MVCC nursing school receives state grant

By Bob Bong The Illinois Board of Higher Education has awarded nursing school grants to 12 institutions of higher education across the state, including one in the south suburbs, totaling $1.4 million. Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills received a grant of $38,316 to focus on improved math proficiency and preparedness of students to…

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Runnings holds grand opening in Homer Glen

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By Bob Bong The big-box store at 15830 S. Bell Road in Homer Glen has certainly had a storied past. Once upon a time, it was part of the Kmart chain. That ended years ago. Since then, it has been a Big R, a Stock + Field, and an R.P. Home and Harvest. Last June,…

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Brookfield Zoo Anniversary Ferris Wheel now open

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By Bob Bong Brookfield Zoo has been attracting visitors for 90 years. To celebrate the anniversary, the zoo has opened a new attraction that has nothing to do with animals. Last Friday, the zoo opened its Anniversary Ferris Wheel. The towering 110-foot Ferris wheel offers guests unique bird’s-eye views of the park’s gardens, animal habitats, and…

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Cinderella’s Closet makes prom shopping easier, cheaper

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By Kelly White Prom dress shopping can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Thanks to Oak Lawn Community High School’s annual dress re-sale, cleverly called, Cinderella’s Closet, on February 10, students were able to browse beautiful ball gowns all in one place at right the high school, 9400 Southwest Hwy. “Prom is expensive…

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Gill takes Democratic nod in 35th District

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From staff reports Mary Gill easily won the Democratic nomination in the 35th House District over fellow Mount Greenwood resident David Dewar. Gill, a lifelong district resident, was appointed last March to succeed Fran Hurley, who resigned to take a position with the Illinois Labor Relations Board. Gill, a former special-education teacher, was executive director…

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Newcomer Crawford ousts veteran lawmaker Mary Flowers

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By Bob Bong Mary Flowers, the longest serving black lawmaker in the General Assembly, was sent packing Tuesday night after running afoul of House Speaker Chris Welch. Flowers, 72, was defeated by Michael Crawford in the 31st House District Democratic Primary. Flowers, who was first elected in 1984, received 753 votes in suburban precincts while…

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Casten romps over primary foes in 6th Congressional race

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By Bob Bong Three-term Congressman Sean Casten easily defeated two challengers in Tuesday’s Democratic primary in the 6th Congressional District. “First and foremost, thank you,” he said. “Thank you to the voters who have entrusted me once again with their vote. Thank you to the volunteers who knocked on doors, made phone calls, and helped…

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Voters approve Palos School District 118 tax swap

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By Bob Bong Voters in Palos School District 118 strongly approved a proposal to raise one tax fund and lower another at a referendum Tuesday. The district asked for approval to shift $4.35 million from its debt service fund to its operating fund. With 17 of 18 precincts reporting, there were 2,461 “yes” votes to…

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Sonia Anne Khalil remains upbeat despite loss in 36th House

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By Steve Metsch Sonia Anne Khalil, who lost to Rick Ryan in the Democratic primary for the 36th House, was far from dejected Tuesday night. “It’s okay,” she said during a gathering at the Qamaria Yemeni coffee shop in Chicago Ridge. Khalil, 34, said she and her supporters “organized in four months and I thought…

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Ryan moving on to face McGovern in 36th District

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By Jeff Vorva Rick Ryan was asked to serve. He agreed to serve. All he has to do is convince enough people to allow him to serve. He is halfway there. He earned the Democratic nomination for state representative in the 36th District on March 19 by beating Sonia Anne Khalil in the primary. The…

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