Local News

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St. Joe’s closing for good

By Tim Hadac / November 22, 2023 /

. Once was the largest Catholic parish in the area . By Tim Hadac More than a century of service to Roman Catholics in the westernmost section of Garfield Ridge, as well as suburban Summit, comes to an end this month as the lights go out for good at St. Joseph Church, 7240 W. 57th…

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Summit Masons and village to hold winter coat drive

By Bob Bong / November 15, 2023 / Comments Off on Summit Masons and village to hold winter coat drive

Argo-Summit Lodge 1133 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, in cooperation with the Village of Summit, is holding a Winter Coat Drive. Now through December 15, Masons are collecting new or gently used coats, hats, and gloves, for those in need. They welcome and would deeply appreciate your donations as their goal is for it to…

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Summit names Ortiz as new police chief

By Bob Bong / November 14, 2023 / Comments Off on Summit names Ortiz as new police chief

By Carol McGowan Summit trustees last week removed the word acting from Police Chief Mel Ortiz’s title. Ortiz had been acting as chief since John Kosmowski was placed on unpaid administrative leave in May 2022 after he and former Public Works Director Bill Mundy were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly sharing a…

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Pair charged in Summit bar burglary 

By Bob Bong / November 9, 2023 /

By Bob Bong  A Chicago man and a juvenile have been charged with burglary for breaking into a bar in Summit on October 10. Jailen Loggins, 19, of the 7900 block of South Woodlawn Avenue, and a 15-year-old male juvenile were charged with burglary of the Exit Saloon in the 6300 block of South Harlem…

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Argo makes Class 7A playoffs, will open against top-seeded Normal

By Bob Bong / October 20, 2023 / Comments Off on Argo makes Class 7A playoffs, will open against top-seeded Normal

By Mike Walsh Correspondent After addressing his Argonauts following their comeback victory over T.F. South in the regular-season finale — a win that two days later officially punched their ticket to the IHSA playoffs for a second straight season — Argo head coach Phil Rossberg stood by himself in the south end zone. Rossberg, standing…

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Argo Varsity Tennis

Argo’s girls varsity tennis team wins South Suburban Red title

By Carol Mcgowan / October 19, 2023 / Comments Off on Argo’s girls varsity tennis team wins South Suburban Red title

Argo High School’s girls varsity tennis has won the South Suburban Red conference title for the fourth time in school history. Prior to this season, the last title was won in 2017. This year’s team consists of Gabriela Dabrowski, Olivia Dlugi, Abigail Grenier, Julia Grenier, Ashley Jauregui, Sofia Jauregui-Ibarra, Athena Litsogiannis, Olivia Lopez, Lana Murphy, Isabel…

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EP hands Argo 3rd straight loss, playoff berth in jeopardy

By Bob Bong / October 18, 2023 / Comments Off on EP hands Argo 3rd straight loss, playoff berth in jeopardy

By Mike Walsh  Qualifying for the IHSA state playoffs in back-to-back campaigns has proven to be elusive for Argo. The program has never made postseason appearances in consecutive years, and entered Week 8 needing one win in its last two games to get to five victories and a likely playoff berth. Six wins clinches a…

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Argo’s Coach McCarthy hosts basketball clinics for area schools

By Carol Mcgowan / October 14, 2023 /

By Carol McGowan  Argo’s Head Girls Basketball Coach, Dan McCarthy, has been busy getting area students ready for their upcoming season, as well as ready for Argonaut basketball. McCarthy recently hosted two basketball clinics.  One was at Heritage Middle School in Summit, and one was held at Argo High School in Summit. The first, a…

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Memorial Services for late Summit Trustee Karen J. Wasko to be held next week

By Carol Mcgowan / October 12, 2023 / Comments Off on Memorial Services for late Summit Trustee Karen J. Wasko to be held next week

By Carol McGowan  Family and friends will gather next week to pay their respects during a celebration of life for late Summit Trustee Karen J. Wasko. Wasko passed away unexpectedly on Friday, March 17, after she and her husband, former Summit Fire Chief Robert (Bob) Wasko were involved in a traffic accident on their way…

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Man dies in Markham shootout after robbing Summit phone store

By Carol Mcgowan / September 22, 2023 / Comments Off on Man dies in Markham shootout after robbing Summit phone store

By Carol McGowan The man who robbed an AT&T store in Summit on Thursday morning was later found dead in a house in Markham after shots were exchanged between the man and police. The incident started when a man – identified as Jeremy Kelly, 28, of Markham – robbed the AT&T store at Archer and…

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A crowd of about 50 people were on hand when 40 trees were planted at Commissioners Park in Justice thanks to a Openlands TreePlanters grant. (Supplied photos)

Openlands grant brings 40 new trees to Justice park

From staff reports A total of 40 new trees were recently planted at Commissioners Park in Justice thanks to an Openlands TreePlanters Grant awarded to the Justice Park District. Over 50 people gathered on October 28 to participate in the tree planting event, including community members, volunteers, Openlands staff, Justice Park District staff and commissioners,…

Marist’s Stephen Brown finishes with a dunk in the RedHawks’ 49-44 overtime win over St. Laurence on Dec. 1. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Boys Basketball | Marist unbeaten heading into clash with Marian Catholic

By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Four quarters were not enough time to determine a winner between Marist and St. Laurence in a Chicago Elite Classic matchup. The RedHawks prevailed, doubling up the Vikings in overtime to take home a 49-44 win and improve to 6-0. The game was played December 1 at Credit Union 1 Arena…

Stagg senior Connor Williams, seen here in a Dec. 2 game against Bolingbrook, has helped Stagg jump out to a fast start this season. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Boys Basketball | Stagg off to a strong start, dr

