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Orland Park Library names top winter reader
Audra Van Raden holds her prize for being the Orland Park Library Winter Reading Challenge winner. Library staffers said she told them she had always heard good things about air fryers but wasn’t ready to invest in one. When she saw this as a prize for Blizzard of Books, she thought, “Why not?” She said she plans to make dinner for her kids with it. Adult Services Manager Katie Allan and Adult Services Assistant Manager Natalie Finlon were so happy when she dropped by to pick up her prize. Another satisfied winter reader. In order to win the library’s winter reading challenge, Blizzard of Books, library patrons read up to 15 books. For each book read, a drawing slip was earned. Each drawing slip could be entered to win the air fryer or one of a selection of gift card prizes that were offered. All gift cards came from local businesses. (Supplied photo)
Local News
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Palos Park police warn drivers to stay safe on St. Patrick’s Day
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Help us to keep Palos Park’s roads the safest in the nation by planning ahead to stay safe on March 17. Palos Park police are encouraging folks to plan ahead for a safe ride home and urge everyone to have a plan this St. Patrick’s Day. If you plan on…
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Orland teen charged in Oak Lawn shooting
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong A 16-year-old Orland Park youth has been charged as an adult in the shooting last week of an 18-year-old Oak Lawn youth. Police arrested the Orland teen just hours after the shooting. He was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and attempted first-degree murder. Gerald Vetter, Division Chief…
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Palos Heights police charge second man in armed robbery
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A second man, who police say was the brother of the first man arrested, has been charged for his role in an armed robbery that took place at a gas station on December 28. Marlon Triplett, 32, was picked up after police in Indiana were able to obtain a nationwide…
![CLIFFORD UKRAINE Palos Heights Alderman Jack Clifford said the invasion of Ukraine reminds him of his mother's ordeal in England. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CLIFFORD-UKRAINE-1024x678.jpg)
Ukraine brings out emotions from Palos Heights council
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva There was a mixture of gratitude, sadness and anger at Tuesday night’s Palos Heights council meeting regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. First, the gratitude. Alderman Jerry McGovern thanked several of the other aldermen for “running around half this city and other suburbs donating and collecting everything under the sun so…
![4 Most Holy Redeemer Principal Dan Turney had his head shaved by Evergreen Park Mayor Kelly Burke during the school's St. Baldrick's event on Friday, March 11. (Photos by Kelly White)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/4-768x1024.jpg)
Bald is beautiful
Spread the loveMost Holy Redeemer resumes St. Baldrick’s shaving By Kelly White When 6-year-old Luke Sullivan heard about Most Holy Redeemer’s St. Baldrick’s event to take a stand against cancer, he knew immediately that he wanted to be a part. Not only did he do that, he also raised more money than anyone else for…
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EPCHS art department gets $1,000 grant from credit union
Spread the loveFrom staff reports The art department at Evergreen Park Community High School will benefit from winning the 2022 grant award from the Evergreen Park Schools Federal Credit Union. The $1,000 grant will allow two EPCHS art classes to provide students with the opportunity to go above and beyond the basics in the art…
![1 Abby Murphy, 12, of Oak Lawn, reading aloud, Our Table, by Peter H. Reynolds for Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School's Hershey Heartwarming Project. (Supplied photos)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/1.png)
Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School shares the love
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School students shared the love in February. The school, 5345 W. 99th St. in Oak Lawn, held a Hershey Heartwarming Project, where students used green screen technology to make videos of picture book read aloud and activities for pediatric patients at Hope Children’s Hospital. “Reading books can…
![MCGOVERN Palos Heights Alderman Jerry McGovern holds up fliers about helping local businesses during a special meeting regarding video gaming. (Photos by Jeff Vorva)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MCGOVERN-1024x813.jpg)
Palos Heights officials hear from both sides on video gaming
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Palos Heights officials took the temperature of the community about video gaming Monday night. It was very warm for both sides. More than 80 people showed up at the Palos Heights Recreation Center’s Orchard Room for special meeting of the License, Permits and Franchise Committee for a chance to air…
![CELEBRATE CELEBRATE – Marist’s softball team had plenty to celebrate last year and hopes for more celebrations in 2022. Photo by Jeff Vorva](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CELEBRATE-1024x678.jpg)
Seven reasons this spring sports season could be special
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer Things are a little quiet right now, but it’s the calm before the storm. Get ready for a monster sports spring in the area. The IHSA offers 13 spring sports and activities, including bass fishing. Area colleges will be busy, especially with baseball and softball. The Chicago Red…
![NWSL: Preseason-Chicago Red Stars at Portland Thorns FC Bianca St. Georges of the Chicago Red Stars tries to advance the ball against Portland on Saturday. Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer, USA Today Sports](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Bianca-St.-Georges_CREDIT_Craig-Mitchelldyer--1024x784.jpg)
Area Sports Roundup: Top pick Ava Cook scores Red Stars’ lone goal in winless trip to Portland
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer Mixing a blend of veterans and newcomers, the Chicago Red Stars lost two games and tied one while scoring just one goal during a three-game preseason series in Portland. New coach Chris Petrucelli watched his team open with a 0-0 deadlock with the U23 U.S. Women’s National Team…
Neighbors
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Lawmakers pass on oversight vote for Pritzker’s prison closure, rebuild plan
By HANNAH MEISEL & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – For the last two decades, each time a governor has moved to close a large state-run facility like a prison or mental health center, a legislative oversight panel has voted on the plan. That changed on Friday – at least for now –…
![‘We don’t really know what we’re voting on,’ top Dem says of Pritzker’s prison plan ‘We don’t really know what we’re voting on,’ top Dem says of Pritzker’s prison plan](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/240614-Logan-Prison-yard-signs-DoZFBM-1024x768.jpeg)
‘We don’t really know what we’re voting on,’ top Dem says of Pritzker’s prison plan
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com LINCOLN – On the eve of a scheduled vote to advise Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration on plans to close and rebuild a pair of dilapidated state prisons, hundreds filed into a junior high school gymnasium Thursday evening clad in matching green T-shirts. Printed on the shirts was a…
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Illinois child tax credit: who gets it, how much is it?
