Local News
Property assessments released for Worth Township
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi last week released the initial assessments of residential and commercial properties in Worth Township. “I strongly encourage property owners to review their reassessment notice to ensure their property characteristics and market value reflect their home,” said Kaegi. “It is important to understand that assessments in Cook County reflect market value…
St. Laurence falls to Rochester, takes second in Class 4A
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer As a four-year varsity player at St. Laurence, Corey Taubr experienced three losing seasons before the Vikings made a stunning postseason run this year. They made it to the IHSA Class 4A final, where they lost 59-38 to Rochester on Nov. 24 at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois…
Nazareth tops Joliet Catholic for historic title win
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Nazareth football coach Tim Racki was bummed out. The Roadrunners had completed an historic season by defeating Joliet Catholic for the IHSA Class 5A championship, becoming the first team in IHSA history to enter the playoffs 4-5 and win a state title. They are also the first team to win…
St. Rita bests Kenwood for Prep Bowl title
By Mike Walsh Correspondent Nine is just fine as far as St. Rita is concerned. On Nov. 24 at Lane Stadium, the Mustangs defeated Kenwood 21-7 to win the 93rd Prep Bowl, the annual matchup between the Chicago Catholic League and Chicago Public League champions. The win gave St. Rita (8-5) its ninth Prep Bowl…
St. Joe’s closing for good
. Once was the largest Catholic parish in the area . By Tim Hadac More than a century of service to Roman Catholics in the westernmost section of Garfield Ridge, as well as suburban Summit, comes to an end this month as the lights go out for good at St. Joseph Church, 7240 W. 57th…
Orland Park uses home-rule to avoid state law on paid leave
By Jeff Vorva The Village of Orland Park has decided not to follow a state mandate requiring paid leave for most workers in Illinois. The village board on Nov. 20 approved a lengthy ordinance that basically says it will opt out of the Paid Leave for All Workers Act that takes effect on January 1.…
St. Rita beats Marist behind trio of Maxson TDs, will battle Kenwood in Prep Bowl
By Mike Walsh Correspondent St. Rita advanced to the Prep Bowl with a 24-14 win over Marist behind 168 receiving yards and three touchdowns from Jimmie Maxson III. The Mustangs will face Kenwood at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14 at Lane Stadium for the Prep Bowl championship. Maxson tallied on passes of 13, 23 and…
Mt. Carmel blasts Batavia, will face DG North for 7A championship
By Mike Walsh Correspondent It’s fitting that Mount Carmel will end its season in the same venue it began in late August. By virtue of a 64-26 dismantling of Batavia in an IHSA Class 7A semifinal on Nov. 18 in Chicago, the Caravan (12-1) advanced to the 20th state championship game in their history. Mount…
Nazareth enacts vengeance on St. Francis, will play for second straight state title
By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After an 0-4 start to the season, Nazareth went on an improbable run to land a playoff spot. Then, they made the most of their opportunity. The Roadrunners defeated Wheaton St. Francis, 38-31, in the IHSA Class 5A semifinals on Nov. 18 and will play for a second consecutive state championship.…
St. Laurence outlasts Wheaton Academy, advances to first state title game since 1979
By Tim Cronin Correspondent BURBANK – Many years from now, when the members of the 2023 St. Laurence Vikings possess a few gray hairs and perhaps a bit of a paunch, they’ll be able to regale listeners of their comeback season — one that followed a 3-6 campaign and which few outside of their locker…
Area Sports Roundup | Sandburg grad, former Bears OL Schofield signs with Lions
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Michael Schofield got the best of both worlds. On one hand, the former Sandburg and Michigan star offensive lineman wanted to squeeze out one more NFL season – his 10th – in 2023. When he hadn’t signed with team by August, he worked at Sandburg as a volunteer football coach…
College Roundup | Richards grad opens and closes for Moraine Valley
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Former Richards standout Deniza Fuentes has proven she can open and close games. The 5-foot-5 freshman guard not only opened things up on Nov. 16 in a nonconference game against the College of DuPage, she added a steal at the end of the game to seal a thrilling 63-61 road…
Girls Basketball | Big day for Reavis, Lopez
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer It was a big day for the Reavis girls basketball team. It was an even bigger day for Isabel Lopez. The Rams crushed Bremen, 51-29, on Nov. 18 to claim the title of the inaugural Chicago Christian Thanksgiving Tournament in Palos Heights. Lopez, Lilly Hernandez and Ella Frixen were named…
Play It Smart With Holiday Eating
Food Safety A Must During Any Gathering Eating is a huge part of any holiday celebration or get-together. But if you’re not careful with preparation and treatment of your special feast, your party could go from festive to misery before you even get the decorations packed away and the tree taken down. Food poisoning cases…
Orland Park community service officer injured directing traffic
An Orland Park Police Department community service officer was struck by a vehicle directing traffic Thursday night at Ashburn Baptist Church, 15401 Wolf Road, as parishioners were leaving a gospel music concert. As one of the community service officers attempted to stop traffic that was moving southbound on Wolf Road, the lead vehicle failed to…
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Illinois News
State health plan declares racism a public health crisis
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com A new state health report pinpoints racism as a public health crisis while also noting Illinois needs to improve in the areas of maternal and infant health, mental health and substance use disorders. The broad goals are laid out in a draft of the State Health Improvement Plan,…
For at least 6 months, state failed to act on Carlinville funeral director that mishandled remains
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com State regulators allowed a Carlinville funeral director to operate for months despite a complaint filed by a local coroner who found a decomposing body in his funeral home and alleged the care of the remains was “unacceptable and criminal in nature.” While trying to assist a local family…
Dolly Parton Imagination Library officially launches statewide in Illinois
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois families with infants and toddlers now have access to free children’s books that can be sent directly to their home, regardless of their income. Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday announced the official launch of the state’s partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program founded…
What to know about Illinois’ assault weapons ban
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Gun owners face a Jan. 1 deadline to register their assault weapons with the state under Illinois’ assault weapons law. But between lawsuits and ongoing policymaking, the exact guns, accessories and ammunition covered under the Protect Illinois Communities Act remain unclear to many gun rights advocates, who point…
Capitol Cast: Filing Day for 2024 primary brings frigid temps and election themes to Springfield
Capitol News Illinois Broadcast Director Jennifer Fuller talks with Editor-in-Chief Jerry Nowicki about the 2023 petition filing deadline for Illinois’ 2024 primary election. Capitol News Illinois · Capitol Cast: Filing Day for 2024 primary brings frigid temps and election themes to Springfield
Supreme Court rules teen bicyclist is covered by father’s auto insurance policy
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday that automobile insurance policies must cover people against uninsured motorists and hit-and-run accidents, even if the person covered by the policy is not in a vehicle at the time of the accident. The case involved a 14-year-old Chicago boy, Cristopher…
State high court finds medical personnel exemption to biometric information privacy law
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday ruled the state’s strongest-in-the-nation biometric information privacy law does have an exemption: health care workers who use fingerprints or similar scans to access things like medication, materials or patient health information. In a unanimous opinion, the justices ruled against a pair of…