Local News

reporter worth welcome sign

Worth vehicle sticker applications ‘lost’ in the mail

By Bob Bong / May 16, 2024 /

By Joe Boyle Worth Village Clerk Bonnie Price said that even though application forms for village vehicle stickers were sent out to the post office last month residents were still waiting to receive those applications. “We have been doing this for 15 years,” Price said during the Worth Village Board meeting May 7. “This has never……

Read More
evergreen park logo

Evergreen Park recognizes police for valor

By Bob Bong / May 10, 2024 /

By Joe Boyle The Evergreen Park police have been cited for valor after several key arrests that occurred the past couple of months. Police Chief Michael Saunders requested commendations for the officers during the Evergreen Park Village Board meeting Monday night. Mayor Kelly Burke and the board applauded the efforts of the force. Police were……

Read More
reporter 5 5 24 HH Officer Daniel Balzhiser his dad John Balzhiser

Hickory Hills police bid adieu and say welcome

By Bob Bong / May 10, 2024 /

By Nuha Abdessalam The Hickory Hills Police Department bid a fond farewell to Lieutenant Glenn Tienstra and welcomed new Officer Daniel Balzhiser. On a memorable Thursday evening, April 25, city hall was filled with the warmth of community family, friends, officers, and council members, all gathered to joyfully celebrate Officer Balzhiser and respectfully commemorate Lieutenant……

Read More
2 13

Worth Library celebrates 60th anniversary

By Kelly White / May 2, 2024 / Comments Off on 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,”……

Read More
reporter 4 16 24 EP officers photo 4 18

Capacity crowd speaks out against Evergreen Park dispensary

By Bob Bong / April 26, 2024 / Comments Off on Capacity crowd speaks out against Evergreen Park dispensary

By Joe Boyle Additional chairs had to be brought out to seat an overflow crowd of Evergreen Park residents who attended a meeting April 15 regarding a proposed cannabis dispensary for the village. And many who were in attendance voiced their opposition to having a dispensary in Evergreen Park. Most of the people cited safety, traffic……

Read More
reporter 4 23 24 CR solarbration2

Solarbration: Chicago Ridge celebrates fun in the sun

By Kelly White / April 24, 2024 / Comments Off on Solarbration: Chicago Ridge celebrates fun in the sun

By Kelly White The sun is shining and after a long winter, Chicago Ridge residents ready for it. In honor of National Solar Appreciation Day, the Chicago Ridge Park District offered residents the opportunity to come out and celebrate with a Solarbration, the free event was held outside of Freedom Activity Center, 6252 Birmingham St.,……

Read More
reporter 4 23 24 oak lawn hometown heroes photo 4 25

Oak Lawn trustee says village needs state grocery tax

By Bob Bong / April 24, 2024 / Comments Off on Oak Lawn trustee says village needs state grocery tax

By Joe Boyle An Oak Lawn trustee said that Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposal to eliminate the state’s grocery tax will be costly for the village. Trustee William “Bud” Stalker (5th), accompanied by Mayor Terry Vorderer, recently returned from a fact-finding trip to Springfield where they learned more about the governor’s proposal to eliminate the grocery……

Read More
reporter 4 16 24 oak lawn coloring contest photo 4 11

Oak Lawn honor Fire and Public Safety Contest winners

By Bob Bong / April 19, 2024 /

By Joe Boyle The Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce presented awards to the winners of the 2023 Fire and Public Safety Coloring Book Contest at the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting on April 9. Fire Bureau Chief David Wheeler and Police Chief Daniel Vittoro were on hand to present the plaques, along with Oak Lawn Mayor……

Read More
reporter 4 16 24 Hickory Hills Andre Showers with fiance Destiny pinning him

Hickory Hills adds new police officer

By Bob Bong / April 18, 2024 /

By Nuha Abdessalam Hickory Hills Police Chief Jason Bray welcomed Andre Showers as the city’s newest police officer during last week’s city council meeting. Aldermen and the community at the April 11 meeting helped celebrate the induction of the Showers, 21. He’s an Army veteran and a 2023 Cook County Correctional Camp graduate at Moraine……

Read More
reporter worth police car

Worth police join task force to combat auto thefts

By Bob Bong / April 18, 2024 / Comments Off on Worth police join task force to combat auto thefts

By Joe Boyle An agreement has been reached between the villages of Worth and Thornton regarding participation in the Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Task Force. Worth Police Chief Tim Denton said the approval of the memorandum to participate in the task force is necessary. “It’s no secret that there has been an increase in auto……

