Local News

Award winning Kinzie Elementary School, located at 56th and Mobile in Chicago’s 23rd ward earned high ranking badges despite 52% of students considered to be economically disadvantaged in the 2021-22 school year, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Schools data. (Photo by Robin Sluzas)

Aldermen push back on mayor’s school board appointments and budget strategy

A new City Hall dispute emerged on Oct. 7 as Mayor Brandon Johnson’s appointment of six temporary Chicago school board members drew criticism for bypassing City Council involvement. In response to the mayor’s appointments, Aldermen Raymond Lopez (15th), Marty Quinn (13th), and Silvana Tabares (23rd) reacted negatively to the mayor’s plan to fund Chicago’s public…

Chicago FOP President John Catanzara addresses the United Business Association of Midway on Oct. 9. Behind him are Illinois FOP General Counsel Tamara Cummings (at left) and UBAM President Anita Cummings. (Photo by Dermot Connolly)

FOP officials share Chicago policing concerns with UBAM

Two Fraternal Order of Police officials from Clearing shared insights about law enforcement at the state and local level at the Oct. 9 United Business Association of Midway meeting. Tamara Cummings, general counsel for the Illinois FOP, and John Catanzara, president of the Chicago FOP (Lodge 7)—former classmates at St. Rene School—were the guest speakers…

Bedford Park and the Chicago Sky welcome guests to the groundbreaking last week of the team’s new practice facility. (Photos by Carol McGowan)

Chicago Sky, Bedford Park break ground on $38 million practice facility

It was a groundbreaking event on Oct. 9, as more than 200 people gathered at the future site of Phase 2 of the Wintrust Sports Complex at 65th Street and Central Avenue in Bedford Park. The Chicago Sky, in partnership with the Village of Bedford Park, broke ground on a new $38 million state-of-the-art practice…

Sophie Imielski (left) and Jordyn Hoffenberger were busy hemming garments at an earlier Repair Cafe. (File photo)

Final repair cafe of the year Oct. 19 for Lyons Township

The Township of Lyons will host its final repair café of the year from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at the township hall, 6404 Joliet Road. You can bring a wide range of household items in for repairs free of charge, Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg said during the township board meeting Oct.…

Forest View Village Clerk Laura McGuffey (from left), Stickney Township Trustees Laura Kreil, Diane Viverito, Donna Galeher, Forest View Mayor Nancy Miller and Administrator Mike Dropka at the beginning of the October 8 board meeting. (Photo by Carol McGowan)

Forest View loses 2 officials in sudden resignations, mayor ‘saddened’

On Oct. 8, the Forest View village board meeting took a surprising turn when two key officials resigned during a portion of the meeting that was closed to the public. Forest View Administrator Michael Dropka submitted his resignation to trustees who met behind closed doors to discuss an “employee personnel matter,” according to the meeting…

Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd) addresses the community rally on Saturday urging the city to split the 8th Police District in half. Behind her are fellow council members Ray Lopez (15th) and Marty Quinn (13th). (Supplied photo)

Community, officials rally for new Southwest Side police district

Neighborhood residents and local officials supporting the division of the Chicago Lawn (8th) District came out in force for a rally Saturday outside the former National Guard Armory at Midway Airport, which they hope will house a new police station. Police directed traffic as large crowds crossed 63rd Street to attend the 11 a.m. gathering…

Vulcan Materials Co. is paying a $1.5 million settlement to McCook. In exchange, the village is dropping a lawsuit filed in 2023 over unpaid dumping fees. (Photo by Steve Metsch)

Vulcan pays McCook $1.5 million to settle dumping lawsuit

Charging a company $4 for each truckload of clean debris dumped into a former quarry may not sound like much, but when you do the math, as McCook Mayor Terrance Carr said last Monday night, those truckloads add up. “It’s nothing, but when you’ve got thousands of trucks and years of dumping, it can add…

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Cheerio! Lyons bars can open at 7 a.m. Sunday for early Bears game

By mayoral decree, Bears fans can start drinking earlier Sunday at bars in Lyons. The Bears play Jacksonville in London and the kickoff will be at 8:30 a.m. Chicago time Sunday. Usually, Lyons bars can’t open until 10 a.m. on Sunday. But they will be allowed to open and start serving at 7 a.m. With…

Student volunteers help unload the pumpkins for the UMC Pumpkin Patch in 2022. (File photo)

