Local News

dvn 5 18 24 Anthony Calderon

UPDATE: Bedford Park man, girlfriend charged with plotting Bridgeview father’s murder

By Bob Bong / May 18, 2024 /

By Bob Bong A Bedford Park man and the victim’s girlfriend have been charged in the shooting death of Arturo Cantu last Wednesday. Bridgeview police arrested Anthony Calderon, 20, of the 7700 block of 65th Place, Friday night. He allegedly confessed to the murder and reportedly led police to the weapon used in the shooting……

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Stickney Public Health confirms measles case in Bedford Park

By Bob Bong / April 12, 2024 / Comments Off on Stickney Public Health confirms measles case in Bedford Park

From staff reports The Stickney Public Health District has confirmed that a person with measles related to the ongoing situation in the City of Chicago was at the Walmart Supercenter at 7050 S. Cicero Ave. in Bedford Park on Friday, March 22, roughly between the hours of 2 and 4 p.m. Anybody who was at……

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Elkhatib with students

Argo High School holds Iftar Dinner for community

By Carol Mcgowan / March 28, 2024 / Comments Off on Argo High School holds Iftar Dinner for community

By Carol McGowan More than 100 people gathered at Argo Community High School last week for a now annual Ramadan Iftar dinner organized by Argo teacher Nadia Elkhatib. Elkhatib was happy with the turnout for those coming Thursday night to break bread with the school’s Muslim students and their families. “I will continue to do……

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Retired Chicago cop Vasquez takes on incumbent Rep. Rashid in 21st District

By Steve Metsch / March 15, 2024 / Comments Off on Retired Chicago cop Vasquez takes on incumbent Rep. Rashid in 21st District

By Steve Metsch A one-term state representative and a retired Chicago police officer will square off in the March 19 Democratic primary for the 21st House District. Incumbent Abdelnasser Rashid, 34, of Bridgeview, is challenged by Vidal Vasquez, 62, of Chicago’s Garfield Ridge community. This isn’t Vasquez’ first foray into politics. He ran an unsuccessful……

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Trustee AR packing wound

Stop the Bleed lessons taught at Argo, Summit Library

By Carol Mcgowan / February 18, 2024 / Comments Off on Stop the Bleed lessons taught at Argo, Summit Library

By Carol McGowan  Argo High School’s Student Resource Officers, Michael Snee and Wagner Antoine, have not only been busy with making sure the Summit school is safe, but have been training staff in how to Stop the Bleed. Snee has been with the Summit Police Department for approximately seven years, and at Argo High School……

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Bedford Park buys Southern Belle restaurant

By Bob Bong / February 3, 2024 / Comments Off on Bedford Park buys Southern Belle restaurant

By Bob Bong Southern Belle’s restaurant in Bedford Park closed for the last time last Sunday after more than two decades at 6737 S. Archer Ave. The village has a contract to purchase the site for $2.5 million. Closing is expected in the first quarter. Bedford Park Mayor Dave Brady said a plan to move……

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dvn 1 8 24 Raul Perez

Suspect in Bedford Park shooting charged in Oak Lawn, Worth robberies 

By Bob Bong / January 11, 2024 / Comments Off on Suspect in Bedford Park shooting charged in Oak Lawn, Worth robberies 

By Bob Bong  The man charged with shooting a Bedford Park police officer in November has been indicted for two gas station robberies in October in Oak Lawn and Worth. Oak Lawn police last week said Raul Perez, 24, of Blue Island, was indicted by a Cook County Grand Jury on December 18 for the……

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dvn rashid swearing in locally

Campaign 2024: Rashid to seek re-election in 21st District 

By Bob Bong / December 15, 2023 / Comments Off on Campaign 2024: Rashid to seek re-election in 21st District 

By Bob Bong  The holiday season also marks the beginning of the 2024 election cycle in Illinois as candidates in the March 19 primary have already filed their petitions to run. The 2022 primary was moved to June, but next year’s primary is moving back to its traditional third Tuesday in March date. The biggest……

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2 men charged in shooting of Bedford Park cop 

By Bob Bong / December 8, 2023 / Comments Off on 2 men charged in shooting of Bedford Park cop 

By Bob Bong  A Blue Island man was charged last week with attempted murder in the shooting of a Bedford Park police officer in the early morning hours of November 26. Raul Perez, 24, of Blue Island, was charged with one count of attempted first degree murder of a police officer, one count of attempted……

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Bedford Park officer shot Sunday morning

By Bob Bong / November 26, 2023 / Comments Off on Bedford Park officer shot Sunday morning

By Bob Bong A Bedford Park police officer was in stable condition Sunday after he was shot while investigating a stolen car near the Speedway station at 6800 S. Archer Avenue. Police were responding to reports of a nearby car crash about 3:40 a.m. Police said a car reported stolen in a carjacking in Chicago……

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Anthony Calderon

UPDATE: Bedford Park man, girlfriend charged with plotting Bridgeview father’s murder

By Bob Bong A Bedford Park man and the victim’s girlfriend have been charged in the shooting death of Arturo Cantu last Wednesday. Bridgeview police arrested Anthony Calderon, 20, of the 7700 block of 65th Place, Friday night. He allegedly confessed to the murder and reportedly led police to the weapon used in the shooting……

Facepainting was a hit at Stickney's annual Cinco de Mayo celebration. (Supplied photos)

Stickney celebrates Cinco de Mayo

By Carol McGowan The Village of Stickney didn’t disappoint this year with its annual Cinco de Mayo celebration. Village Trustee Leandra Torres, who is the Co-Chaiman of the Parks and Recreation Commission along with Trustee Jim Hrejsa, said it was a fun-filled day. “We had 774 people attend this year,” she said. “It was free……