By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Stagg has started the season strong, opening by winning the title at their own John McBride over Thanksgiving weekend. The Chargers won the championship game, 49-45, over Plainfield South. Senior guard Connor Williams was named MVP of the tournament, and teammates David Ortiz and Domas Narcevicius were named to the All-Tournament…

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at High 5 Heights, 12213 S. Harlem, Palos Heights, on November 29. (Photos by Kelly White)

High 5 Heights retail shop opens in Palos Heights

By Kelly White The first retail store to train, employ, sell products made by adults with special needs opened its doors in Palos Heights. The store, called, High 5 Heights at 12213 S. Harlem, Palos Heights, provides a new era of opportunity for adult students with special needs within the District 218 community. High 5…

Suphi Kurdi, brother of the late Murod Kurdi, and their mother, Fadia Muhamad, are joined by attorney David Petrich after the hearing. They vowed to seek justice. (Photos by Steve Metsch)

Fine, community service for woman who killed man in fatal accident

Victim’s family outraged over outcome By Steve Metsch Six months after the car she was driving hit and killed Murod Kurdi, Leanne Cusack had her day in court. On Tuesday, she was found guilty of failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident – the only charge against her – for the fatal June 5…

Saint Xavier running back Amari Venerable tries to break a tackle in a loss to Northwestern (Iowa) in the NAIA quarterfinals. Photo courtesy of Saint Xavier University Department of Athletics

College Report | SXU football falls in quarterfinals

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer For three quarters, Saint Xavier went nearly toe-to-toe with the No. 1-ranked football team in the nation. Justin Pringle had returned a kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown to bring the Cougars to within three points of Northwestern (Iowa), the top-seeded team in the NAIA playoffs and the defending national…

Richards grad Sean Lewis is the new football coach at San Diego State. Photo courtesy of San Diego State University Athletics

Area Sports Roundup | Richards grad Sean Lewis ready to air it out in San Diego

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The rollercoaster ride continues for Sean Lewis. The Richards alum went from being the head coach at Kent State to the offensive coordinator at Colorado, one of the most talked about college football programs in the country this season because of Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders. He was then demoted…

Illinois News

State health plan declares racism a public health crisis

State health plan declares racism a public health crisis

By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com A new state health report pinpoints racism as a public health crisis while also noting Illinois needs to improve in the areas of maternal and infant health, mental health and substance use disorders. The broad goals are laid out in a draft of the State Health Improvement Plan,…

For at least 6 months, state failed to act on Carlinville funeral director that mishandled remains

For at least 6 months, state failed to act on Carlinville funeral director that mishandled remains

By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com State regulators allowed a Carlinville funeral director to operate for months despite a complaint filed by a local coroner who found a decomposing body in his funeral home and alleged the care of the remains was “unacceptable and criminal in nature.” While trying to assist a local family…

Dolly Parton Imagination Library officially launches statewide in Illinois

Dolly Parton Imagination Library officially launches statewide in Illinois

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois families with infants and toddlers now have access to free children’s books that can be sent directly to their home, regardless of their income. Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday announced the official launch of the state’s partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program founded…

What to know about Illinois’ assault weapons ban

What to know about Illinois’ assault weapons ban

By ANDREW ADAMS  Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Gun owners face a Jan. 1 deadline to register their assault weapons with the state under Illinois’ assault weapons law. But between lawsuits and ongoing policymaking, the exact guns, accessories and ammunition covered under the Protect Illinois Communities Act remain unclear to many gun rights advocates, who point…

Capitol Cast: Filing Day for 2024 primary brings frigid temps and election themes to Springfield

Capitol Cast: Filing Day for 2024 primary brings frigid temps and election themes to Springfield

Capitol News Illinois Broadcast Director Jennifer Fuller talks with Editor-in-Chief Jerry Nowicki about the 2023 petition filing deadline for Illinois’ 2024 primary election.   Capitol News Illinois · Capitol Cast: Filing Day for 2024 primary brings frigid temps and election themes to Springfield

Supreme Court rules teen bicyclist is covered by father’s auto insurance policy

Supreme Court rules teen bicyclist is covered by father’s auto insurance policy

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday that automobile insurance policies must cover people against uninsured motorists and hit-and-run accidents, even if the person covered by the policy is not in a vehicle at the time of the accident. The case involved a 14-year-old Chicago boy, Cristopher…

State high court finds medical personnel exemption to biometric information privacy law

State high court finds medical personnel exemption to biometric information privacy law

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday ruled the state’s strongest-in-the-nation biometric information privacy law does have an exemption: health care workers who use fingerprints or similar scans to access things like medication, materials or patient health information. In a unanimous opinion, the justices ruled against a pair of…

Illinois Supreme Court: FOID records exempt from public disclosure

Illinois Supreme Court: FOID records exempt from public disclosure

By PETER HANCOCK  Capitol News Illinois  phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com  SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday that people may obtain records about their own Firearm Owners Identification cards, but they may not use the state’s Freedom of Information Act to do so.  In a 7-0 ruling, the court said the Illinois State Police acted properly when…

Temporary staffing agencies seek to block new state labor law

Temporary staffing agencies seek to block new state labor law

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A group of temporary staffing agencies and their trade associations are asking a federal court to block enforcement of a new state law that governs how day laborers and temp workers are managed and paid. The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in Chicago, challenges several changes…

Former GOP senator, third-party governor candidate to represent himself in corruption trial

Former GOP senator, third-party governor candidate to represent himself in corruption trial

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Monday was supposed to have been the first day in the weeklong federal corruption trial of former Republican state Sen. Sam McCann, who allegedly misused more than $200,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses. A pull-down projector screen in the Springfield courtroom of U.S. District Judge…