Kennedy students win big scholarship
Kennedy High School graduating seniors John Strus (left) and Douglas DaSilva have won the Wentcher Scholarship this spring. The scholarship is worth $40,000 (spread out over four years). The Wentcher Foundation identifies students nearing graduation from Chicago Public Schools who exemplify academic excellence, high character and demonstrate financial need. This fall, Strus will be attending Illinois Institute of Technology, and DaSilva will begin studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. DaSilva is an alumnus of Hale Elementary School, while Strus went to Byrne School. –Supplied photo
Local News
Boys Basketball: St. Rita picking up speed after slow start to season
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent Morez Johnson is committed to Illinois, where he will one day compete against Michigan State coach Tom Izzo in the Big Ten. The junior forward from St. Rita was happy to see Izzo in attendance last week to watch a dominant performance by the Mustangs in a 70-41 win…
College Notebook: NIU’s Francesca Bertucci named MAC Defensive POY
Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent The 2022 season is likely one that will not be soon forgotten by Northern Illinois women’s volleyball player Francesca Bertucci. Not only did the sophomore libero/defensive specialist win four Mid-American Conference’s West Division Defensive Player of the Week, she also was lauded as the MAC’s Defensive Player of the…
Area Hoops Wrap: IHSA releases basketball postseason assignments
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Most of the holiday basketball tournaments have not even started, but the IHSA has already released its 2023 postseason assignments. For some area schools, the placements into some sectionals are not exactly gifts from Santa. Area teams Reavis, Brother Rice, Hubbard, Marist, St. Rita, Oak Lawn, Sandburg, Shepard…
Area Sports Roundup: Mother McAuley’s Gigi Navarette voted best player in the U.S.
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer It was Navar in doubt. Mother McAuley senior Gigi Navarrete easily won a public vote conducted by Scorebook Live for best high school girls volleyball player in the country. Of 30,761 votes cast, 16,197 (53%) were for the Mighty Macs libero. Coming in a distant second was Ava…
Small salesman, big results
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com I saw a cute photo the other day and had to share. In the picture, Victor Duque Jr., a preschooler at Our Lady of the Snows School, was accepting a five-pound World’s Finest chocolate bar from OLS Principal Christina Avis.…
‘A good man, among the very best’
Spread the loveDoherty earns MCC’s Firefighter of the Year Award By Tim Hadac Many people who deserve awards are modest, sometimes to the point of being surprised and even a bit befuddled when they receive an accolade. Mike Doherty is one of them. The longtime Garfield Ridge resident recalled the day earlier this month when…
A red Christmas so far
Spread the love Those dreaming of snowflakes and snowmen in the early part of December were disappointed. But the lack of snow only caused Santa Claus to switch from a sleigh to a vintage fire truck. For two days earlier this month, Santa Claus and volunteers from the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch rolled up and…
Challenging minds, changing lives
Spread the loveGebel named MCC’s Teacher of the Year By Tim Hadac Speak with parents of students at Byrne Elementary School about Robert Gebel, and you’ll hear their insights into the character of the man recently named the Midway Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Teacher of the Year. “His passion for teaching and helping his students…
Gratitude is not just on Thanksgiving
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com Thanksgiving 2022 has come and gone, but in this special season of the year, it’s a good time to reflect on the blessings we’ve received and return the favor, so to speak. So please make time to slow down a…
Neighbors
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…
Illinois’ ban on ‘bump stocks’ remains in place despite U.S. Supreme Court decision
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois law banning the sale and use of “bump stocks” and other devices that increase the firing power of semiautomatic weapons remains in place, at least for now, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision Friday striking down a federal ban on such items. “Illinois law…
Another Choate Mental Health Center employee indicted for abuse of resident
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com Another caregiver at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna is facing charges for abusing a patient. A grand jury indicted Joseph A. Clark, 24, of Grand Chain, on a felony charge of aggravated battery and a misdemeanor charge of battery. Clark pinned a Choate resident to…
State highway shootings decline as critics sue over ‘dragnet surveillance’
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois State Police say an automated license plate reader program has helped the agency identify witnesses or suspects in 82 percent of highway shooting cases this year, including all eight that resulted in a death. But as the state looks to further expand its network of more than…
Illinois’ ban on ‘bump stocks’ remains in place despite U.S. Supreme Court decision
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois law banning the sale and use of “bump stocks” and other devices that increase the firing power of semiautomatic weapons remains in place, at least for now, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision Friday striking down a federal ban on such items. “Illinois law…
Just weeks before Republican National Convention, Illinois GOP chair announces resignation
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Halfway through the 2024 election cycle and just a few weeks away from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Illinois GOP Chair Don Tracy on Wednesday announced his resignation as head of the state Republican Party. Tracy, who’d held the job since February 2021, explained his resignation in…
Pritzker signs bill creating new Department of Early Childhood
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday creating a new cabinet-level state agency dedicated to early childhood education and development. The new Department of Early Childhood, which will become operational in July 2026, will take over programs currently housed across three state agencies, including funding for preschool…
Speaker Welch rebuffs lawsuit from would-be staff union as ‘forum shopping’
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is urging a Cook County judge to dismiss a lawsuit members of his staff filed against him last month seeking to force recognition of their union. In a new filing Monday, attorneys for Welch argued the Illinois Legislative Staff Association has no…
Advocates say SCOTUS ruling paves way for law ensuring abusers have guns confiscated
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com After the U.S. Supreme Court last week upheld a federal law that bars those under domestic violence-related restraining orders from owning guns, victim advocates say Illinois lawmakers should pass a measure to ensure firearms are actually confiscated in those situations. The legislation has been stalled for more than…
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…