Summit Village officials with SD 104 Wrestling Coach Joe Phelan, and Wrestlers 
Gianna Araujo-Dominguez,Ali Arellano-Phipps,Yaili Fortiz, Joaquin Fortiz, and Skylar Arellano-Phipps. Michael Starzyk was not present. (Photo by Carol McGowan)

Summit congratulates District 104 westlers

By Carol McGowan At their April 15 board meeting, Summit Mayor Sergio Rodriguez and village officials presented Certificates of Accomplishment to boy and girl wrestlers from Summit School District 104. Rodriguez read their accomplishments and called them up one-by-one to receive their certificates.  They were given a standing ovation by those in attendance. The girls……

Vern Woyner works on a 2009 Buick Lucerne at his shop, Vern’s Auto Service, in Lyons. He was honored by the village recently. (Photos by Steve Metsch)

Auto mechanic Vern Woyner honored for 47 years working in Lyons

By Steve Metsch If you have lived in or near Lyons the past 47 years and needed your car repaired, there’s a good chance you know Vern Woyner. Woyner, 70, has been repairing vehicles in Lyons since 1977. His longevity of expert service has earned him the highest award presented by the village. At the……

new rainbow cone flavors

Rainbow Cone adds 4 new flavors

By Bob Bong Chicago’s iconic Original Rainbow Cone has been evolving over the past few years. First, it joined forces with the folks at Buono Beef and expanded its presence from its original location in Beverly to offer cones at Buono Beef locations and a few stand-alone stores as well as food trucks. Last year,……

Bridgeview Trustee Gary Lewis urges residents to get rid of clutter on the May 11 spring cleanup day. (Photo by Steve Metsch)

Spring cleanup day in Bridgeview set for Saturday

By Steve Metsch Any Bridgeview resident with clutter to clear will be busy Friday night, May 10. That’s when they will be putting all kinds of things on the parkway as the village prepares for its annual spring cleanup day set for Saturday, May 11. All items must be at the curb by 6 a.m.……

Sisto Brito

Family of man killed in McCook struggling with his absence

By Steve Metsch On what would have been his 37th birthday, the family of Morales Ricardo Lopez gathered at his grave in Evergreen Park Cemetery. Lopez, of Blue Island, was gunned down in McCook early Feb. 17, leaving behind a widow and three children. His family, other relatives and friends gathered at his grave on……

Illinois News

Democratic leaders poised to revisit Biometric Information Privacy Act after court rulings

Democratic leaders poised to revisit Biometric Information Privacy Act after court rulings

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Nearly a year ago, the Illinois Supreme Court asked the General Assembly to clarify a 15-year-old law that’s led to hundreds of lawsuits and several high-dollar settlements with companies alleged to have illegally collected Illinoisans’ biometric data.  Now, Democratic leaders in the legislature appear ready to revive talks……

Capitol Briefs: State announces parks funding; comptroller warns of tax scams; State Police unveil building plan

Capitol Briefs: State announces parks funding; comptroller warns of tax scams; State Police unveil building plan

By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS news@capitolnewsillinois.com  The state announced 111 parks and recreation projects throughout Illinois will receive a portion of $55 million in state funding this year.  The Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant program administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments to help……

Chicago org to receive federal funding to help launch regional water sustainability industry

Chicago org to receive federal funding to help launch regional water sustainability industry

By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com  A Chicago organization focused on drinking water sustainability will receive a $15 million federal grant over the next two years for a project aimed at jumpstarting a regional clean water industry.  The U.S. National Science Foundation awarded the grant to Current Innovation NFP, a nonprofit “innovation hub” whose……

Board of Elections allows Trump's name to stay on ballot

Board of Elections allows Trump’s name to stay on ballot

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Former President Donald Trump’s name will remain on the Illinois Republican primary ballot, at least for the time being. The Illinois State Board of Elections voted 8-0 on Tuesday to dismiss an objection to his candidacy based on the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause. That clause bars……

Capitol Brief: Pritzker says migrant response should focus on Chicago

Capitol Brief: Pritzker says migrant response should focus on Chicago

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – The relationship between Chicago and the state of Illinois remains a focal point in the ongoing debate around the influx of migrants from the southern U.S. border.  Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday said the state’s response to the tens of thousands of migrants that have come……

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State election board to rule on challenge to Trump candidacy

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Elections will be asked to decide Tuesday whether former President Donald Trump is barred under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution from having his name appear on Illinois’ March 19 Republican primary ballot. It’s a question being asked in several……

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State partners with Google to launch new portal for children’s mental health resources

By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com For years, parents and providers have criticized what they see as a disorganized system for finding children mental health care in Illinois. State leaders are hoping a new partnership will change that. The Illinois Department of Human Services is partnering with Google to launch a new centralized portal……

State Supreme Court upholds downstate police, firefighter pension consolidation

State Supreme Court upholds downstate police, firefighter pension consolidation

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld a 2019 law that consolidated nearly 650 municipal police and firefighter pension funds, rejecting arguments from pension fund members that their voting power was diluted unconstitutionally. The law, which Gov. JB Pritzker signed soon after it passed with……

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Tensions grow between city, state and federal government over influx of migrants

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Tensions rose again this week between Gov. JB Pritzker’s office and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson over how to handle the tens of thousands of people who have arrived in the state since August 2022 via buses or planes sent from Texas.  The most recent back-and-forth between……

Capitol Briefs: Lawmakers look to ban food additives; state announces DCFS investment

Capitol Briefs: Lawmakers look to ban food additives; state announces DCFS investment

By COLE LONGCOR & ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com A bill in the Illinois General Assembly would ban five food additives in the state by 2027. Senate Bill 2637, sponsored by Chicago Democrat Willie Preston, would ban companies from using certain products in food, including brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, and Red Dye……