Capitol Cast: End of Session Review

Capitol Cast: End of Session Review

The Capitol News Illinois team breaks down the highlights of the just-completed 2023 spring session.

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Local News

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Cheerio! Lyons bars can open at 7 a.m. Sunday for early Bears game

By mayoral decree, Bears fans can start drinking earlier Sunday at bars in Lyons. The Bears play Jacksonville in London and the kickoff will be at 8:30 a.m. Chicago time Sunday. Usually, Lyons bars can’t open until 10 a.m. on Sunday. But they will be allowed to open and start serving at 7 a.m. With…

Student volunteers help unload the pumpkins for the UMC Pumpkin Patch in 2022. (File photo)

Oak Lawn United Methodist Church to open Pumpkin Patch this weekend

Every year about now, the First United Methodist Church of Oak Lawn celebrates the season by trucking in thousands of orange gourds for its Pumpkin Patch. People look forward to the return of the Pumpkin Patch, which this year runs from October 13 to October 31 on the church grounds at 100th Street and Central…

Mike Balasa, of Evergreen Park, along with his children, Ben, 4, and Olivia, 8, and his wife, Jasmine, at the Worth Park District's Fall Fest on Sunday. (Photos by Kelly white)

Worth Fall Fest ushers in the season

Fall is in the air. The Worth Park District welcomed the season with its annual Fall Fest on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Gale Moore Park, 109th Street and Nordica Avenue, Worth. “Getting everyone out in the community to enjoy what we offer makes me really happy,” said Stephanie Analitis, superintendent of recreation for the Worth…

Sean Walsh

Palos Park’s Walsh skates for injured first responders at 911 Cup

Palos Park Officer Sean Walsh spent this past weekend in Las Vegas with his skates laced up and participating in the Las Vegas 911 Cup. The 911 cup is a fundraising event supporting police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and EMTs injured in the line of duty. Officer Walsh’s hockey team, Level Zero Heros, played teams…

reporter 2-2-24 oak lawn police logo

Chicago man charged in Oak Lawn carjacking

A Chicago man has been charged with carjacking a vehicle from a female teenager in the parking lot of the Jewel-Osco at 8801 S. Ridgeland Ave. on Sept. 28, police said. Police said a female teenager was parked and sitting inside her vehicle in the Jewel-Osco parking lot when a man with dreadlocks, wearing a…

Rick, Jake and Care Herpich, of Oak Lawn, stand in front of their elaborate Halloween display, Krazy Korner. (Supplied photos)

Herpich family’s epic Halloween decorations aim to scare

Care and Rick Herpich moved to Oak Lawn in 2001 with their son, Jake. It was then that the family began what would become an elaborate Halloween tradition, with their display growing more frightening each year. It is now known in the neighborhood as the Krazy Korner. Over the past two decades, the Herpich family’s…

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Evergreen Park approves disaster prevention plan

The threat that hazards and disasters pose to residents and property has been recognized by Evergreen Park officials. A resolution was approved by a 6-0 margin during the Evergreen Park Village Board meeting Monday night, acknowledging the importance of reducing or eliminating vulnerability to disasters. The U.S. Congress passed the Disaster Mitigation Act on Oct.…

The iconic sign outside Petey's Bungalow Restaurant and Lounge can be seen at the corner of 95th Street and Kostner Avenue. The restaurant, which opened in 1961, will close after Tuesday, Oct. 15. (Photo by Joe Boyle)

After 63 years, Petey’s Bungalow in Oak Lawn prepares for last supper

After 63 years, a popular Oak Lawn restaurant will close its doors for the last time. Petey’s Bungalow Restaurant and Lounge, 4401 W. 95th St., will cease operations after Tuesday, Oct. 15. The restaurant, a local fixture known as a classic supper club, has been at the same location since 1961. In a Facebook post,…

ShotSpotter gunshot detection technology is non-operational throughout the city, including a device on a corner near Ald. Raymond Lopez’s 15th Ward office. According to the City of Chicago data portal, ShotSpotter detected 1,025 rounds fired citywide between Sept. 15 and 22, 2024. (Photo by Robin Sluzas)

Local aldermen rip mayor over ShotSpotter cancellation

After the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance giving Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling the authority to extend ShotSpotter technology, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s February 2024 promise to turn off the monitors set up a battle with a majority of aldermen. Three Southwest Side aldermen spoke to the Greater Southwest News-Herald about why ShotSpotter technology should…

Family and furry companions join in a circle for prayer and song at Palos United Methodist Church. (Photos by Nuha Abdessalam)

Palos United Methodist Church hosts pet blessing

It was a lively occasion as a pair of Great Danes, a cat named Gus, and an elderly Beagle-Lab mix named Seamus were among the four-legged attendees gathered Sunday afternoon, Oct. 6, at Palos United Methodist Church for the annual pet blessing celebrating the Feast of St. Francis. Pastor Caitlyn Nesbit led the ceremony at…

