Local News

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Evergreen Chamber, Library host Community Job Fair

By Bob Bong / March 1, 2023 / Comments Off on Evergreen Chamber, Library host Community Job Fair

Attention job seekers! Evergreen Park Public Library and the Evergreen Park Chamber of Commerce are teaming up to host a Community Job Fair, Sunday, March 5, from 1-3 p.m., at Evergreen Park Public Library, 9400 S. Troy Avenue. This event is free and open to the public. Job seekers of all ages are invited to……

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Sen. Hastings secures $250,000 state grant for Together We Cope after fire

By Steve Metsch / February 10, 2023 / Comments Off on Sen. Hastings secures $250,000 state grant for Together We Cope after fire

By Steve Metsch  After a fire just before Thanksgiving shut down Together We Cope – a longtime southwest suburban charitable organization – state Sen. Mike Hastings (D-19th) knew he had to help.  Hastings said he was moved to help because of the important role the organization plays by helping needy families in the region.  Hastings……

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Evergreen Park police cited after domestic violence arrest 

By Bob Bong / February 10, 2023 / Comments Off on Evergreen Park police cited after domestic violence arrest 

By Joe Boyle  Nine members of the Evergreen Park Police Department received commendations for making an arrest and possibly preventing further violence.  Police Chief Michael Saunders requested that the commendations be given to the officers during the Evergreen Park Village Board meeting on Monday night.  “The commendations were given to the officers for responding to a case……

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EPCHS names Matthew Dugan next principal  

By Bob Bong / February 3, 2023 / Comments Off on EPCHS names Matthew Dugan next principal  

From staff reports  Evergreen Park Community High School has hired Matthew Dugan as its next principal. Dugan’s appointment was made official during the January 24 meeting of the Evergreen Park Community High School Board of Education. Dugan will become principal on July 1, upon the retirement of current Principal Bill Sanderson. “I am thrilled and……

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Boys Basketball | Evergreen Park breaks out, but can’t overcome Hillcrest

By Jason Maholy / January 29, 2023 / Comments Off on Boys Basketball | Evergreen Park breaks out, but can’t overcome Hillcrest

By Steve Millar  Correspondent Evergreen Park coach Jim Sexton knows he has a team capable of putting up big offensive numbers behind a bevy of strong shooters. That just has not happened consistently this season for the Mustangs, who have struggled to score more often than not. The offense, however, had a breakout performance last……

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17 EPCHS students named Illinois State Scholars

By Bob Bong / January 19, 2023 / Comments Off on 17 EPCHS students named Illinois State Scholars

Evergreen Park Community High School Principal Bill Sanderson announced that 17 students from the EPCHS graduating class of 2023 have been designated as Illinois State Scholars. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the state’s college access and financial aid agency, presents this prestigious recognition of academic achievement to exceptional Illinois high school students annually. This year,……

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44 inducted into National Honor Society at Evergreen Park Community High School

By Bob Bong / January 5, 2023 / Comments Off on 44 inducted into National Honor Society at Evergreen Park Community High School

Evergreen Park Community High School inducted 44 new members into its National Honor Society in a ceremony held at the school on November 30. The school also honored the accomplishments of the 44 graduating senior members of NHS. The new members, mostly juniors, were inducted by EPCHS Principal Bill Sanderson and NHS Faculty Sponsor Ben……

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Teen Center announces 120-plus new free programs

By Bob Bong / January 3, 2023 / Comments Off on Teen Center announces 120-plus new free programs

The Bridge Teen Center is starting 2023 off right with a new semester of free holistically-designed programs for teens. All afterschool programs are free to teens in seventh- to 12th-grade and can be found in their Winter/Spring Program Magazine at www.thebridgeteencenter.org. Some exciting programs include Woodworking: Plant Stands, Yoga & Smoothies, Behind the scenes at……

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‘Book Buddies’ help spread literacy to Evergreen Park first-graders

By Bob Bong / January 2, 2023 / Comments Off on ‘Book Buddies’ help spread literacy to Evergreen Park first-graders

