Local News

Chief Anderson the first to donate blood

Summit Fire Department blood drive draws a crowd

By Carol Mcgowan / April 25, 2024 / Comments Off on Summit Fire Department blood drive draws a crowd

By Carol McGowan The Summit Fire Department, along with the Village of Summit, and the Argo Summit Lions Club held a blood drive this past Saturday, and it drew a crowd that even impressed the American Red Cross. It took place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. with non-stop donors walking through the door. Fire……

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Summit attic fire displaces 4 families

By Bob Bong / April 9, 2024 / Comments Off on Summit attic fire displaces 4 families

By Bob Bong A fire Saturday afternoon in Summit left four families without a home. One firefighter was injured fighting the attic fire at 7613 W. 60th St. He was treated for a shoulder injury at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and released. No other injuries were reported. “We had a three-story apartment……

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New Bridgeview battalion chief credits crew

By Bob Bong / March 29, 2024 / Comments Off on New Bridgeview battalion chief credits crew

By Steve Metsch Jason Yerkovich, who has spent 15 years working for the Bridgeview Fire Department, may have a new job title but is giving credit where he says it is due. At the March 20 village board meeting, Yerkovich was promoted to battalion chief. He had been a lieutenant. “I told my crew (that)……

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tanker

Chemical spill on I-55 shuts down traffic for hours

By Carol Mcgowan / February 19, 2024 / Comments Off on Chemical spill on I-55 shuts down traffic for hours

By Carol McGowan Chemicals leaking from a semi-trailer truck that was stopped on the right shoulder of Interstate 55 near LaGrange Road in Summit caused the expressway to be shut down in both directions for most of the day last Friday, and caused traffic headaches in the surrounding area. All lanes were closed from just……

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dvn 11 6 Vic Portillo Donation1 2023

Vic Portillo donates Fire Prevention Week materials

By Bob Bong / November 11, 2023 /

Bridgeview State Farm Agent Vic Portillo donated National Fire Prevention Week educational materials to the Bridgeview Fire Department on October 23. The donation includes 100 children’s activity booklets, adult brochures, 10 Tips for Fire Safety Brochures, magnets, stickers, and plastic bags to teach Bridgeview residents about fire safety and cooking safety specifically in accordance with……

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9 11 memorial logo

Summit Fire Department remembers September 11

By Carol Mcgowan / September 14, 2023 / Comments Off on Summit Fire Department remembers September 11

By Carol McGowan  Nearly 30 people gathered Monday morning at the Summit Fire Department on 59th Street to remember the people who died in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States. The ceremony and prayer service were followed by Summit Fire Chief Anthony Anderson and Summit Police Chief……

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USCG chopper

Indian Head Park calls their first National Night Out a Success

By Carol Mcgowan / August 13, 2023 /

By Carol McGowan  The Village of Indian Head Park jumped on the bandwagon last week with others in the area to take part in National Night Out 2023. National Night Out, also known as America’s Night Out Against Crime, takes place on the first Tuesday in August. It’s an annual nationwide event that’s meant to……

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Bridgeview Fire Department partners with Moraine Valley Community College

By Steve Metsch / August 4, 2023 /

By Steve Metsch The Bridgeview Fire Department has signed on with Moraine Valley Community College for a firefighter internship program with an eye on future hires. Village officials hope this will result in well-trained men and women joining the fire department. The Moraine Valley Fire Service Internship Program is for students who want to become……

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Janettas Ortiz

Summit residents voice flooding concerns 

By Carol Mcgowan / July 29, 2023 / Comments Off on Summit residents voice flooding concerns 

By Carol McGowan  Flooding was on the minds of several residents who voiced their concerns during last week’s packed house Summit Village Board meeting. A common theme was that flooding during heavy rains, including those that have hit the village this month, has been a problem for decades and continues to be a major concern……

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NNO 2023 40th anniversary

Local National Night Out events to celebrate first responders, promote community

By Bob Bong / July 28, 2023 / Comments Off on Local National Night Out events to celebrate first responders, promote community

By Isabella Schreck Many residents will be able to meet their local police officers and police canines, while enjoying food and fun activities at local National Night Out Against Crime events coming up on Tuesday, Aug. 1. The national event, which has occurred every year on the first Tuesday of August for the past four……