Neighbors

chicago bears logo

Cheerio! Lyons bars can open at 7 a.m. Sunday for early Bears game

By mayoral decree, Bears fans can start drinking earlier Sunday at bars in Lyons. The Bears play Jacksonville in London and the kickoff will be at 8:30 a.m. Chicago time Sunday. Usually, Lyons bars can’t open until 10 a.m. on Sunday. But they will be allowed to open and start serving at 7 a.m. With…

Student volunteers help unload the pumpkins for the UMC Pumpkin Patch in 2022. (File photo)

Oak Lawn United Methodist Church to open Pumpkin Patch this weekend

Every year about now, the First United Methodist Church of Oak Lawn celebrates the season by trucking in thousands of orange gourds for its Pumpkin Patch. People look forward to the return of the Pumpkin Patch, which this year runs from October 13 to October 31 on the church grounds at 100th Street and Central…

Mike Balasa, of Evergreen Park, along with his children, Ben, 4, and Olivia, 8, and his wife, Jasmine, at the Worth Park District's Fall Fest on Sunday. (Photos by Kelly white)

Worth Fall Fest ushers in the season

Fall is in the air. The Worth Park District welcomed the season with its annual Fall Fest on Sunday, Oct. 6, at Gale Moore Park, 109th Street and Nordica Avenue, Worth. “Getting everyone out in the community to enjoy what we offer makes me really happy,” said Stephanie Analitis, superintendent of recreation for the Worth…

Sean Walsh

Palos Park’s Walsh skates for injured first responders at 911 Cup

Palos Park Officer Sean Walsh spent this past weekend in Las Vegas with his skates laced up and participating in the Las Vegas 911 Cup. The 911 cup is a fundraising event supporting police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, and EMTs injured in the line of duty. Officer Walsh’s hockey team, Level Zero Heros, played teams…

reporter 2-2-24 oak lawn police logo

Chicago man charged in Oak Lawn carjacking

A Chicago man has been charged with carjacking a vehicle from a female teenager in the parking lot of the Jewel-Osco at 8801 S. Ridgeland Ave. on Sept. 28, police said. Police said a female teenager was parked and sitting inside her vehicle in the Jewel-Osco parking lot when a man with dreadlocks, wearing a…

Rick, Jake and Care Herpich, of Oak Lawn, stand in front of their elaborate Halloween display, Krazy Korner. (Supplied photos)

Herpich family’s epic Halloween decorations aim to scare

Care and Rick Herpich moved to Oak Lawn in 2001 with their son, Jake. It was then that the family began what would become an elaborate Halloween tradition, with their display growing more frightening each year. It is now known in the neighborhood as the Krazy Korner. Over the past two decades, the Herpich family’s…

evergreen park logo

Evergreen Park approves disaster prevention plan

The threat that hazards and disasters pose to residents and property has been recognized by Evergreen Park officials. A resolution was approved by a 6-0 margin during the Evergreen Park Village Board meeting Monday night, acknowledging the importance of reducing or eliminating vulnerability to disasters. The U.S. Congress passed the Disaster Mitigation Act on Oct.…

The iconic sign outside Petey's Bungalow Restaurant and Lounge can be seen at the corner of 95th Street and Kostner Avenue. The restaurant, which opened in 1961, will close after Tuesday, Oct. 15. (Photo by Joe Boyle)

After 63 years, Petey’s Bungalow in Oak Lawn prepares for last supper

After 63 years, a popular Oak Lawn restaurant will close its doors for the last time. Petey’s Bungalow Restaurant and Lounge, 4401 W. 95th St., will cease operations after Tuesday, Oct. 15. The restaurant, a local fixture known as a classic supper club, has been at the same location since 1961. In a Facebook post,…

ShotSpotter gunshot detection technology is non-operational throughout the city, including a device on a corner near Ald. Raymond Lopez’s 15th Ward office. According to the City of Chicago data portal, ShotSpotter detected 1,025 rounds fired citywide between Sept. 15 and 22, 2024. (Photo by Robin Sluzas)

Local aldermen rip mayor over ShotSpotter cancellation

After the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance giving Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling the authority to extend ShotSpotter technology, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s February 2024 promise to turn off the monitors set up a battle with a majority of aldermen. Three Southwest Side aldermen spoke to the Greater Southwest News-Herald about why ShotSpotter technology should…

Family and furry companions join in a circle for prayer and song at Palos United Methodist Church. (Photos by Nuha Abdessalam)

Palos United Methodist Church hosts pet blessing

It was a lively occasion as a pair of Great Danes, a cat named Gus, and an elderly Beagle-Lab mix named Seamus were among the four-legged attendees gathered Sunday afternoon, Oct. 6, at Palos United Methodist Church for the annual pet blessing celebrating the Feast of St. Francis. Pastor Caitlyn Nesbit led the ceremony at…