The tradition of Evergreen Park Community High School seniors teaming up with first graders at Evergreen Park elementary schools to promote literacy continued this month when a pair of Mustangs visited Southwest, Northwest, Southeast and Northeast elementary schools in Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124. EPCHS Service Club students Jonatthan Whiteside and Taylor Evans were……

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EPCHS clubs collect 300 pounds of food for pantry

By Bob Bong / December 16, 2022 / Comments Off on EPCHS clubs collect 300 pounds of food for pantry

  Clubs and organizations affiliated with Evergreen Park Community High School combined to collect more than 300 pounds of food for the Evergreen Park Food Pantry in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Led by members of EPCHS’ National Honor Society, Student Government, Student Leadership and Service Club students, all students were urged to donate……

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Boys Volleyball | Sandburg seeks 26th regional title

By Randy Whalen Correspondent Coming off the worst season in program history in 2023, Sandburg was not going to settle for anything less than better results this year. Past the midway point of this season, however, the Eagles had a record of 11-8. But they closed the regular season strong, winning 11 of their last……

Reavis players celebrate after the Rams clinched the South Suburban Red title with a 3-0 win over Oak Lawn. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Baseball | Red-hot Reavis looks to make noise in postseason

By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Reavis is determined to send their head coach Don Erickson into retirement on a high note and will head into the postseason red hot and as South Suburban Red champions. The Rams defeated Oak Lawn 3-0 for the second straight day on May 15 to clinch the conference title. They followed……

Richards alum Sebastian Castro is ranked by NFL Draft Live among the top 10 college cornerbacks heading into the 2024 NCAA football season. Photo courtesy of University of Iowa Athletics

Sports Bits | Rice boats at Carlyle Lake, Hawkeye DB and Do It Stevie’s Way

By Jeff Vorva Correspondent Noteworthy sports briefs from May 12-19 • Brother Rice’s No. 1 boat of Joe Hall and Joe Judeh took 31st in the state bass fishing tournament, which wrapped up on May 18 at Carlyle Lake. The Crusaders had a two-day haul of 7 pounds, 12 ounces.  The Crusaders’ No. 2 boat……

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Nothing NU at SeatGeek

By Jeff Vorva Correspondent There was speculation that because of the renovations being done at Ryan Field, Northwestern would schedule a few football games at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview this fall. The Wildcats announced their schedule and no home games are listed at SeatGeek, but the situation is still fluid. They are opting to use……

SXU softball players celebrate a victory over Bellevue. SXU photo

College Softball | Close losses at nationals end Saint Xavier’s season

By Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Saint Xavier softball team played three nailbiters in the opening round of the NAIA Tournament. But the end result was a 1-2 record to eliminate the Cougars from advancing. SXU (28-14) opened the tournament by nipping Bellevue (Nebraska), 5-4, in Sioux City, Iowa on May 13. Alexus Reese hit a……

Red Stars goalie Alyssa Naeher was with the team but did not play at Gotham on May 19.  IMAGN photo

Red Stars’ Naeher misses loss to Gotham

By Jeff Vorva Correspondent The world’s best kept secret is still a mystery. The Chicago Red Stars are not releasing information to the public about the severity of a thigh injury or the status of world-class goalie Alyssa Naeher. What is known is that she did not play in a 2-1 loss to NWSL defending……

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Shepard’s Kyla Motley cruises to two medals at girls state track finals

By Jeff Vorva Correspondent Shepard junior Kyla Motley medaled in two events in the Class 3A girls state track and field meet, the finals for which were held May 18 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Motley finished fourth in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 4 inches. She finished sixth in……

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Boys Tennis | Lyons’ Jack McLane and Mason Mazzone win sectional doubles title

By Jeff Vorva Correspondent The area produced a handful of boys tennis state qualifiers, but only one entry is headed to state as a sectional champion. At the Class 2A Lyons Sectional, the Lions’ Jack McLane and Mason Mazzone were doubles champs. The state meet opens May 23 at various sites in the north and……

The Lyons boys water polo team celebrates its state championship on May 18 in Lincolnshire.  Photo courtesy of Lyons Township High School

