Supplied photo
Orland Park prepares for the winter season
Local News
Kiwanis, Lions, Sertoma join Ukrainian relief effort
By Kelly White People have been coming from all over the southwest suburbs to show their support. Area Palos Kiwanis, Lions, and Sertoma service clubs, and countless community members, are working together to help out Ukrainian refugees through a humanitarian aid collection drive. “This is such a tragedy,” Palos Hills Alderman Mike Lebarre (3rd) and……
Catholic school kids unmasked
Parent reactions mixed By Tim Hadac Reports of local Catholic school children rejoicing over the lifting of mask mandates were widespread this week, while their parents reacted with a mix of opinions. “I’ve seen kids jubilant over this—some so much so that they appeared to be crying tears of joy,” said Garfield Ridge resident Sarah……
How about giving small businesses a break?
By Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com Today I begin this column with an opinion. All through the pandemic, our elected officials have made moves to provide economic relief to people hit hard by the harsh realities of life since March 2020. Employers were given “payroll protection” funds that……
Students in triple figures
Boys and girls across Clearing and Garfield Ridge recently celebrated the 100th day of the 2021-22 school year, including Maria DiSanto and Isabella Rodriguez, kindergarteners at St. Daniel the Prophet School. Parents interested in enrolling their sons and daughters at the school for the 2022-23 academic year are encouraged to call (773) 586-1225. –Supplied photo…
Newman notes fund infusion for Metra
From staff reports U.S. Rep. Marie Newman (D-3rd) recently announced that she has helped secure a $513.6 million award of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metra). The new funds are intended to help transit agencies around the country maintain service and keep workers on the payroll as……
Naz invites all to webinar on parenting
From staff reports Nazareth Academy invites the community to attend a Zoom webinar featuring nationally noted speaker Dr. Michele Borba at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 8. How to Help the Pandemic Generation Thrive Now and Later is designed to will show parents and teachers how to instill “teachable character traits to produce resilient kids with……
Hoop dreams end for St. Laurence girls
The dreams of basketball playoff glory ended for St. Laurence High School girls late last month, as the Black and Gold were upset at home by a scrappy De La Salle team. The fifth-seeded Meteors started out cold and trailed 14-2 to the third-seeded Vikings after the first quarter, and were behind 23-15 at halftime.……
Ukrainian churches seeking donations
By Bob Bong Relief efforts for Ukrainians caught in the invasion of their country by Russian military forces have begun at two Ukrainian churches in Palos Park. Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church is collecting humanitarian aid for Ukraine that will be shipped by air to Poland, which has taken in thousands of Ukrainian……
Palos Park police head to Manteno for Polar Plunge
By Steve Metsch and Bob Bong Area police officers cannot wait to go swimming on Saturday. No, not in the warm comfort of a YMCA swimming pool or a local hotel. This will happen outside. On March 5. In Northern Illinois. It’s not exactly swimming weather, which is why it’s called the Polar Plunge. The……
Worth bans overnight parking of large vehicles on streets
Polar Plunge to be held Saturday at Altman Park By Joe Boyle An ordinance has been introduced in Worth to restrict overnight parking of large vehicles along public streets or village-owned property. According to the ordinance, it will be unlawful to park or store any vehicle with an Illinois license plate classification higher than Class F between……
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……