Local News

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Justice lights village Christmas trees 

By Bob Bong / December 8, 2023 /

By Carol McGowan  Justice village officials spent a few minutes before their board meeting last week to celebrate the holiday season by lighting the village Christmas tree and other decorated trees in front of the village hall. Mayor Kris Wasowicz lit the tree and wished everyone a wonderful holiday season. After the tree lighting, the…

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Openlands grant brings 40 new trees to Justice park

By Bob Bong / December 7, 2023 /

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,…

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AERO opens new facility in Burbank

By Bob Bong / September 22, 2023 /

By Bob Bong When Queen of Peace High School in Burbank announced it was closing in 2018, the good folks at AERO special education co-op saw a golden opportunity. They purchased the school’s 13-acre site at 7659 S. Linder Ave. in August 2019 for $3.2 million. The plan was to retrofit the high school for…

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News from Springfield: 12 school districts to receive an additional $6.2 million 

By Bob Bong / September 2, 2023 /

State Senator Mike Porfirio (D-11th) announced that 12 school districts across the area will receive over $6.2 million in additional funding to help address the financial challenges of recent years.  “Evidence-based funding supports educational opportunities that contribute to the long-term success of our students,” said Porfirio. “Through this funding formula, we can ensure that a…

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Justice names Schuerg deputy police chief

By Carol Mcgowan / July 9, 2023 / Comments Off on Justice names Schuerg deputy police chief

By Carol McGowan Two police officers moved up in the ranks at last week’s Justice Village Board meeting. Sgt. Frederick Schuerg was made deputy chief and Officer Samuel Hogancamp was promoted to the rank of sergeant.  Both promotions were approved by the village board last month. Schuerg has been with the Justice Police Department since…

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Sag Moraine Native Plant Community honors Bedford Park, Justice

By Carol Mcgowan / June 30, 2023 / Comments Off on Sag Moraine Native Plant Community honors Bedford Park, Justice

From staff reports  Sag Moraine Native Plant Community last week hosted its first Evening of Appreciation at the Bedford Park Community Center. At the June 15 event, individuals and municipalities were recognized for their efforts to improve the local ecosystem through the planting of native plants and providing education about the importance of restoring native…

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Justice Park District welcomes The Lunch Bus

By Carol Mcgowan / June 23, 2023 / Comments Off on Justice Park District welcomes The Lunch Bus

From staff reports The Justice Park District welcomed The Lunch Bus back for the third year in a row on June 12. The Lunch Bus is possible through the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and offers free meals for children and teens this summer. Children and teens 18 and under will receive nutritious meals for free…

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Traffic shift this week in Justice for tollway bridge work

By Bob Bong / June 14, 2023 /

Traffic on 88th/Cork Avenue is scheduled to shift this week onto the northbound side of the bridge over the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) as part the Illinois Tollway’s construction of a new interchange in Justice. Traffic is currently reduced to one lane in each direction on the bridge and will remain so after the shift.…

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Police to hit the roof at Dunkin’ Donuts for Special Olympics 

By Bob Bong / May 18, 2023 / Comments Off on Police to hit the roof at Dunkin’ Donuts for Special Olympics 

By Bob Bong  Police departments across the south suburbs are gearing up for another high-flying fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois. Police will be hanging out at more than 325 Dunkin’ Donut coffee shops across Illinois starting at 5 a.m. Friday, May 19, for another edition of Cop on a Rooftop. They will be collecting donations…

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Overnight closures for Roberts Road, 87th Street underway

By Bob Bong / May 12, 2023 /

Overnight road closures, including full intersection closures with detours, will be scheduled on Roberts Road and 87th Street over the next two weeks as the Illinois Tollway continues work on local roadway reconstruction and improvements as part of the Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project. Beginning Wednesday, May 10, overnight full closures of both 87th Street and Roberts Road are scheduled to…

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Christmas decorations light up the sidewalk in front of Justice Village Hall. (Photos by Carol McGowan)

Justice lights village Christmas trees 

By Carol McGowan  Justice village officials spent a few minutes before their board meeting last week to celebrate the holiday season by lighting the village Christmas tree and other decorated trees in front of the village hall. Mayor Kris Wasowicz lit the tree and wished everyone a wonderful holiday season. After the tree lighting, the…

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Beds Plus to hold ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ pop-up bar in Brookfield 

George Bailey is coming to Brookfield for the Beds Plus third annual “It’s a Wonderful Life” pop-up bar. Come and get your wings from Nick to help those in need of “a couple of decent rooms and a bath.” Beds Plus works to reduce and end homelessness in your community. The pop-up event is set…

Residents packed the Willow Springs board room for the Nov. 27 meeting.  (Photos by Steve Metsch)

Consultant backs Willow Springs on zoning of LTHS parcel

By Steve Metsch  All for one and one for all was the theme of last week’s community meeting held at the Willow Springs Village Hall. Concerned residents, politicians from the village and surrounding communities joined in their opposition to any industrial development of a parcel of land in the village owned by the Lyons Township…

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2 men charged in shooting of Bedford Park cop 

By Bob Bong  A Blue Island man was charged last week with attempted murder in the shooting of a Bedford Park police officer in the early morning hours of November 26. Raul Perez, 24, of Blue Island, was charged with one count of attempted first degree murder of a police officer, one count of attempted…

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…

Illinois News

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…

Pritzker signs measure allowing new small-scale nuclear technology in Illinois

Pritzker signs measure allowing new small-scale nuclear technology in Illinois

By JERRY NOWICKI & ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday signed into law a measure that will allow for the limited development of new nuclear power generation technology in the state. The measure, House Bill 2473, does not allow new large-scale power generation facilities like the six plants that are…

Capitol Cast: Halfway through FY '24, CNI's Jerry Nowicki breaks down estimates and predictions

Capitol Cast: Halfway through FY ’24, CNI’s Jerry Nowicki breaks down estimates and predictions

With new estimates from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, as well as Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, Capitol News Illinois’ Jennifer Fuller talks with Editor-in-Chief Jerry Nowicki about how the numbers shake out.   Capitol News Illinois · Capitol Cast: Halfway through FY ’24, CNI’s Jerry Nowicki breaks down estimates and predictions…

Chicago utility pushes back against state oversight, asks for further rate increase

Chicago utility pushes back against state oversight, asks for further rate increase

By ANDREW ADAMS  Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Chicago utility Peoples Gas is requesting a multimillion-dollar bump to its already record-high rate increase approved by regulators last month.  In November, the Illinois Commerce Commission forced a yearlong pause on the company’s controversial pipeline replacement program while it investigates whether the program adequately prioritizes replacing…

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…