Water Polo | Lyons boys win third state title; girls finish 3rd

By Jeff Vorva Correspondent The best matchup of the IHSA boys water polo state tournament was arguably in the quarterfinals. That battle between Lyons and New Trier could have been considered the real state championship match. But no matter what, the Lions are state champions. Heading into the postseason, Lyons had just three losses, and……

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Lyons water polo teams splash to state

By Jeff Vorva Correspondent Both of Lyons water polo team qualified for the state quarterfinals. Lyons’ girls water polo team won its own sectional by beating Mother McAuley, 13-9, in the title game on May 11. The Lions will face York in the state quarterfinals on May 17 at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire. This……

Illinois News

Ban on wildlife killing contests ‘unlikely’ to clear state Senate this session

Ban on wildlife killing contests ‘unlikely’ to clear state Senate this session

By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com A measure that would prohibit contests that award cash or prizes for killing certain wildlife is unlikely to clear the Senate after narrowly passing the House last week, according to its Senate sponsor.  House Bill 2900 would ban the practice of holding wildlife contests that reward participants with……

A security camera caught an employee beating a patient. It took 11 days for anyone to take action.

A security camera caught an employee beating a patient. It took 11 days for anyone to take action.

By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with Capitol News Illinois.  Cameras in the common areas of Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center were supposed to make the troubled southern Illinois facility safer for the approximately 200 people with developmental disabilities who live there.  But……

Potawatomi land transfer advances in Illinois House

Potawatomi land transfer advances in Illinois House

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would help the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation expand their newly established reservation in DeKalb County advanced out of a state House committee Tuesday, despite concerns about the tribe’s long-term plans for the property. House Bill 4718 would authorize the state to hand over……

Would-be union of legislative staffers accuse Welch of undermining organizing effort

Would-be union of legislative staffers accuse Welch of undermining organizing effort

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Seven months after Democratic Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch advanced a measure that would allow legislative staff to unionize, members of his own staff on Tuesday blasted the speaker for allowing the bill to languish. The legislation has not seen any action since its passage……

As legislative session adjournment looms, a rush to regulate carbon capture industry

As legislative session adjournment looms, a rush to regulate carbon capture industry

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A technology that some say is a key tool to address climate change and others say is a cash grab for heavy industry could face new regulations – if lawmakers can find the time before their scheduled adjournment this week. Carbon capture and sequestration technology is……

Nursing home industry unlikely to see much help from Springfield in tough budget year

Nursing home industry unlikely to see much help from Springfield in tough budget year

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com It’s been four years since some of the worst scenes of COVID-19 played out in locked-down nursing homes during the early months of the pandemic.  But while most of the world has moved on, the nursing home industry is still reeling from COVID, which exacerbated pre-existing challenges in……

Lawmakers consider tax break for news publishers, state-sponsored journalism scholarships

Lawmakers consider tax break for news publishers, state-sponsored journalism scholarships

By ALEX ABBEDUTO & ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com  SPRINGFIELD – A new measure being debated in the Illinois General Assembly would create a tax credit for certain news publishers based on the number of reporters they employ.  The proposal from Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, is part of a package of policies that he……

House GOP advances 2 human trafficking victim protection bills as others remain in limbo

House GOP advances 2 human trafficking victim protection bills as others remain in limbo

By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com After Illinois received another failing grade from a national advocacy group, state House Republicans have introduced legislation aimed at further protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators of human trafficking. Shared Hope International, an advocacy organization that works to prevent sex trafficking, said in its 2023 Illinois report card that……

Hundreds of bills pass, including changes to state’s biometric data privacy law

Hundreds of bills pass, including changes to state’s biometric data privacy law

By HANNAH MEISEL COLE LONGCOR & ALEX ABEDDUTO Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers passed more than 200 bills this week ahead of their scheduled May 24 adjournment.  Many of the measures will soon head to Gov. JB Pritzker, including a bill that changes how damages accrue under Illinois’ first-in-the-nation biometric data privacy law.……

Pritzker pledges to expand access to mental health care in Illinois

Pritzker pledges to expand access to mental health care in Illinois

By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In the middle of Mental Health Awareness Month, Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton hosted a panel in Springfield this week at which he pledged to expand the state’s behavioral health services. With several dozen services providers from around the state in attendance, Pritzker……