Local News
Slain West Lawn CPD Officer Martinez shooting suspect charged
A 23-year-old man has been charged with the shooting death of Officer Enrique Martinez, a Hubbard High School graduate and West Lawn resident, who was killed in the line of duty on Chicago’s South Side. The fatal encounter has reignited citywide concerns over rising gun violence and its toll on both residents and law enforcement.…
Wolniak Funeral Home celebrates Day of the Dead
The 102-year-old Wolniak Funeral Home has served generations of families throughout the years. Sitting on the southwest corner of 57th and Pulaski, the Polish Funeral Home is reaching out with what they are calling a “legacy of love to the community.” Respecting the traditions and heritage of the Hispanic members of the community, the folks…
Bridgeview man faces felony charges in carjacking, armed robbery spree
Two men were charged Thursday with multiple felonies after a series of armed robberies and a carjacking in Chicago, authorities said. James Robinson, 21, of the 100 block of East 119th Street in Chicago, and Damian Macias, 21, of the 8800 block of South Harlem Avenue in Bridgeview, were arrested by the Citywide Vehicular Hijacking…
3 Midway-area friends win $1.4 million playing Lucky Day Lotto
Three Illinois Lottery players went in together on a Lucky Day Lotto ticket and struck big – winning $1.4 million. The lucky three, nicknamed “Tommy Lotto and Crew,” have been friends for decades. Tommy purchased the jackpot-winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket for the Monday, October 4, midday drawing at his local Mobil gas station near…
Chicago Riots junior roller derby forges fast friendships
After reading Roller Girl, a young adult graphic novel by Victoria Jamieson, Yoshi McKee developed a growing interest in roller derby. The Orland Park native found the fast-paced, full-contact sport on quad roller skates captivating and resolved to not only read about it but also participate. “I had started with rollerblading, so the transition to…
WWII veteran celebrates 100th birthday at favorite pancake spot
World War II veteran Rich Olund celebrated his 100th birthday sipping coffee with his best friend at his favorite diner, Lumes Pancake House in Palos Heights. He drew quite a crowd. Palos Park Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters and Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau even stopped by to wish the local centenarian a happy birthday at a…
Gutierrez wins Chicago’s 8th District school board seat; CTU’s Lopez takes 7th District
While Tuesday’s election night at Moe’s Cantina on West Hubbard Street was filled with supporters of new Illinois Attorney General Eileen O’Neill Burke, Angel Gutierrez celebrated his Eighth District school board victory in Chicago with a small group of supporters at the same venue. Gutierrez, a pro-school choice candidate, defeated Felix Ponce, who was backed…
Football roundup: Christian Flutman helps Chicago Christian advance
Christian Flutman rarely comes off the field for Chicago Christian and he wouldn’t have it any other way. The senior starts at quarterback and defensive back and also is the holder for kicks — duties that kept him plenty busy on Nov. 2 when the Knights rolled by visiting Illini West 53-16 in a Class…
IHSA football playoff scoreboard
With records and seedings in parentheses Note: Classes 8A and 7A are seeded 1-32. All other classes are seeded as two 1-16 brackets. First round Class 8A Glenbard East 49, Curie 0 Stevenson 31, Sandburg 14 Marist 42, Glenbrook South 14 Lyons 38, Joliet West 0 Class 7A Fenwick 12, Brother Rice 7 Quincy 49,…
Area sports roundup: Red Stars fall to eighth seed, will face Orlando
The Chicago Red Stars are heading into the NWSL playoffs with a three-game losing streak and will face the regular season’s best team. The eighth-seeded Red Stars visit top-seeded Orlando at 7 p.m. Friday in the quarterfinals. The Red Stars had a 1-1 draw at Orland on March 29 and lost 1-0 in Bridgeview on…
Postseason roundup: McAuley wins 44th straight volleyball regional
The streak is up to 44. Mother McAuley won another regional championship in girls volleyball on Oct. 31 and that brings its total up to 44 straight regional or district championships after a 25-12, 25-14 victory over Stagg to win the Class 4A Stagg Regional in Palos Hills. Excluding the 2020 COVID-19 season, the Mighty…
Jack Elliott, Mount Carmel cruise in Class 7A opener
