Local News

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Forest View swears in new police officers

By Carol Mcgowan / March 22, 2024 / Comments Off on Forest View swears in new police officers

By Carol McGowan The Village of Forest View has a new full-time police officer and a newly promoted corporal on the force. In front of a full-house at their February 27 Board of Trustees meeting, Clerk Laura McGuffey did the honors swearing-in Maria Guzman as a full-time officer, and promoting Officer Jorge Sanchez to the……

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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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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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Forest View celebrates annual Oktoberfest

By Carol Mcgowan / October 21, 2023 /

The Village of Forest View held its third annual Oktoberfest celebration at Forest View Park on Saturday, October 7. This is now an annual free event for all Forest View residents and it keeps growing every year. This year featured music by The Polka Pals, and American English. The village provided free food, including bratwurst,……

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Mayor Miller with Chief Zarate

Forest View names Zarate as police chief

By Carol Mcgowan / September 8, 2023 /

By Carol McGowan  There’s a new chief in town in Forest View. It was a full house at their August 22 village board meeting, when longtime village police officer, Bianel Zarate, had a ceremonial swearing in as police chief by Village Clerk Laura McGuffey. He had taken over as police chief on August 3. Those……

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News from Springfield: 12 school districts to receive an additional $6.2 million 

By Bob Bong / September 2, 2023 /

State Senator Mike Porfirio (D-11th) announced that 12 school districts across the area will receive over $6.2 million in additional funding to help address the financial challenges of recent years.  “Evidence-based funding supports educational opportunities that contribute to the long-term success of our students,” said Porfirio. “Through this funding formula, we can ensure that a……

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Comings & Goings: County approves $37 million Central Avenue bridge project

By Bob Bong / July 30, 2023 / Comments Off on Comings & Goings: County approves $37 million Central Avenue bridge project

By Bob Bong The Cook County Board of Commissioners has approved $37 million for the reconstruction of the Central Avenue bridge over the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal in Stickney and Forest View.  An additional $1.7 million was approved to replace sidewalk curb ramps along roadways throughout the county.   The projects are designed to boost……

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Police to hit the roof at Dunkin’ Donuts for Special Olympics 

By Bob Bong / May 18, 2023 / Comments Off on Police to hit the roof at Dunkin’ Donuts for Special Olympics 

By Bob Bong  Police departments across the south suburbs are gearing up for another high-flying fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois. Police will be hanging out at more than 325 Dunkin’ Donut coffee shops across Illinois starting at 5 a.m. Friday, May 19, for another edition of Cop on a Rooftop. They will be collecting donations……

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Stickney-Forest View Lions Club to hold pancake and french toast breakfast

By Bob Bong / April 13, 2023 /

The Stickney Forest-View Lions Club will be holding their 71st annual Pancake and French Toast Breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday, May 7, at Edison Elementary School, 4100 Scoville Ave., Stickney. The Pancake and French Toast Breakfast was the club’s original fundraising event and it continues to be one of their major sources……

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Forest View write-in’s hoping for victory on April 4

By Carol Mcgowan / April 2, 2023 /

By Carol McGowan The Village of Forest View has a trustee race that can add new faces to the boardroom after the April 4 election. Up for grabs are three, four-year terms for trustee. All three incumbents have filed petitions to be on the ballot.  They are Maria A. Ramirez, Mike Grossi, and Jim Sudkamp.……

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Woman sentenced in 2003 murders of newborn twins

From staff reports A 44-year-old woman, charged in the 2003 deaths of her newborn twins following an extensive cold case investigation by Cook County Sheriff’s Police, has been convicted of murder. On May 8, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced that Antoinette Briley pled guilty to murder at the Bridgeview Courthouse and was sentenced……

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McCook approves ‘preventive’ rodent control program

By Steve Metsch The McCook Village Board earlier this month approved what Mayor Terrance Carr calls “preventive maintenance.” The board on May 6 unanimously approved paying Rose Pest Solutions $12,000 for a 10-week rodent control program throughout the village. It’s not that the McCook now has a rat problem, Carr said. It’s that officials do……

Summit residents and property owners attend the community meeting on May 15. (Photo by Chris Crisanti)

Summit, property owners discuss apartment inspections

By Carol McGowan Nearly 75 people attended a community meeting last Wednesday evening in the multi-purpose room of Graves School to learn about changes coming to the village. Three topics highlighted the meeting. Rental property inspections, lead line replacement, and replacing the 74th Avenue pedestrian bridge. Mayor Sergio Rodriguez tackled the controversial rental property inspection……

New I-PASS sticker tag. (Photo from Illinois Tollway website)

Tollway to hand out free transponder stickers in Justice

By Carol McGowan Earlier this year, the Illinois Tollway began phasing out the plastic I-Pass transponder and introduced a sticker tag that goes on your vehicle’s windshield. If you’re still using a transponder, or want to get a new sticker, the Village of Justice is the place to be on Saturday, June 8. Rather than……

Marist won the Marist Sectional and will play Payton on Friday, May 31 in the state quarterfinals. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Boys Volleyball | Marist tops Jones, advances to state quarterfinals

