Local News

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A Little Bit of Germany at Shepard High School

By Kelly White / February 9, 2024 / Comments Off on A Little Bit of Germany at Shepard High School

By Kelly White German culture and cuisine made its way in to one local area high school cafeteria last weekend. Alan B. Shepard High School, 13049 S. Ridgeland Avenue in Palos Heights, hosted its annual A Little Bit of Germany event on February 3 bringing oversees traditions right to the south suburbs. “I like the…

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Palos South Middle School cheer places 2nd at Spartan Showdown 

By Bob Bong / February 9, 2024 / Comments Off on Palos South Middle School cheer places 2nd at Spartan Showdown 

The Palos South Cheer squad recently placed second in the Spartan Showdown cheer competition hosted at Marian Catholic High School in January. The team, coached by Palos South teacher Ashley Partin, competed in the Large Junior High Division. Partin said that the squad, made up of sixth, seventh, and eighth- grade students, are driven to achieve…

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Orland Fire heads up new system that will be a ‘lifesaver’

By Jeff Vorva / February 8, 2024 / Comments Off on Orland Fire heads up new system that will be a ‘lifesaver’

By Jeff Vorva Ask any firefighter and they will say that seconds count when it comes to responding to an emergency. So, when minutes can be shaved off of response times, that’s a reason to be overjoyed. Orland Fire Protection District Chief Michael Schofield had a big smile on his face Jan. 31 at the…

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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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Palos South Girls go undefeated in the SWIC Conference

By Bob Bong / February 2, 2024 / Comments Off on Palos South Girls go undefeated in the SWIC Conference

Palos South’s eighth-grade girls’ basketball team recently won the Southwest Interscholastic Conference Championship. The Cardinals were undefeated in conference play with a record of 11 wins and 0 losses. The team won the SWIC post-season tournament, defeating Orland Jr. High, Tinley Central Middle School, and Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School. Palos South players Brooklyn Parr,…

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Palos Heights School District 128 sends anti-bullying message

By Kelly White / February 2, 2024 / Comments Off on Palos Heights School District 128 sends anti-bullying message

By Kelly White Palos Heights School District 128 has taken a positive approach to bullying prevention. From the stage of “America’s Got Talent,” Chippewa Elementary School, 12425 S. Austin Ave., Palos Heights, welcomed BMX rider, Matt Wilhelm, a Guinness World Record Holder and the 2022 USA National Champion on January 30. “My dreams were made…

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Shepard, Richards cheerleaders earn highest sectional scores

By Bob Bong / February 2, 2024 / Comments Off on Shepard, Richards cheerleaders earn highest sectional scores

The varsity cheerleaders from Shepard High School in Palos Heights on second place on Saturday at the IHSA Sectional tournament at Hinsdale South High School.  The team advanced to the IHSA state finals as a result. Coached by Shepard graduate Felicia Marr, the Astros earned their highest score ever at a sectional tournament.   The team…

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Shepard High School partners with Palos Heights TV

By Bob Bong / February 2, 2024 / Comments Off on Shepard High School partners with Palos Heights TV

By Kelly White Shepard High School is paving the way for future media talents. The high school, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights, is now partnering with the community access channel Palos Heights TV (PHTV) under the direction of producer, Dave Wierzel, to provide students more opportunities to use their skills in a professional realm.…

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Woman charged with stealing bumper

By Bob Bong / January 19, 2024 / Comments Off on Woman charged with stealing bumper

By Bob Bong  A Crete woman was charged last week with the theft of a bumper from a vehicle in Palos Heights. Police said they were notified on August 31 by an employee of a business in the 11900 block of South Harlem Avenue that the front bumper of his personal vehicle had been stolen.…

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Heafey receives Swallow Cliff Chapter community service award

By Bob Bong / January 18, 2024 / Comments Off on Heafey receives Swallow Cliff Chapter community service award

Swallow Cliff Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, presented Jack Heafey, of Palos Heights, the DAR Community Service Award for his outstanding volunteer activities at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital. The award was presented in December at the monthly luncheon. Each chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution can present two…

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SXU's men's volleyball team made it to the semifinals of the NAIA National Tournament before falling to Georgetown, Kentucky . Photo courtesy of Saint Xavier University Department of Athletics

Saint Xavier men’s volleyball finishes historic season in nation’s top 4

By Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Saint Xavier men’s volleyball team made history by advancing to the semifinals of the NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Championship. But the Cougars fell to eventual national champion Georgetown (Kentucky), 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 21-25, 15-10, on May 3 at Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Although there was no third-place…

University of St. Francis sophomore first baseman Nate Maliska went 9-for-15 (.600) with eight RBI and seven runs scored during the week that ended April 7. Photo courtesy of University of St. Francis Athletics