Read More
new rainbow cone flavors

Rainbow Cone adds 4 new flavors

By Bob Bong Chicago’s iconic Original Rainbow Cone has been evolving over the past few years. First, it joined forces with the folks at Buono Beef and expanded its presence from its original location in Beverly to offer cones at Buono Beef locations and a few stand-alone stores as well as food trucks. Last year,……

Gary's wife, Claire Sievers, his son, Brian Sievers, and daughter-in-law, Jenna Venezia, were in attendance to accept the honor on his behalf. (Supplied photo)

EPCHS adds Emmy-winning actor Gary Sievers to Hall of Fame

Evergreen Park Community High School has added a name to its list of Hall of Famers. Gary Sievers, a 1968 EPCHS graduate who became well-known for his acting, public speaking, work in radio and television, community service, civic leadership and teaching, was posthumously inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame during the Honors Night ceremony……

reporter worth welcome sign

Worth vehicle sticker applications ‘lost’ in the mail

By Joe Boyle Worth Village Clerk Bonnie Price said that even though application forms for village vehicle stickers were sent out to the post office last month residents were still waiting to receive those applications. “We have been doing this for 15 years,” Price said during the Worth Village Board meeting May 7. “This has never……

Bringing the Titanic back to life was the Worth Public Library on April 15 with a program called, The Haunted Titanic, with local historian Bob Trzeciak. (Photo by Kelly White)

Titanic memories haunt Worth Library

By Kelly White This year marks the 112th anniversary of the Titanic’s fateful ship crossing. Bringing the ship back to life was the Worth Public Library on April 15 with a program called, The Haunted Titanic, with local historian Bob Trzeciak, who walked patrons through the history, the lasting impact, and why it has remained……

Helen Welch will perform songs from “The American Song Book” this weekend at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights. (Supplied photo)

Southwest Symphony presents ‘American Song Book’

From staff reports Southwest Symphony Orchestra will perform “The American Song Book” this weekend at Trinity College in Palos Heights. The performance will feature Grammy nominated Helen Welch under the direction of David Crane at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Auditorium. Welch will perform some of America’s best loved classics. The evening……

Herbs, planters and a variety of flowers were popular items at Dotson's Farm during the first Evergreen Park Farmers Market on May 2. (Photos by Joe Boyle)

Shoppers welcome back Evergreen Park Farmers Market

By Joe Boyle Rain was forecast for the morning of May 2, but nothing could dampen the spirits of customers who dropped by the Evergreen Park Farmers Market. The large crowd that attended were instead greeted with mostly sunny skies. Beth Novotney, director of the Evergreen Park Office of Citizen Services that oversees the market,……

evergreen park logo

Evergreen Park recognizes police for valor

By Joe Boyle The Evergreen Park police have been cited for valor after several key arrests that occurred the past couple of months. Police Chief Michael Saunders requested commendations for the officers during the Evergreen Park Village Board meeting Monday night. Mayor Kelly Burke and the board applauded the efforts of the force. Police were……

John Balzhiser pins a police badge onto his son, Daniel’s, uniform in Hickory Hills. (Photos by Nuha Abdessalam)

Hickory Hills police bid adieu and say welcome

By Nuha Abdessalam The Hickory Hills Police Department bid a fond farewell to Lieutenant Glenn Tienstra and welcomed new Officer Daniel Balzhiser. On a memorable Thursday evening, April 25, city hall was filled with the warmth of community family, friends, officers, and council members, all gathered to joyfully celebrate Officer Balzhiser and respectfully commemorate Lieutenant……

South Side community partners invested in female athletics at the high school, 3737 W. 99th St., Chicago, through the design, implementation and unveiling of lights and a scoreboard on the school's state of the art turf field with an event called, “Light Up the Field” on April 30. (Supplied photo)

Mother Mac unveils new lights and scoreboard

By Kelly White Across the nation, women’s sports are on the rise in terms of viewership, enthusiasm, sponsorship and excitement. Mother McAuley is no stranger to the impact that women’s athletics has on the development of an individual, strengthening of a team and key skills and attributes developed along the way. South Side community partners……

The Village of Palos Park hosted its 31st annual Arbor Day Celebration on May 5. (Photos by Kelly White)