Oak Lawn United Methodist Church to open Pumpkin Patch this weekend

Every year about now, the First United Methodist Church of Oak Lawn celebrates the season by trucking in thousands of orange gourds for its Pumpkin Patch. People look forward to the return of the Pumpkin Patch, which this year runs from October 13 to October 31 on the church grounds at 100th Street and Central…

Mike Balasa, of Evergreen Park, along with his children, Ben, 4, and Olivia, 8, and his wife, Jasmine, at the Worth Park District's Fall Fest on Sunday. (Photos by Kelly white)

Worth Fall Fest ushers in the season

Fall is in the air. The Worth Park District welcomed the season with its annual Fall Fest on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Gale Moore Park, 109th Street and Nordica Avenue, Worth. “Getting everyone out in the community to enjoy what we offer makes me really happy,” said Stephanie Analitis, superintendent of recreation for the Worth…

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Palos Park’s Walsh skates for injured first responders at 911 Cup

Palos Park Officer Sean Walsh spent this past weekend in Las Vegas with his skates laced up and participating in the Las Vegas 911 Cup. The 911 cup is a fundraising event supporting police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and EMTs injured in the line of duty. Officer Walsh’s hockey team, Level Zero Heros, played teams…

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Chicago man charged in Oak Lawn carjacking

A Chicago man has been charged with carjacking a vehicle from a female teenager in the parking lot of the Jewel-Osco at 8801 S. Ridgeland Ave. on Sept. 28, police said. Police said a female teenager was parked and sitting inside her vehicle in the Jewel-Osco parking lot when a man with dreadlocks, wearing a…

Rick, Jake and Care Herpich, of Oak Lawn, stand in front of their elaborate Halloween display, Krazy Korner. (Supplied photos)

Herpich family’s epic Halloween decorations aim to scare

Care and Rick Herpich moved to Oak Lawn in 2001 with their son, Jake. It was then that the family began what would become an elaborate Halloween tradition, with their display growing more frightening each year. It is now known in the neighborhood as the Krazy Korner. Over the past two decades, the Herpich family’s…

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Evergreen Park approves disaster prevention plan

The threat that hazards and disasters pose to residents and property has been recognized by Evergreen Park officials. A resolution was approved by a 6-0 margin during the Evergreen Park Village Board meeting Monday night, acknowledging the importance of reducing or eliminating vulnerability to disasters. The U.S. Congress passed the Disaster Mitigation Act on Oct.…

The iconic sign outside Petey's Bungalow Restaurant and Lounge can be seen at the corner of 95th Street and Kostner Avenue. The restaurant, which opened in 1961, will close after Tuesday, Oct. 15. (Photo by Joe Boyle)

After 63 years, Petey’s Bungalow in Oak Lawn prepares for last supper

After 63 years, a popular Oak Lawn restaurant will close its doors for the last time. Petey’s Bungalow Restaurant and Lounge, 4401 W. 95th St., will cease operations after Tuesday, Oct. 15. The restaurant, a local fixture known as a classic supper club, has been at the same location since 1961. In a Facebook post,…

ShotSpotter gunshot detection technology is non-operational throughout the city, including a device on a corner near Ald. Raymond Lopez’s 15th Ward office. According to the City of Chicago data portal, ShotSpotter detected 1,025 rounds fired citywide between Sept. 15 and 22, 2024. (Photo by Robin Sluzas)

Local aldermen rip mayor over ShotSpotter cancellation

After the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance giving Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling the authority to extend ShotSpotter technology, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s February 2024 promise to turn off the monitors set up a battle with a majority of aldermen. Three Southwest Side aldermen spoke to the Greater Southwest News-Herald about why ShotSpotter technology should…

Family and furry companions join in a circle for prayer and song at Palos United Methodist Church. (Photos by Nuha Abdessalam)

Palos United Methodist Church hosts pet blessing

It was a lively occasion as a pair of Great Danes, a cat named Gus, and an elderly Beagle-Lab mix named Seamus were among the four-legged attendees gathered Sunday afternoon, Oct. 6, at Palos United Methodist Church for the annual pet blessing celebrating the Feast of St. Francis. Pastor Caitlyn Nesbit led the ceremony at…

Outgoing Orland Park Village Manager George Koczwara (left) and new interim manager Jim Culotta talk before the Oct. 7 village board meeting. (Photos by Jeff Vorva)

Orland Park names interim village manager and assistant

Orland Park Assistant Village Manager Jim Culotta will take over as the interim village manager and former police deputy chief Brian West will take his place as interim assistant. The board of trustees made those decisions during the Oct. 7 meeting in the wake of village manager George Koczwara’s resignation after his contact was set…