Before a Class 7A opener in Machesney Park on Nov. 1, Mount Carmel and Harlem had never played each other. The Huskies are likely fine with not seeing the Caravan again anytime soon, as the Caravan rolled to a 56-14 victory. Playing only in the first half, Mount Carmel quarterback Jack Elliott completed 11 of…
Two-way star Myles Mitchell helps Richards advance
With Richards trailing late against visiting Dunlap in a Class 6A opener on Nov. 1, Bulldogs coach Tony Sheehan knew what time it was. Myles Mitchell time. “I’m not going to lie,” Sheehan said. “I went up to him in the fourth quarter and told him that we were going to put it all on…
Shepard’s bounceback season ends in Class 6A opener
A rough start led to a season-ending loss for Shepard on Nov. 1. In the first three minutes of a Class 6A playoff opener against downstate Washington, the Astros fell behind 14-0 en route to a 52-21 road loss. Shepard went three-and-out on its first possession. Washington blocked the ensuing punt and scored on a…
Unbeaten Quincy ends Argo’s season in Class 7A opener
Argo coach Phillip Rossberg knew it wouldn’t be easy going on the road to play unbeaten Quincy in a Class 7A opener on Nov. 2. Quincy quarterback Bradyn Little passed for six touchdowns as the 10-0 Blue Devils defeated the Argonauts 49-7. “They’re as advertised,” Rossberg said. “Their quarterback passed 10,000 yards for his career,…
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Illinois News
Federal judge strikes down Illinois assault weapons ban, setting up likely appeal
Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – A federal judge in East St. Louis on Friday struck down Illinois’ assault weapons ban on the grounds that it violates the Second and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution and issued an order barring the state from enforcing it. That order, however, was stayed for 30 days, giving the…
Illinois school Superintendent Tony Sanders discusses strategy to boost math scores
Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education recently released the 2024 School Report Card, showing a record-high proficiency rate for students in grades 3-8 in English language arts while math scores still have not fully recovered from the low point they hit during the pandemic. In response, ISBE has announced plans…
Jury sees relentless ComEd job placement requests from Madigan co-defendant
Capitol News Illinois CHICAGO – Had they been any other job applicants, electric utility Commonwealth Edison likely wouldn’t have given a second look to candidates who made “politically inappropriate” comments during an interview, failed basic screening tests or didn’t even show up to take those tests – twice. Some of the company’s top executives wouldn’t…
Wiretaps show McClain arranging checks for Madigan loyalist fired after #MeToo allegations
Capitol News Illinois CHICAGO – It had been a tumultuous winter and spring for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan as he was forced to fire or distance himself from several top allies, three of whom were accused of sexual harassment at the height of the #MeToo movement. But after the seismic events of June 6,…
Utility assistance applications open for low-income Illinoisans
Capitol News Illinois The state’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is accepting applications for all households beginning Friday, Nov. 1. The program offers financial assistance for utility bills to low-income families. Other discounts are also available, even if someone is not enrolled in LIHEAP. Applications opened on Oct. 1 for adults age 60 and…
Statewide effort planned to boost student math scores
Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Illinois education officials plan to launch a statewide initiative over the next several months aimed at boosting student performance in math. State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders made that announcement during a recent media briefing to unveil the most recent school report card. That annual report shows how individual schools,…
Pritzker’s budget office projects $3.2B deficit in early look at upcoming fiscal year
Capitol News Illinois The first extensive public look at next year’s state finances contains a warning to lawmakers from the governor’s office: “The ability to fund new programs will be severely limited” next fiscal year. That comes from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, which projected a potential budget shortfall of $3.2 billion for…