Cicadas in the park in Palos Park

By Kelly White Cicadas are coming and the Village of Palos Park is ready. The village hosted its 31st annual Arbor Day Celebration on Sunday, May 5, themed, “The Wonder of Trees” at The Center in the Lodge, 12700 Southwest Highway, with featured speaker, Tricia Bethke of The Morton Arboretum who presented, “Cicadas in the……

Illinois News

LaSalle investigation prompts legislation strengthening inspectors general

LaSalle investigation prompts legislation strengthening inspectors general

By SARAH MANSUR Capitol News Illinoissmansur@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Lawmakers representing the LaSalle Veterans’ Home, including Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, unveiled new legislation that would allow inspectors general of state agencies to subpoena former state employees. The legislation was prompted by an investigation into the COVID-19 outbreak last year at the LaSalle home that killed 36……

Watchdog report finds COVID-19 safety protocols not enforced at Pulaski County jail

Watchdog report finds COVID-19 safety protocols not enforced at Pulaski County jail

By SARAH MANSUR Capitol News Illinoissmansur@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — An unannounced inspection by federal authorities of the Pulaski County Detention Center found that supervisors were not enforcing COVID-19 safety protocols, such as masking and social distancing requirements, for inmates being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The jail in Pulaski County, which is in the……

Senate passes Medicare, tax zone legislation

Senate passes Medicare, tax zone legislation

By RAYMON TRONCOSO Capitol News Illinoisrtroncoso@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Capping off a slow legislative week as the General Assembly grapples with drawing redistricting maps, the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year and massive energy overhaul legislation, the Senate passed 14 bills Thursday, most of them unanimously. Senate Bill 1747, introduced by Grayslake Democratic Sen. Melinda……

CAPITOL RECAP: Pritzker announces plans for broader reopening

CAPITOL RECAP: Pritzker announces plans for broader reopening

By Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday that Illinois will enter the “bridge” phase to full reopening on Friday, May 14. And barring any reversal of current trends, Phase 5, or full reopening, will begin on June 11. He also announced that residents can now obtain COVID-19 vaccines from their physicians’……

Pritzker: Broader reopening to begin next week

Pritzker: Broader reopening to begin next week

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker said Thursday that Illinois will enter the “bridge” phase to full reopening on Friday, May 14. And barring any reversal of current trends, Phase 5, or full reopening, will begin on June 11. He also announced that residents can now obtain COVID-19 vaccines from……

Pritzker now says budget can include added $350 million for K-12 schools

Pritzker now says budget can include added $350 million for K-12 schools

By JERRY NOWICKI and TIM KIRSININKAS Capitol News IllinoisJnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.comtkirsininkas@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Citing an “improved” economic outlook, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday his support to increase evidence-based education funding in the state by $350 million in fiscal year 2022 which begins July 1. In his February budget proposal, Pritzker originally proposed flat spending for education, citing……

GOP leaders call out House Dems for redistricting ‘hypocrisy’

GOP leaders call out House Dems for redistricting ‘hypocrisy’

By GRACE BARBIC and SARAH MANSUR Capitol News Illinois gbarbic@capitolnewsillinois smansur@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Illinois House Republicans continue to demand a “fair” redistricting process, following a news report depicting Democratic lawmakers meeting behind a closed door to discuss the mapmaking process. The “secretive” room on Capitol grounds where House Democrats are said to be drawing maps……

Bill proposes standardized election procedures

Bill proposes standardized election procedures

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Two Republican senators have introduced legislation to standardize the way local election authorities across Illinois handle elections, from the training of election judges to posting information about delays in election night ballot counting. Sens. Sally Turner, of the Logan County town of Beason, and Sue Rezin, of……

Illinois law enforcement community honors officers killed in line of duty

Illinois law enforcement community honors officers killed in line of duty

By TIM KIRSININKAS Capitol News Illinoistkirsininkas@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – After a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, members of Illinois’ law enforcement community gathered in Springfield Thursday to honor officers killed in the line of duty in 2019 and 2020. In a ceremony at the Illinois State Capitol, the names of 16 Illinois officers……

Illinois Attorney General responds to cybersecurity attack, audit warning

Illinois Attorney General responds to cybersecurity attack, audit warning

By SARAH MANSUR Capitol News Illinois smansur@capitolnewsillinois SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Wednesday addressed the recent cyber breach of his office’s online network, as well as an audit of his office released earlier this year that warned of weaknesses in its cybersecurity programs. Raoul told a House committee his office has implemented……