Local News

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Webb Chevrolet hosts SD218 auto tech students from Richards, Shepard

By Bob Bong / January 18, 2024 / Comments Off on Webb Chevrolet hosts SD218 auto tech students from Richards, Shepard

Despite their busy schedules, general manager Tim Gehr and several other supervisors from Webb Chevrolet in Oak Lawn found time in December to show automotive technology students from Richards and Shepard high schools the career possibilities waiting for them. Teachers Keith Luszcak and Matt Krogh brought 29 students to tour Webb facilities, talk with various…

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Worth Township property tax review workshop

By Bob Bong / January 17, 2024 / Comments Off on Worth Township property tax review workshop

Worth Township Assessor Shaun Murphy, Worth Township Supervisor Patricia Joan Murphy, and Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas will be hosting an in-person Board of Review Workshop on Monday, January 29, from 5-7 p.m. at Worth Township Hall, located at 11601 S. Pulaski Road in Alsip. The workshop is free.  Analysts will be on hand…

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Community Calendar

By Bob Bong / January 11, 2024 / Comments Off on Community Calendar

SD118 to host referendum meetings Palos School District 118 will host three public information meetings in January and February for the community to learn more about a referendum question on the March 19 ballot. Palos School District 118 is asking voters to approve a referendum that will allow it to shift approximately $4.35 million in…

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Palos Area Chamber’s president committed to local business

By Kelly White / January 11, 2024 / Comments Off on Palos Area Chamber’s president committed to local business

By Kelly White Born and raised in Palos Heights, Todd Probasco takes pride in his roots. Elected as the Palos Area Chamber of Commerce president in December of 2022, for a two-year term, Probasco is looking forward to helping the community continue to thrive. “The Palos Area Chamber of Commerce is an amazing origination,” Probasco…

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Welcome first babies of 2024

By Bob Bong / January 5, 2024 / Comments Off on Welcome first babies of 2024

Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital’s first baby of 2024 was born on January 1 at 3:10 a.m. The baby boy was named Franklin Matthew Lale. Parents are Matthew and Samantha Lale. Franklin checked in at 8 pounds, 4.9 ounces. The family lives in Oak Forest and Franklin has two older brothers. Samantha is a nurse who…

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Shepard staff keeps active in December through Shepardathon

By Bob Bong / January 3, 2024 / Comments Off on Shepard staff keeps active in December through Shepardathon

By Kelly White Shepard High School is pushing its faculty and staff to stay active during these chilly winter months that often keep people indoors. Through the implementation of an inaugural SHEPARDTHON, a modification of the Marcothon, a challenge that is popular in the UK where participants run 3 miles or 25 minutes every day…

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Worth mayor expects no migrant dilemma

By Bob Bong / January 3, 2024 / Comments Off on Worth mayor expects no migrant dilemma

By Joe Boyle Worth Mayor Mary Werner believes it will not be necessary to pass an ordinance to deter migrants from being dropped off in the village. Werner was responding to a question by a resident during the public forum segment of the Worth Village Board meeting Tuesday night. The resident asked if the village…

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Doctor’s love of community inspires author to write children’s book

By Bob Bong / January 3, 2024 / Comments Off on Doctor’s love of community inspires author to write children’s book

By Kelly White  Dr. George Skarpathiotis took his philosophy of care and love for the community and turned it into a beautiful pediatric practice.  A practice founded on the principles of family centered care, Dr. George Kids, with offices located in the heart of Palos Heights, 7110 W. 127th Street; in Chicago, 8537 S. Cicero…

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Lake Katherine to give Christmas trees new use as mulch 

By Bob Bong / January 3, 2024 / Comments Off on Lake Katherine to give Christmas trees new use as mulch 

By Kelly White  The holidays are over. It’s a new year and as you take down the decorations, you may find yourself wondering what to do with your Christmas tree.  Luckily, there is no need to worry or stress about what to do, because Lake Katherine Center & Botanical Gardens is here to help.  The…

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Palos 118 school board member honored for continued learning  

By Bob Bong / December 7, 2023 / Comments Off on Palos 118 school board member honored for continued learning  

Pam Paris, a member of the Palos School District 118 Board of Education, has been recognized by the Illinois Association of School Boards for her participation in a number of professional development and leadership activities during her service as a school board member. IASB recognizes school board members who show a dedication and desire to learn more about local school governance, adding to their leadership skills, knowledge of state and national educational issues, and commitment to serving in trust of their community and their students. Paris acquired 40 credits to earn IASB’s Board Leader Recognition status. Because of Paris’ ongoing commitment to…

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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 bash 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…

Linda Michaels (from left), Cadet Dulce Lopez, Gale Shafer, and Kate Schneider. (Supplied photos)

Swallow Cliff Chapter, NSDAR, honors JROTC cadets

From staff reports Swallow Cliff Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, participated in recent JROTC awards ceremonies held at Shepard High School in Palos Heights and Richards High School in Oak Lawn. The DAR JROTC award, consisting of a medal and certificate, was presented to Navy Cadet Emily Schrode at Richards High School…

Worth Mayor Mary Werner looks at old photos of the Worth Public Library during the History of the Worth Library exhibit's opening night. (Photos by Kelly White)

Worth Library celebrates 60th anniversary

By Kelly White The Worth Public Library has been around for decades. Resting in the heart of the village at 6917 W. 111th St., the library held an event focusing on its rich background story on April 23 with a historical photo exhibit. “It’s amazing because this library is still so important to the community,”…

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…