The Orland Park Public Library, 14921 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park, is hosting a Dementia: Caregiver Support Group on Mondays at 1 p.m. (Supplied photo)

Orland Park Public Library hosts dementia support group

The Orland Park Public Library is continuously offering programs and services to help all levels of need within its local community. The library, 14921 S. Ravinia Ave., is hosting a Dementia: Caregiver Support Group on Mondays at 1 p.m. The free program is designed for those caring for a loved one with dementia. Caregivers are…

Jimmy Sullivan stands in the Old German Methodist Cemetery in Orland Park, which he is working to restore. (Photo by Gregg Voss)

Sandburg Boy Scout restores historic cemetery for Eagle Scout project

You don’t usually equate multi-phase project management with high school students, but then again, you probably haven’t met Sandburg sophomore Jimmy Sullivan. Sullivan is pursuing his Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout rank and has spent most of 2024 planning the project that will earn him that prestigious honor – restoring the Old German Methodist…

Illinois News

Jury deadlocks, mistrial declared in case of ex-AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan

Jury deadlocks, mistrial declared in case of ex-AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A federal judge on Thursday declared a mistrial after a jury deadlocked in their deliberations over whether former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza bribed longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan via a no-work contract for the speaker’s political ally. After nearly 15 hours of deliberation…

High court: Smell of burnt cannabis is not cause for warrantless vehicle search

High court: Smell of burnt cannabis is not cause for warrantless vehicle search

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Law enforcement officers in Illinois cannot rely on the smell of burnt cannabis alone to justify searching a vehicle without a warrant, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. The decision was unanimous, though Justice Lisa Holder White did not take part in it. Writing for the court,…

State wraps up case in challenge to assault weapons ban

State wraps up case in challenge to assault weapons ban

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – A federal judge invoked images from the 1917 race riots in East St. Louis, Illinois, on Thursday at the end of a trial in a case challenging the constitutionality of the state’s ban on assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines. Judge Steven McGlynn, who has…

Gun expert says assault weapons ban ‘describes the most popular firearms I’m involved with’

Gun expert says assault weapons ban ‘describes the most popular firearms I’m involved with’

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – A firearms expert testified Wednesday that the weapons restricted under Illinois’ assault weapons ban include many of the most common firearms that American consumers use for self-defense. Steven Randall Watt, a combat veteran and retired law enforcement officer who now owns a private firearms…

Case of former AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan heads to jury

Case of former AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan heads to jury

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – On Valentine’s Day in 2017, then-AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza got some good news: After years of trying to push for legislation in Springfield that would save the company hundreds of millions of dollars annually, powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan had agreed to a…

State Supreme Court hears arguments in Jussie Smollett’s effort to overturn conviction

State Supreme Court hears arguments in Jussie Smollett’s effort to overturn conviction

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in actor Jussie Smollett’s appeal to overturn his conviction on disorderly conduct charges for falsifying a hate crime. Smollett, who was an actor on the TV show “Empire,” was improperly charged with the same crime twice, his legal team…

Testimony continues in 2nd Amendment challenge to Illinois’ assault weapons ban

Testimony continues in 2nd Amendment challenge to Illinois’ assault weapons ban

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – An engineer who spent decades designing weapons for one of the world’s leading gun manufacturers testified Tuesday that the assault-style weapons now banned in Illinois are intended only for civilian use and cannot be easily converted into military-grade firearms. James Ronkainen, a former engineer…

Contractor’s unsecured databases exposed sensitive voter data in over a dozen Illinois counties

Contractor’s unsecured databases exposed sensitive voter data in over a dozen Illinois counties

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Around 4.6 million records associated with Illinoisans in over a dozen counties – including voting records, registrations and death certificates – were temporarily available on the open internet, according to a security researcher who identified the vulnerability in July. The documents were available through an unsecured cloud storage…

Prosecutors rest case against former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan

Prosecutors rest case against former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – After years of pushing in Springfield, AT&T Illinois’ executive team was thrilled when the Illinois General Assembly in 2017 passed legislation that would get the company out from under expensive obligations to maintain its aging copper landline wires in Illinois. “Game over. We win,” AT&T Illinois…

Trial begins in challenge to assault weapons ban

Trial begins in challenge to assault weapons ban

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – The owner of a gun store testified Monday that Illinois’ ban on the sale of assault-style weapons and large capacity magazines has had a significant impact on his business and prevented his customers from buying items they would normally use for self-defense, hunting, target…

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