Local News
![8 The 14th annual District 1A Helen Keller 5k Fun Run/Walk proudly took place along at Harold L. Richard’s High School, 10601 Central Ave., Oak Lawn. (Photos by Kelly White)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/8-1024x768.jpg)
Lions Club District 1A Helen Keller race draws big field
By Kelly White The damp weather from overnight rain did not deter more than 100 people on Sunday morning from getting some exercise. The 14th annual District 1A Helen Keller 5k Fun Run/Walk proudly took place along at Harold L. Richard’s High School, 10601 Central Ave., Oak Lawn. “This is a really great event,” Oak…
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EPCHS students collect shoes for Christmas Without Cancer Sneaker Drive
From staff reports Students in Evergreen Park Community High School’s junior physical education leadership class teamed up with the non-profit organization Christmas Without Cancer to help local families battling the devastation of cancer. The class – taught by EPCHS physical education teacher Ree McDonald – helped gather donations for Christmas Without Cancer’s second annual Sneaker…
![reporter 4-30-24 shepard DAR Linda Michaels (from left), Cadet Dulce Lopez, Gale Shafer, and Kate Schneider. (Supplied photos)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/reporter-4-30-24-shepard-DAR-1024x789.jpg)
Swallow Cliff Chapter, NSDAR, honors JROTC cadets
From staff reports Swallow Cliff Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, participated in recent JROTC awards ceremonies held at Shepard High School in Palos Heights and Richards High School in Oak Lawn. The DAR JROTC award, consisting of a medal and certificate, was presented to Navy Cadet Emily Schrode at Richards High School…
![dvn 4-29-24 Arley Carrillo Mendez mugshot Arley Carrillo Mendez](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/dvn-4-29-24-Arley-Carrillo-Mendez-mugshot.jpg)
Man charged with child abduction in Stickney Township
From staff reports A Chicago man was charged last week with child abduction and luring of a minor after Cook County Sheriff’s Police detectives found he attempted to lure a minor into his vehicle, said Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. According to police, about 4:43 p.m. on Monday, April 22, officers responded to an…
![2 Worth Mayor Mary Werner looks at old photos of the Worth Public Library during the History of the Worth Library exhibit's opening night. (Photos by Kelly White)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2-13-768x1024.jpg)
Worth Library celebrates 60th anniversary
By Kelly White The Worth Public Library has been around for decades. Resting in the heart of the village at 6917 W. 111th St., the library held an event focusing on its rich background story on April 23 with a historical photo exhibit. “It’s amazing because this library is still so important to the community,”…
![regional 4-30-24 womans club prez3 Newly installed 2024-26 board members of the 3rd District General Federation of Women's Clubs lined up for a photo following a ceremony held April 27 at Fox's Restaurant in Orland Park. With outgoing president Heather Linehan (from left) they are Vice President Sandy Christofanelli, President Rose Zubik of the Palos Heights Woman's Club, Secretary Sue Peterson – a palos Park Woman's Club member, Treasurer Judy Wagner, and Parliamentary Advisor Debbie Bach. (Photos by Dermot Connolly)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/regional-4-30-24-womans-club-prez3-1024x739.jpg)
Rose Zubik, Woman’s Club veteran, installed as 3rd District president
Rose Zubik, of Palos Heights, the new president of the 3rd District General Federation of Women’s Clubs-Illinois, lights a candle during the installation ceremony held April 27 at Fox’s Restaurant in Orland Park. Heather Linehan, the outgoing president, is beside her.By Dermot Connolly A longtime member of the Palos Heights Woman’s Club is now president…
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Shots fired in Chicago Ridge Commons parking lot
From staff reports Shots were fired Wednesday night in the parking lot at Chicago Ridge Commons mall. Police said they received reports of the shooting about 9:45 p.m. No injuries were reported. Multiple witnesses told police four men were walking through the parking lot from the XSport Fitness area. They approached two vehicles and separated…
![reporter 4-30-24 flair ribbon photo 4-25 Melissa Kowalski, owner of Flair With Hair Salon in Chicago Ridge, prepares to cut the ribbon to mark the first anniversary of the business on April 18 with the assistance of her daughter, Anastasia, 5. (Photos by Joe Boyle)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/reporter-4-30-24-flair-ribbon-photo-4-25-1024x683.jpg)
Hair salon with a ‘flair’ marks first year in Chicago Ridge
