Local News

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Marching bands to compete Saturday at Stagg’s 43rd annual Jamboree

By Bob Bong / September 6, 2023 /

From staff reports More than 20 high school marching bands will perform Saturday, September 9, at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School’s 43rd annual Jamboree, which takes place in the football stadium at 8015 W. 111th St. Jamboree is a competition that brings marching bands from all over the area together to perform their competitive shows…

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Casten fears possible government shutdown

By Jeff Vorva / August 31, 2023 /

By Jeff Vorva Congressman Sean Casten (D-6th) is bringing millions of dollars of projects to his district but is fearful for the near future when it comes to bringing in more money. He is also crossing his fingers that there won’t be a government shutdown on Oct. 1 even though some analysts think there is…

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Bridgeview man charged with reckless homicide in Palos Hills crash

By Bob Bong / August 25, 2023 /

From staff reports A Bridgeview man has been charged with reckless homicide after he was allegedly involved in a fatal crash in Palos Hills earlier this month. Daniel D. Swan, 32, was charged in connection with the August 6 multi-vehicle crash in the 10900 block of Southwest Highway. Palos Hills police said they were dispatched…

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Casten to hold Town Hall on Thursday at Moraine Valley Community College

By Bob Bong / August 23, 2023 / Comments Off on Casten to hold Town Hall on Thursday at Moraine Valley Community College

Congressman Sean Casten (D-6th) will host a town hall in Palos Hills at Moraine Valley Community College, 9000 College Parkway, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 24. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Since being elected to Congress, Casten has made it a top priority to be accessible and in constant communication with constituents—holding over…

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Palos Hills enjoys National Night Out

By Kelly White / August 3, 2023 /

By Kelly White Strengthening the relationship between neighbors and local law enforcement, the city of Palos Hills was proud to take part in National Night Out. Palos Hills held its seventh annual National Night Out event on Tuesday at Town Square Park, 8455 W. 103rd Street. “The City of Palos Hills is proud to again…

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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…

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New Moraine Valley president wants to expand programs

By Bob Bong / July 28, 2023 / Comments Off on New Moraine Valley president wants to expand programs

By Isabella Schreck As Moraine Valley Community College’s new president, Pamela Haney wants students, faculty and staff to know they are welcome on campus and that she cares about the college and its people – a lot. “I just feel like everyone should feel valued,” Haney said. “People should feel like they’re in a place…

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Green Hills Library collecting school supplies

By Kelly White / July 28, 2023 / Comments Off on Green Hills Library collecting school supplies

By Kelly White School is right around the corner, and the Green Hills Public Library District would like to make school supply shopping a little bit easier for community members in need. Until Friday, August 11, the library is hosting a School Supply Drive. Items may be donated directly at the Youth Services Desk within…

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North Palos Fire District starts Fire Buddies chapter 

By Bob Bong / July 16, 2023 / Comments Off on North Palos Fire District starts Fire Buddies chapter 

By Kelly White  Project Fire Buddies brings joy to kids struggling with serious illnesses.  The program launched in 2016 when a group of Oak Forest Firefighters answered a 911 call. A young child who was battling cancer fell ill with a high fever. The department transported the child to the hospital for life-saving treatment, and…

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SD230’s Nolting lauds seniors on advisory panel

By Jeff Vorva / July 8, 2023 / Comments Off on SD230’s Nolting lauds seniors on advisory panel

By Jeff Vorva District 230 Supt. Robert Nolting gave a shout out to the seniors on the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee. The committee is made of students from all three high schools – Sandburg, Stagg and Andrew – who serve their time meeting with Nolting and other district officials to talk about concerns from the student…

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The Palos Park Village Green tennis courts will go through a face-lift in the coming weeks. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)

Pickleball courts coming to Palos Park

By Jeff Vorva There will finally be outdoor pickleball in Palos Park. In a process that went longer than anticipated, the Palos Park Village Council was able give the green light to get a pickleball project started on the Village Green. The council voted April 8 to award the contract to U.S. Tennis Court Construction…