By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent For the first time since 2019, Marist will play in the IHSA state finals. The RedHawks (36-2) beat Jones, 25-13, 25-13, for their 17th straight victory and a Marist Sectional championship on May 28 in Mount Greenwood. They will face Payton in the state quarterfinals at 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 31……

Vintage cars will again be rolling in the La Grange Pet Parade. The 78th edition of the parade starts at 9:30 a.m. June 1. (Photo by Steve Metsch)

Folks urged to enter costume contest for La Grange Pet Parade

By Steve Metsch About 40,000 people are expected along the streets of downtown La Grange on Saturday morning June 1, with some of them dressing in costumes for the 78th annual La Grange Pet Parade. A costume contest has long been part of the parade, Molly Price, the parade’s executive director, said on May 23.……

Deputy Supt. of Public Works Ken Tucker (from left), Trustee Tim Kovel, Building Commissioner Matt Struve, Mayor Ernest Millsap, Public Works Superintendent Jody Kovel, Trustee Jorea Touranjeau, Trustee Dominic Misasi, and Trustee Lida Mills at the site of the new public works office building. (Photo by Carol McGowan)

Hodgkins breaks ground on new public works building

By Carol McGowan The Village of Hodgkins is getting ready to welcome a new public works office building at its facility off of 67th Street, east of East Avenue. Village officials and public works employees gathered last month for a groundbreaking. Hodgkins Mayor Ernest Millsap explained the history behind the Paul G. Struve Public Works Building. “Fifteen years……

Illinois News

More than 660 bills will head to Pritzker after legislative session

More than 660 bills will head to Pritzker after legislative session

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With the first year of the 102nd General Assembly mostly wrapped up, lawmakers as of Friday had officially passed 664 bills through both houses for eventual consideration by the governor.  Gov. JB Pritzker had signed 17 of them as of Friday, including the Thursday signing of……

CAPITOL RECAP: No energy deal yet, but lawmakers say one could come 'this summer'

CAPITOL RECAP: No energy deal yet, but lawmakers say one could come ‘this summer’

By Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate adjourned Tuesday without calling a comprehensive energy regulatory reform package for a vote. After adjournment, Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, made a statement similar to one he made June 1 after the Senate failed to call an energy bill for a vote ahead of the……

Two-day session ends with major legislation, but no energy bill

Two-day session ends with major legislation, but no energy bill

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers finished a two-day special session Thursday by passing some important legislation but without reaching agreement on the one issue they had hoped to resolve – an energy bill that would phase out all carbon emissions from power plants over the next 30 years. “I……

Vaccinated Illinoisans automatically entered into $10 million lottery

Vaccinated Illinoisans automatically entered into $10 million lottery

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Any vaccinated Illinoisan will be automatically entered into a lottery for $10 million in prizes without having to take any extra steps to enter. Gov. JB Pritzker announced the “all in for the win” vaccine lottery at an event in Chicago, noting it would award $7……

Six Flags agrees to $36 million settlement over alleged BIPA violations

Six Flags agrees to $36 million settlement over alleged BIPA violations

By SARAH MANSUR Capitol News Illinois smansur@capitolnewsillinois SPRINGFIELD — Six Flags Great America has agreed to a $36 million settlement to end a class-action lawsuit over the amusement park’s use of finger-scan entry gates. Six Flags doesn’t admit to any fault or liability as part of the agreement, which is subject to final approval at……

Energy bill still not filed less than 24 hours before planned vote

Energy bill still not filed less than 24 hours before planned vote

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate is scheduled to return to the Capitol Tuesday to consider an energy regulatory overhaul bill that is years in the making but was not yet filed in its final form as of Monday night. The House is scheduled to return Wednesday. But several……

Pritzker issues amendatory veto on budget due to drafting errors, Senate accepts

Pritzker issues amendatory veto on budget due to drafting errors, Senate accepts

By SARAH MANSUR Capitol News Illinois smansur@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — The state Senate on Tuesday approved a change to next year’s budget at the request of Gov. JB Pritzker to correct drafting errors in the measure that passed in the early hours of Tuesday, June 1, with little time for it to be read by lawmakers.……

Senate adjourns with no energy deal, but Harmon ‘confident’ one is still near

Senate adjourns with no energy deal, but Harmon ‘confident’ one is still near

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate adjourned Tuesday without calling a comprehensive energy regulatory reform package for a vote. After adjournment, Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, made a statement similar to one he made June 1 after the Senate failed to call an energy bill for a vote……

‘Juneteenth’ becomes official state holiday

‘Juneteenth’ becomes official state holiday

‘Juneteenth’ becomes official state holiday Day marks anniversary of last enslaved Americans learning of freedom By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The day that marks the anniversary of the day in 1865 when some of the last enslaved Americans learned that they had been freed is now an official state holiday in……

House OKs remote voting on bills to pass budget amendment

House OKs remote voting on bills to pass budget amendment

By SARAH MANSUR Capitol News Illinois smansur@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House changed its rules Wednesday to allow lawmakers to cast votes on legislation remotely, giving them enough votes to pass a change to the budget bill and other measures. Shortly after this rule change, House Democrats approved the amendment to the budget that resulted……