Scott Kaspar resigned from two Orland Park committees because he said he didn’t want politics to distract those committees. Photo courtesy of Scott Kaspar
Kaspar resigns committee posts before Orland trustees vote
Local News
Mammal madness sets in at OLCHS
By Kelly White March Madness is taking over Oak Lawn Community High School, but not in the form of basketball. For the fourth year in a row, the school, 9400 Southwest Highway, Oak Lawn, participated in March Mammal Madness. “I love participating in March Mammal Madness because I am able to research and learn about……
Southwest Symphony presents an Afternoon of Lerner and Loew on Sunday
The Southwest Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of David L. Crane, will present “An Afternoon of Lerner and Loewe” on Sunday, April 10, at 4 p.m. at Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Auditorium, 6601 W. College Drive, Palos Heights. Favorite selections will be played from “Camelot,” “Gigi,” “Brigadoon,” “Paint Your Wagon,” and “My Fair Lady.” The……
Olympian – and now author – Kendall Coyne Schofield visits Palos Heights Library
By Kelly White Always in pursuit of her dreams, Kendall Coyne Schofield wants to inspire today’s youth to do the same. “I want young girls to be able to have the same dreams as young boys in the world of professional hockey,” Coyne said. With her book, “As Fast As Her: Dream Big, Break Barriers,……
Palos Park brothers meet the ‘Bunny’
The Kladis brothers (from left), Daniel, 4, and Johnny, 7, of Palos Park, had their picture taken with the Easter Bunny on Saturday morning at Byline Bank in Hickory Hills. The boys also received some treats from bank employees and members of the Hills Chamber of Commerce, sponsors of the holiday event. (Photo by Joe……
Palos Park Oks $3 million for road repair projects
First up, Palos Dells area By Jeff Vorva Some money is taking a trip to the Dells. The Village of Palos Park is ready to make some big-time local street repairs and the Palos Dells area is the first in line. The village council unanimously voted at its March 28 meeting to approve a $3……
Orland board ready to throw Kaspar off of two committees
By Jeff Vorva The Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees wants to bounce Scott Kaspar off of two committees. Kasper said this is all political. Board members say it is not. At Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, the trustees voted to bring a resolution to the April 18 Board of Trustees meeting to……
Palos Heights renews garbage contract after debate
By Jeff Vorva Things got a little chippy Tuesday night when it came to renewing garbage and chipper services in Palos Heights. After some debate, the Palos Heights City Council voted 5-3 to renew a five-year contract with Crestwood-based Republic Services. Aldermen Michael McGrogan, Jerry McGovern and Jack Clifford voted “no.” The current five-year deal……
Area college report: Ooms brothers lower the boom, propel Saint Xavier to national tourney
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer Good things happen when the Ooms brothers go boom. In this case, it means another trip to the NAIA National Tournament The siblings from Minooka High School combined for 18 kills on Saturday to lead the Saint Xavier men’s volleyball team to a 25-23, 25-18, 27-25 victory over Judson to……
Pro Soccer Report: Red Stars lose star defender Davidson for season
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer The Chicago Red Stars biggest loss of the exhibition season didn’t come during a game. It came during training. Defender Tierna Davidson will miss the season after tearing an ACL while practicing for the team’s second Challenge Cup game. Davidson is also a U.S. Women’s National Team member and will……
Area Sports Roundup: Lions grow together while winning Argo Invitational
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer A few last-minute changes in the schedule forced Lyons to head into the Argo Invitational with just two matches under its belt this season. While some of the other teams in the tournament had played more matches, the Lions adapted and won the 12-team tournament with a 5-0 record, including……
Neighbors
Potawatomi land transfer advances in Illinois House
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would help the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation expand their newly established reservation in DeKalb County advanced out of a state House committee Tuesday, despite concerns about the tribe’s long-term plans for the property. House Bill 4718 would authorize the state to hand over……
Illinois could be 19th state to phase out subminimum wage for disabled workers
By ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com After years of negotiations and continued opposition from service providers, Illinois appears poised to prohibit employers from using a federal exemption that allows them to pay individuals with disabilities less than the minimum wage. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 established minimum wage law, but created……
Once again working through the night, lawmakers finalize $53.1 billion budget
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com After a near-derailment and an all-nighter to wrap up the General Assembly’s spring session, supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House gave final legislative approval to the state budget as the sun rose Wednesday morning. Despite holding 78 seats in the chamber, it took Democrats three tries to reach……
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……
Regulators slash Chicago gas utility’s rate request, setting up likely legal battle
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Regulators at the Illinois Commerce Commission on Thursday once again reduced a request to increase customer rates from Chicago natural gas utility Peoples Gas. In November, the ICC paused all spending related to Peoples Gas’ controversial “safety modernization program” for replacing aging infrastructure and reduced its $404 million……
Ban on ‘captive audience’ meetings, AI regulations among 466 bills to pass this session
By ALEX ABBEDUTO, COLE LONGCOR, & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com A bill banning what unions refer to as employer-sponsored “captive audience” meetings about religion and politics has cleared both chambers of the General Assembly. It was one of 466 measures to do so during the Illinois legislature’s recently concluded spring session, including measures……
Would-be union of legislative staffers accuse Welch of undermining organizing effort
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Seven months after Democratic Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch advanced a measure that would allow legislative staff to unionize, members of his own staff on Tuesday blasted the speaker for allowing the bill to languish. The legislation has not seen any action since its passage……
Lawmakers OK bill to require ‘faithful’ electors in 2024, loosen campaign finance rules
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Illinois appears likely to join most of the rest of the country in requiring that the state’s Electoral College votes go to the winner of the state’s popular election. The measure is part of a broad package of election-related legislation……
Once again working through the night, lawmakers finalize $53.1 billion budget
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com After a near-derailment and an all-nighter to wrap up the General Assembly’s spring session, supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House gave final legislative approval to the state budget as the sun rose Wednesday morning. Despite holding 78 seats in the chamber, it took Democrats three tries to reach……
A security camera caught an employee beating a patient. It took 11 days for anyone to take action.
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with Capitol News Illinois. Cameras in the common areas of Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center were supposed to make the troubled southern Illinois facility safer for the approximately 200 people with developmental disabilities who live there. But……