Cairo is drawing much attention and interest from companies that believe it could open up greater access to international markets, officials behind the project said Tuesday. The Alexander-Cairo Port District project has been on the…
Report details disparities faced by aging LGBTQ Illinoisans
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Many aging LGBTQ Illinoisans face barriers to health care and financial security and fear discrimination in senior communities, according to a combined report from senior and LGBTQ advocacy groups released Tuesday. The Disrupting Disparities: Challenges and Solutions for 50+ LGBTQ Illinoisans report by the senior advocacy…
Law enforcement steps up efforts to fight online child exploitation
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – State Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined local and federal prosecutors Monday to announce new efforts to combat a rise in online child exploitation in Illinois. The efforts include greater outreach and education for parents and teachers, and a new mobile computer forensics unit that will…