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First Secure Bank to host American Eagle gold coin sale

From staff reports First Secure Bank & Trust of Palos Hills announced its annual May sale of 1-ounce and ¼-ounce American Eagle Gold Coins, produced by the U.S. Mint, will take place from 10 a.m.to noon on Saturdays, May 4, May 11, May 18 and May 25. The sale will take place at First Secure…

Mayor Bob Straz presents Lois Duran with a certificate honoring her years of volunteer service in Palos Heights. Next to Lois is her son Gary. (Photo by Nuha Abdessalam)

Palos Heights recognizes volunteers

By Nuha Abdessalam Palos Heights handed out awards last week recognizing the services provided by volunteers through the years. The proclamations, which were read aloud during the city council meeting April 16, were a testament to the city’s volunteers and were handed out as part of Volunteer Recognition Week. Volunteers were cited for their efforts…

Richards’ A.J. Plawecki leaps into setting the ball during a match against Brother Rice at the Crusaders’ Smack Attack tournament held April 19-20. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Boys Volleyball | Richards weathering struggles after run of success

By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After a tough weekend at the Smack Attack tournament, Richards got back into the win column with a two-set victory over Eisenhower in a South Suburban Red match. The Bulldogs made quick work of the Cardinals, winning 25-16, 25-15 on April 23 in Oak Lawn to snap a five-match losing streak.…

Chippewa Elementary School second-grader, Nicholas Bass, 8, of Palos Heights, proudly showed off his artwork at the 15th annual Arts Extravaganza. (Photos by Kelly White)

SD218 puts on annual Arts Extravaganza

By Kelly White The arts have become a major portion of the curriculum Community High School District 218. Showcasing those many talents, the Friends of CHSD 218’s Education Foundation proudly hosted its 15th annual Arts Extravaganza on April 5 at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island. “The Arts Extravaganza is a great event which showcases…

Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau and the village board are making it tougher for businesses to get gaming licenses. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)

Gaming licenses to be tougher to get in Orland Park

By Jeff Vorva It’s going to take longer to receive gaming licenses in Orland Park. The village board passed an ordinance April 15 that would allow table service businesses open at least 36 consecutive months to apply rather than the previous 18 months, and extended the probationary period to 18 months instead of six. “By…

Palos Park Commissioner G. Darryl Reed talks about the 2024-25 budget at the April 22 council meeting. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)

Palos Park passes $16 million budget

By Jeff Vorva The Palos Park Village Council approved the 2024-25 budget, which totals a little more than $16.3 million at the April 22 village council meeting. According to village documents, it represented an increase of a shade over $603,000 from last year. The village is expecting $13.4 million in revenue and $1.86 million in…

Firefighters inspect the Al Bahaar Restaurant, 39 Orland Square Dr., after extinguishing a fire that was inside the wall of the building and not readily seen. (Photo courtesy of the Orland Fire Protection District)

Fire damages Al Bahaar Restaurant in Orland Park

From staff reports  Orland Fire Protection District firefighters responded to a fire Monday evening at the Al Bahaar Restaurant, 39 Orland Square Dr. At first, restaurant owners suspected the fire alarm was triggered by a malfunction, but as firefighters inspected the restaurant to reset the fire alarm, they detected a burning smell. “What we found…

Evergreen Park’s Patrick Maroney blocks a kill attempt during a match against T.F. United on April 18. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Year of growth | Evergreen Park enjoying inaugural boys volleyball season

By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After almost 70 years of existence as a high school, Evergreen Park finally has a boys volleyball team. The Mustangs are playing their inaugural season with a junior varsity squad, with some matches being played at the varsity level. Head coach Brian Zofkie is leading this group with assistant coach Tom…

Brother Rice junior Gavin Arnold forces the ball over the net during a match against Richards on April 19. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Boys Volleyball | Brother Rice falls to Glenbard West and York, takes 4th at Smack Attack