By Joe Boyle Melissa Kowalski wanted to do something meaningful to mark the first-year anniversary of her Flair With Hair Salon in Chicago Ridge. “We did not have a grand opening last year so I wanted to do something really special,” Kowalski said. “We wanted to say thank you to our clients.” Kowalski, a resident…
![regional 4-30-24 Gabe_Contest_winner Gabriel Chowaniec, a fifth-grader at Palos East Elementary School, has been named a winner of the Scholastic Storyworks Magazine writing contest. (Supplied photo)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/regional-4-30-24-Gabe_Contest_winner-768x1024.jpg)
Palos East fifth-grader wins Scholastic Storyworks writing contest
Gabriel Chowaniec, a fifth-grader at Palos East Elementary School, has been named a winner of the Scholastic Storyworks Magazine writing contest. Gabriel, who is a student in Cathy Casey’s fifth-grade classroom, was named one of only five winners nationally for the December 2023/January 2024 competition. Garbriel’s submission for the nonfiction story “The Shattered Land,” “showed a strong understanding of the text along with the ability to author a well-organized and engaging response,…
![4 Shepard High School, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights, celebrated Autism Acceptance Week April 1 through April 5. (Supplied photos)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/4-1.jpg)
Shepard celebrates Autism Week
By Kelly White World Autism Acceptance Week is organized by the National Autistic Society in the first week of April and aims to raise awareness about the challenges autistic people face across all areas of society. Not missing out the opportunity to celebrate all-inclusion was Shepard High School, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights. “We…
![Cicada-shutterstock-2024 Cicada-shutterstock-2024](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Cicada-shutterstock-2024-1024x680.jpg)
Billions of cicadas get ready to raise a racket
By Kelly White If you haven’t heard the buzz yet, you will soon. With 2024 marking a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois, billions of the red-eyed buggers will soon be making an appearance. Periodical cicada broods XIII and XIX will be emerging throughout much of the state at the same time. Although exact…
![GSWNH_HuescaCasket_050324 GSWNH_HuescaCasket_050324](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GSWNH_HuescaCasket_050324-1024x682.jpeg)
‘A man of honor, a beacon of kindness’
. Chicago weeps for Officer Luis Huesca . By Tim Hadac People across the Southwest Side shed tears earlier this week, as throngs of police officers and other filled the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel at 77th and Western for a funeral Mass for CPD Officer Luis M. Huesca. Officer Huesca was “a man…
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Archer Manor Little League starts its 2024 season
. Sunny skies and mild temperatures greeted the boys and girls, moms and dads, umpires and coaches, and everyone else participating in Archer Manor Little League’s Opening Day parade and ceremonies at Archer Park. Since 1952, AMLL has provided athletic opportunities for thousands of boys and girls in Archer Heights, West Elsdon, Central Stickney, Vittum…
![GSWNH_CarDrifting_050324 In a screenshot from a video showing drifting in a Southwest Side parking lot, Smoke billows from both a muscle car's wheels and the asphalt below. --Supplied photo](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GSWNH_CarDrifting_050324-1024x514.png)
Dread over car drifters on streets
. Reckless drivers take over SW Side intersections . By Tim Hadac At the April meeting of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch, a police officer admitted that the drag racing/drifting phenomenon seen and heard in the Midway area in recent years “probably will increase, but we hope not.” The admission was triggered by a brief…
![ChuyGarcia U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" García (D-4th)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ChuyGarcia.jpeg)
Don’t raise pilots’ retirement age, García says
. From staff reports U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th), senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, recently led a letter joined by 121 Members of Congress urging House Democratic leadership to reject any changes to the pilot retirement age in a final version of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill. As it…
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CTA launches ‘chat’ feature on website
. From staff reports Artificial Intelligence has made another step forward at the Chicago Transit Authority. CTA officials recently launched the “Chat with CTA” chatbot, a new virtual automated service featured on transitchicago.com. The communication tool allows riders to report issues, provide feedback and receive answers in real-time. Additionally, it provides the CTA with customer feedback where…
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New effort to aid kids with disabilities
