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……

Read More
dvn 4 11 24 summit fire1

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……

Read More
dvn 3 24 25 new BV fire battalion chief

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)……

Read More
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……

Read More
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……

Read More
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……

Read More
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……

Read More
dvn bv fire deal2

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……

Read More
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……

Read More
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……

Read More
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

Ahead of Pritzker’s budget address, pressures that mounted last year intensify

Ahead of Pritzker’s budget address, pressures that mounted last year intensify

BY JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Republicans in the Illinois Senate indicated Tuesday that their sticking point for budget negotiations this year will be the same as it was last year – state spending on programs for noncitizens and recent arrivals from the country’s southern border.  In what’s been a rarity over the past……

Pritzker to mull tightening fiscal landscape in budget address this week

Pritzker to mull tightening fiscal landscape in budget address this week

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Gov. JB Pritzker will give his sixth state budget address this week, laying out his plan for a fiscal year that government forecasters in November predicted is on pace for a near-$900 million deficit unless corrective action is taken.  Those same fiscal forecasters in the Governor’s Office of……

Capitol Brief: Lawyers hope for Illinois Supreme Court answer to Trump ballot question

Capitol Brief: Lawyers hope for Illinois Supreme Court answer to Trump ballot question

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — Lawyers representing Donald Trump and five Illinois voters hoping to see the former president removed from next month’s primary ballot sparred in a downtown Chicago courtroom on Friday.  The case, which began last month when the Illinois State Board of Elections declined to disqualify Trump from……

Judge denies McCann’s request for home confinement, orders him held in custody

Judge denies McCann’s request for home confinement, orders him held in custody

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – After suddenly pleading guilty as his federal corruption trial was wrapping up this week, former state Sen. Sam McCann won’t be released to await sentencing, U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless ruled Friday. McCann has been held at Macon County Jail since last Friday, when Lawless ordered……

With influx of state and federal funding, Illinois looks to add enough chargers to support 1 million EVs

With influx of state and federal funding, Illinois looks to add enough chargers to support 1 million EVs

By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois’ electric vehicle charging infrastructure is on pace to double this year, buoyed by an influx of state and federal dollars. The investments are aimed at supporting both federal and state environmental goals. The Biden Administration set the goal of EVs making up half of all U.S. vehicle……

Pritzker commits another $182 million to migrant response, details to come next week

Pritzker commits another $182 million to migrant response, details to come next week

By ANDREW ADAMS  Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – The state and Cook County announced Thursday a roughly $250 million plan to provide shelter, health care and other services for recently arrived migrants. But according to their own plan, there’s still a roughly $70 million funding gap for the rest of 2024.  That missing money……

In last-minute reversal, former Sen. Sam McCann pleads guilty to corruption charges

In last-minute reversal, former Sen. Sam McCann pleads guilty to corruption charges

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com This is a breaking news story and will be updated. As federal prosecutors were preparing to rest their case Thursday in the corruption trial of former Republican state Sen. Sam McCann, the one-time gubernatorial candidate had a change of heart. His attorney announced McCann would reverse his position……

Customers pay for utilities' lawyers and corporate donations. Advocates want to change that.

Customers pay for utilities’ lawyers and corporate donations. Advocates want to change that.

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinoisans pay tens of millions of dollars each year to utilities to cover costs they accrue for lawyers, belonging to trade groups, making charitable contributions and purchasing advertisements meant to boost utilities’ public image.  Consumer advocates are pushing for a change to state law that would bar utilities……

Transportation workers rally for new contract amid negotiations with state

Transportation workers rally for new contract amid negotiations with state

By ALEX ABBEDUTO   Capitol News Illinois  abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com  Groups of Illinois Department of Transportation workers represented by local Teamsters unions rallied at facilities in Collinsville and Springfield Wednesday after recently passing a strike authorization and filing complaints against the state.  Teamsters Local 916 President JP Fyans said negotiations have been ongoing since before the contract expired……

In day 2 of trial, prosecutor’s detail former lawmaker’s alleged RV rental scheme

In day 2 of trial, prosecutor’s detail former lawmaker’s alleged RV rental scheme

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com This story will be updated with further details from the trial. Former Republican State Sen. Sam McCann was back in federal court on Wednesday for day two of his trial for alleged misuse of campaign funds. Prosecutors delved into McCann’s alleged scheme to rent out a motor home……