By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent It was a busy weekend in the area for boys volleyball as Brother Rice hosted its 14th annual Smack Attack tournament. The 24-team event played April 19-20 featured area teams Brother Rice, Marist and Richards, along with defending Class 4A champion Glenbard West and two highly rated teams from Kentucky. Matches…

Illinois News

Immigrant advocates tout new report showing benefits of state-funded health plans

Immigrant advocates tout new report showing benefits of state-funded health plans

By PETER HANCOCK  and JERRY NOWICKI  Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Immigrant rights advocates on Friday continued to push for one of their top budget priorities: full funding for state-run health care programs that benefit noncitizens, regardless of their immigration status. Those programs offer health coverage for low-income individuals who would otherwise qualify for…

As state continues to inventory lead pipes, full replacement deadlines are decades away

As state continues to inventory lead pipes, full replacement deadlines are decades away

By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com Lead pipes in public water systems and drinking fixtures have been banned in new construction since 1986, when Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act, but they are still in use across the U.S. and in Illinois.  The presence of lead pipes has persisted due in part to…

Capitol Briefs: State unveils report on racial disparities among homeless populations

Capitol Briefs: State unveils report on racial disparities among homeless populations

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Tackling homelessness requires addressing racial injustice, according to a new report commissioned by the state’s Office to Prevent and End Homelessness.  The report found that Black people are eight times more likely to experience homelessness than white people. Remedying this disparity, according to the report, would require “long-term…

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…

Bears pitch $3.2B stadium plan, but Pritzker still ‘skeptical’ despite team’s $2B pledge

Bears pitch $3.2B stadium plan, but Pritzker still ‘skeptical’ despite team’s $2B pledge

By DILPREET RAJU & JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com The Chicago Bears laid out a $3.2 billion plan for a new domed stadium on Chicago’s lakefront on Wednesday afternoon, painting pictures of future Super Bowls and other major public events while pinning their hopes on yet-to-be-had conversations with the governor and lawmakers.  The Bears…

Regulators weigh future of gas industry in Illinois, while clamping down on Chicago utility

Regulators weigh future of gas industry in Illinois, while clamping down on Chicago utility

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Natural gas is fueling a fight between consumer advocates, a powerful utility company and the state. Amid competing advertising campaigns, accusations of mismanagement and state decarbonization efforts, the Illinois Commerce Commission is starting a process that will shape how the state regulates the increasingly controversial industry. …

Komatsu mining truck named 2024 ‘coolest thing made in Illinois’

Komatsu mining truck named 2024 ‘coolest thing made in Illinois’

By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois Clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A mining truck manufactured by Komatsu was crowned the winner of the 2024 “Makers Madness” contest, earning the title of “the coolest thing made in Illinois” at the Governor’s Mansion Wednesday.  The truck was one of more than 200 entries in the 5th annual contest hosted…

Giannoulias calls for disclosure of lobbyist contracts

Giannoulias calls for disclosure of lobbyist contracts

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – For decades, lobbyists in the Illinois Statehouse have been required to report how much they spend wining, dining and entertaining lawmakers. Currently, though, there is no law requiring lobbyists to disclose how much they are paid by corporations, industry groups or other special interest organizations. That…

Illinois Senate advances changes to state’s biometric privacy law after business groups split

Illinois Senate advances changes to state’s biometric privacy law after business groups split

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – It’s been more than a year since the Illinois Supreme Court “respectfully suggest(ed)” state lawmakers clarify a law that’s led to several multi-million-dollar settlements with tech companies over the collection of Illinoisans’ biometric data. On Thursday, a bipartisan majority in the Illinois Senate did just that,…

Illinoisans can now get documents notarized online

Illinoisans can now get documents notarized online

By ALEX ABBEDUTO   Capitol News Illinois  abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com  Illinoisans who need a notary public can now access those services online through a new “E-Notary” portal launched by the secretary of state’s office. This process is one of the latest initiatives of Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ ongoing effort to modernize the office and its services.  Notaries…