. From staff reports A new grant program aimed at providing financial assistance to families of children with disabilities was launched recently by Mayor Brandon Johnson, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and Ada S. McKinley Community Services. Children with disabilities is a population disproportionately affected by the pandemic, officials said.…
![Dart Photo From Twitter Page 25KB Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Dart-Photo-From-Twitter-Page-25KB.jpg)
Dart warns of Sheriff’s Office imposters
. From staff reports Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart recently alerted the public of an uptick in telephone and email phishing scams in which scammers identify themselves as a Sheriff’s Office employee in an attempt to defraud victims. Scammers are using the actual names and respective titles of Sheriff’s Office employees to appear legitimate.…
![dvn 4-28-24) jj watch party1 Nazareth Academy Principal Therese Hawkins and football offensive coordinator Casey Moran pay close attention to the drafting of J.J. McCarthy at The Stadium Club. (Photos by Steve Metsch)](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/dvn-4-28-24-jj-watch-party1-1024x873.jpg)
Nazareth Academy celebrates ‘special talent’ J.J. McCarthy in NFL Draft
By Steve Metsch Dennis Moran has no doubts that J.J. McCarthy – the former Nazareth Academy quarterback who is now with the Minnesota Vikings – will succeed in the National Football League. Moran was among about 60 or so Nazareth Academy fans, friends and coaches who gathered Thursday night at The Stadium Club in McCook…
![CRRNH_AlexisBocanegra_111523 Alexis Bocanegra](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CRRNH_AlexisBocanegra_111523-893x1024.jpg)
Police Council rallies to save ShotSpotter
. By Alexis Bocanegra Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (773) 949-1509 • grcl.alex23@gmail.com . Chicago Lawn (8th) District Police Council members Mark Hamberlin, Al Cacciottolo and Jason Huff have created an online petition to save ShotSpotter. As you may have read in the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound back in March, Mayor Brandon Johnson…
Illinois News
![Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared? Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1_Main_MaryBuchanan1-SLLKTk-1024x681.jpeg)
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again. The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…
![Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/230315-CTA-AA1-5nsMCF-1024x682.jpeg)
Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall. Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…
![Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PRITZKER-THE-FINAL-STRETCH-0523-1XqY8J-1024x682.jpeg)
Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…
![Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ISP-MITCHELL1-9fUMxU-1024x683.jpeg)
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…
![Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Belt-240502-pqh1-sLoQTT-1024x681.jpeg)
Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending
By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…
![Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/POLICE-MEMORIAL-MAIN1-tDweq5-1024x682.jpeg)
Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Six fallen police officers were honored at an annual memorial service outside the State Capitol Thursday. The Illinois Police Officers Memorial occurs annually on the first Thursday of May to honor officers who died in the line of duty and to support their families. “No one…
![Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/HOFFMAN-0584-REvax5-1024x682.jpeg)
Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions
By JERRY NOWICKI HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot. It’s a move that caused minority party…
![After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mario-Treto2-IDFPR-JCAR-2404161-wOhEiY-1024x681.jpeg)
After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to make…
![Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IL-Lawmakers-open1-3AjU8Y-1024x576.jpeg)
Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air
Capitol News Illinois announced today it will produce the long-running “Illinois Lawmakers” program this spring, in partnership with longtime host and producer Jak Tichenor. “This new partnership is absolutely critical to providing Illinois residents with reliable, independent, in-depth, up to date coverage from the Illinois Capitol after many newspapers and broadcasters shuttered their Statehouse bureaus over…
![Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated](https://southwestregionalpublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20240429-PROFT-FOCUS-AA1-8oigcB-1024x682.jpeg)
Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated
By ANDREW ADAMS & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker, state election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign. The State Board…