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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

Unions back measure protecting employees who skip religious or political work meetings

Unions back measure protecting employees who skip religious or political work meetings

By ALEX ABBEDUTO  Capitol News Illinois  abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com  SPRINGFIELD – Democrats in the Illinois Senate on Wednesday advanced a measure that would prohibit Illinois companies from requiring employees to attend work-related meetings about politics or religion. Senate Bill 3649, which is backed by organized labor, passed the Senate Labor Committee 11-4. Backers have dubbed it the……

State commission says Illinois underfunds public universities by $1.4 billion

State commission says Illinois underfunds public universities by $1.4 billion

By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com A state commission created in 2021 has issued a new report calculating that public universities in Illinois are underfunded by approximately $1.4 billion.  The Commission on Equitable Public University Funding is made up of 34 members, including legislators, representatives from public universities, and members of advocacy organizations.  It……

With feds citing ‘extensive cooperation,’ judge gives ex-Sen. Terry Link 3 years’ probation

With feds citing ‘extensive cooperation,’ judge gives ex-Sen. Terry Link 3 years’ probation

By HANNAH MEISEL & DILPREET RAJU news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – On an August day in 2019, then-Democratic state Sen. Terry Link stood outside of a suburban Wendy’s and solicited a bribe from his colleague in the Illinois House. “What’s in it for me, though?” Link asked then-state Rep. Luis Arroyo, who’d asked to meet up to……

Judges, ex-lawmakers, lobbyists wrote to support convicted ex-Madigan aide

Judges, ex-lawmakers, lobbyists wrote to support convicted ex-Madigan aide

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com After Tim Mapes’ August conviction on charges of perjury and attempted obstruction of justice in the federal criminal probe of his longtime boss, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, many of his friends still had his back. Mapes was sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison last month,……

Former Gov. Pat Quinn backs GOP-sponsored ethics amendment

Former Gov. Pat Quinn backs GOP-sponsored ethics amendment

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A Republican proposal that would give citizens the ability to propose ethics-related constitutional amendments on the ballot received a bipartisan boost Tuesday when former Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn endorsed it. “I think it’s very, very important that this year, 2024, that the people of Illinois have……

Funeral home director subject to ‘scary, filthy freak show’ complaint surrenders license

Funeral home director subject to ‘scary, filthy freak show’ complaint surrenders license

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com A Centralia funeral home director who was subject to a complaint that his embalming room looked like a “scary, filthy freak show” agreed to a permanent revocation of his license late last week. Moran Queen-Boggs funeral home director Hugh Moran signed a consent order on Friday, March 1,……

U.S. Supreme Court rules states can’t bar Trump from ballot based on insurrection clause

U.S. Supreme Court rules states can’t bar Trump from ballot based on insurrection clause

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that individual states do not have authority to disqualify candidates for federal office based on the insurrection clause of the 14 th Amendment. The unanimous ruling by the nation’s high court overturned a decision by the Colorado Supreme Court. But……

Nearly 9 in 10 state-level primaries give voters no choice in candidates

Nearly 9 in 10 state-level primaries give voters no choice in candidates

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com On March 19, voting will conclude in primary contests for hundreds of seats in the Illinois legislature and in the state’s court system. But most of those contests are uncompetitive. Statewide, 88 percent of judicial and state legislative primaries feature either a single candidate or no one running……

‘This place is horrific’: 10-week-old complaint details ‘filthy’ conditions at Centralia funeral home

‘This place is horrific’: 10-week-old complaint details ‘filthy’ conditions at Centralia funeral home

By BETH HUNDSDORFER  Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The pictures that are said to depict the condition of the embalming room of the Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home in Centralia are shocking. Eight photographs and one video taken late last year purported to show the conditions of the funeral home depict piles of dirty sheets, a dead……

Cook County judge orders Trump removed from GOP ballot but holds decision pending appeal

Cook County judge orders Trump removed from GOP ballot but holds decision pending appeal

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Update: Judge Tracie Porter issued an updated order on Thursday, further staying her decision until an appeal “is fully and finally resolved” by an appellate court or either the U.S. or state Supreme Court. Trump’s name will remain on the ballot throughout that process. SPRINGFIELD – A Cook……