Knights of Columbus do a sweet deed
Members of the Knights of Columbus from Two Holy Martyrs Parish recently hit the streets of Clearing to raise funds to aid people with intellectual disabilities–giving Tootsie Rolls to all who donated. Pausing for a photo are Art Smith, Linda McCullough, Sara Eminhizer, Jennifer Kolasa and Mike Smolek – Supplied photo
Local News
‘Jobs, jobs, jobs’ in gear-making
Spread the loveDaley College cuts ribbon on machining center By Steve Metsch Glancing around the new American Gear Manufacturers Association National Center in partnership with Daley College, Michael McKernin said “if I could hire six guys right now, I’d hire them.” Such is the need for well-trained people in the machining and manufacturing industry, he…
A good woman in ‘the storm of her life’
Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com If you attended Kennedy High School in the early 1980s (especially if you were class of ’85), you may recall Christina Sarelli as a classmate from the Crusaders volleyball team or from the Drama Club. Her sister, Angelina (Sarelli) Malone,…
Little student, big welcome
Spread the love St. Symphorosa School must seem huge to a 4-year-old on her first day of school last week, but the warm welcome she and others received from preschool teacher Pauline Baisa and others made the day less daunting. The school at 6135 S. Austin is accepting last-minute registrations for the 2022-23 academic year…
St. Faustina sets new RCIA session
Spread the loveFrom staff reports St. Faustina Kowalska Parish will begin its fall RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) sessions on Sunday, Sept. 25 at the church, 5252 S. Austin. RCIA is the Catholic Church’s way of initiating new members. It is a learning and loving process in which conversion of heart brings one to…
A family of readers
Spread the love Members of the Pindozzo family are all smiles after the successful conclusion of the seven-week Summer Learning Challenge at the Garfield Ridge Branch Library. The City of Stories initiative challenged both adults and children to read and participate in storytelling activities. Some 325 children participated from the Garfield Ridge Branch. Citywide, thousands…
Pro Soccer Report: NWSL approves free agency, says players can negotiate with other teams during season
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff writer Things are getting serious in the NWSL. Free agency is now a thing and, in its first day, controversy abounded. And it affects the Chicago Red Stars. On Friday, the NWSL released a list of 26 players who are eligible for free agency. That included Red Stars veterans…
Area Sports Roundup: Former Lyons and Morton College coach Stamas now the boss at Brother Rice
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer A guy who has seemingly done it all in the basketball world is coming to Brother Rice. Conte Stamas, a former Lyons and Morton College head coach, was hired Aug. 25 to replace Bobby Frasor Frasor left the program to work in the corporate field. If the the…
Pigskin Roundup: 23-skidoo — Stagg losing streak is history after season-opening win over Reavis
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The boss got it right. Before the Consolidated High School District 230 Board of Education Meeting on Aug. 25, Stagg Principal Eric Olsen talked to a news reporter about the coming football season. Olsen said the Chargers would soon snap their 23-game losing streak dating back to Week…
High School Football: Mt. Carmel air attack, dominant ‘D’ star in season-opening romp over St. Rita
Spread the loveBy Steve Millar Correspondent With Mount Carmel struggling to run the ball against a tough St. Rita defensive front early in the 2022 season opener, it was time for the Caravan to unleash an overlooked weapon: the passing game. “We started off slow running the ball but [coach Jordan Lynch” put together a…
Neighbors
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
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…
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…
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
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
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…
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
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
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
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…