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com In the final hours of their spring legislative session, Illinois lawmakers approved a tax credit of up to about $300 for families with young children. The credit is available to Illinoisans with children under age 12 who qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC. Although…
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Members of House speaker’s staff sue over ongoing unionization conflict
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Members of a would-be union representing staffers in House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s office filed suit against their boss on Friday, asking a Cook County judge to force recognition of the union. The Illinois Legislative Staff Association, which formed in the fall of 2022, claims Welch’s…
![Elections board urged to dismiss complaint that Bailey illegally coordinated in 2022 campaign Elections board urged to dismiss complaint that Bailey illegally coordinated in 2022 campaign](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240429-BAILEY-PROFT1-yRwYCt-1024x624.jpeg)
Elections board urged to dismiss complaint that Bailey illegally coordinated in 2022 campaign
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com A hearing officer is recommending the Illinois State Board of Elections dismiss a complaint that alleged conservative radio host and political operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated with former Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey during his 2022 campaign for governor. Proft, a one-time gubernatorial candidate himself, is behind an…
![Communities, commission push Pritzker admin for more prison plan details Communities, commission push Pritzker admin for more prison plan details](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/240611-COGFA-SOTO1-AsGWYO-1024x682.jpeg)
Communities, commission push Pritzker admin for more prison plan details
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Jimmy Soto spent more than 42 years wrongfully imprisoned in Illinois Department of Corrections facilities. In 2020, he was moved to the “F-House” at Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet, a condemned unit, not because he was being punished, but because it was where the facility was housing individuals…
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Judge blocks law that would have banned newly slated candidates from ballot
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com A Sangamon County judge on Wednesday blocked the Illinois State Board of Elections from enforcing a new law that would have prevented certain General Assembly candidates who didn’t run in the March primary from getting on the November ballot. The move doesn’t void the bill in its entirety,…
![“No Schoolers”: How Illinois’ hands-off approach to homeschooling leaves children at risk “No Schoolers”: How Illinois’ hands-off approach to homeschooling leaves children at risk](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Propublica-Homeschooling-SA_3000_2000_Final_maxWidth_3000_maxHeight_3000_ppi_72_quality_95_embedColorProfile_true-rg6Bjc-1024x682.jpeg)
“No Schoolers”: How Illinois’ hands-off approach to homeschooling leaves children at risk
By BETH HUNDSDORFER & MOLLY PARKER CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS investigations@capitolnewsillinois.com This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with Capitol News Illinois. It was on L.J.’s 11th birthday, in December 2022, that child welfare workers finally took him away. They arrived at his central Illinois home to investigate an abuse allegation and decided…
![Brushing off concerns of overspending, Pritzker signs $53.1 billion state budget Brushing off concerns of overspending, Pritzker signs $53.1 billion state budget](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/240605-BUDGET-SIGNING-AA-xB3q2i-1024x682.jpeg)
Brushing off concerns of overspending, Pritzker signs $53.1 billion state budget
By ANDREW ADAMS JERRY NOWICKI & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday signed the state’s $53.1 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year, the largest in state history. The signing caps months of work – and tension – among top Democratic leaders in Springfield and within the…
![Stalled bills: ‘Dignity in Pay Act,’ Prisoner Review Board changes fail to move Stalled bills: ‘Dignity in Pay Act,’ Prisoner Review Board changes fail to move](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240523-DOME-UNDER-CONSTRUCTION-AA1-8dD3Fu-1024x682.jpeg)
Stalled bills: ‘Dignity in Pay Act,’ Prisoner Review Board changes fail to move
By ALEX ABBEDUTO, COLE LONGCOR & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com A bill eliminating the subminimum wage for workers with disabilities failed to pass the General Assembly ahead of its May adjournment, although sponsors say they hope to pass it when lawmakers return in the fall. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938…