St. Francis first baseman Nate Maliska earns conference POW honors

By Mike Walsh Correspondent The University of St. Francis sophomore first baseman Nate Maliska was chosen the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s Player of the Week in baseball for April 7. In helping the Saints to four wins that week, Maliska went 9-for-15 (.600) with eight RBI and seven runs scored. The St. Laurence graduate’s week…

Joey Gumuls fist pumps his starting pitcher Frank Bilecki after avoiding some damage in the first inning. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Baseball | Marist claws way back to .500

By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent This season has thus far not been what Marist had expected, but the RedHawks came into this week at .500. Marist was 2-8 after 10 games this season, with three of those first eight losses coming via shutout. But the RedHawks turned things around with a stretch of eight wins in…

The Red Stars' Ally Cook chases down a ball during a 4-2 loss to Washington on May 1 at SeatGeek Stadium. photo by Jeff Vorva

Red Stars fall to Spirit for third loss in past four matches

By Jeff Vorva Correspondent After enjoying one of their best starts in franchise history, the Chicago Red Stars have slid to the middle of the NWSL standings, with the latest setback being a 4-2 loss to Washington at SeatGeek Stadium. The Stars (3-3-1) entered this week having dropped three of their past four matches. Against…

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Red Stars take aim at NWSL attendance record with Wrigley game

By Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Chicago Red Stars are thinking big when it comes to their upcoming game at Wrigley Field. The team is taking aim at the NWSL record for single-game attendance when it hosts Bay FC at the historic home of the Chicago Cubs on June 8. The record is held by Seattle,…

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IHSA announces boys volleyball postseason assignments

By Jeff Vorva Correspondent Last year, the area sent a pair of boys volleyball teams to state as Lyons finished runner-up to champion Glenbard South and Brother Rice lost in the quarterfinals. This year, both could face each other in the sectional finals. The Lions picked up the second seed and the Crusaders the third…

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Badminton players from Reavis and Lyons going to state

By Jeff Vorva Correspondent Reavis singles player Dania Amjad finished third in the Bolingbrook Sectional on May 2 to qualify for the IHSA state tournament. The Lyons doubles team of Simone Brown and Mia Graziano finished fourth in the York Sectional to qualify for state. The state finals are May 10-11 at DeKalb High School.

Brother Rice will have a pair of two-man teams compete in the state bass fishing tournament. Photo courtesy of Brother Rice

Brother Rice, Sandburg sending boats to bass fishing state tourney

By Jeff Vorva Correspondent Brother Rice is sending two boats to the IHSA state bass fishing tournament. The Crusaders had first- and third-place finishes at the Des Plaines River Big Basin Marina Sectional on May 2. Sandwiched in between the Brother Rice boats was a group from Sandburg in second place. The Crusaders’ No. 2…

The 14th annual District 1A Helen Keller 5k Fun Run/Walk proudly took place along at Harold L. Richard’s High School, 10601 Central Ave., Oak Lawn. (Photos by Kelly White)

Lions Club District 1A Helen Keller race draws big field

By Kelly White The damp weather from overnight rain did not deter more than 100 people on Sunday morning from getting some exercise. The 14th annual District 1A Helen Keller 5k Fun Run/Walk proudly took place along at Harold L. Richard’s High School, 10601 Central Ave., Oak Lawn. “This is a really great event,” Oak…

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EPCHS students collect shoes for Christmas Without Cancer Sneaker Drive

From staff reports Students in Evergreen Park Community High School’s junior physical education leadership class teamed up with the non-profit organization Christmas Without Cancer to help local families battling the devastation of cancer. The class – taught by EPCHS physical education teacher Ree McDonald – helped gather donations for Christmas Without Cancer’s second annual Sneaker…

Illinois News

Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?

Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?

by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again.  The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…

Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system

Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system

By ANDREW ADAMS  Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall.  Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…

Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track

Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…

Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored

Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored

By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now.  Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…

Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending

Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending

By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…

Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol

Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol

By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Six fallen police officers were honored at an annual memorial service outside the State Capitol Thursday. The Illinois Police Officers Memorial occurs annually on the first Thursday of May to honor officers who died in the line of duty and to support their families.  “No one…

Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions

Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions

By JERRY NOWICKI HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot.  It’s a move that caused minority party…

After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination

After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to make…

Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air

Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air

Capitol News Illinois announced today it will produce the long-running “Illinois Lawmakers” program this spring, in partnership with longtime host and producer Jak Tichenor.  “This new partnership is absolutely critical to providing Illinois residents with reliable, independent, in-depth, up to date coverage from the Illinois Capitol after many newspapers and broadcasters shuttered their Statehouse bureaus over…

Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated

Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated

By ANDREW ADAMS & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker, state election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign. The State Board…