U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (right) watches as President Joe Biden signs the Emmett Till Antilynching Act into law at a White House Rose Garden ceremony late last month.  – Photo courtesy of Congressman Rush’s Office

‘A day of enormous consequence’

Rush watches Biden sign Emmett Till law From staff reports The Emmett Till Antilynching Act, legislation sponsored and negotiated by U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-1st), was signed into law last week by President Joe Biden at a White House Rose Garden ceremony. The act passed the U.S. House on Feb. 28 by a 422-3 vote……

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Scouts learn, earn at camp

Last month, members of Boy Scout Troop 1441 (sponsored by the St. Mary Star of Sea Holy Name Society) attended a cabin camping trip at the Owasippe Scout Reservation in Twin Lakes, Mich. Staying in the historic Owasippe Guest lodge established in 1948, Scouts prepared all meals to earn rank advancements, enjoyed board games, hiking……

Former Riverside-Brookfield star Ryan Cermak celebrates a grand slam against Western Illinois. Photo courtesy of Illinois State University

College report: Former Riverside-Brookfield star homers in four consecutive at-bats

By Jeff Vorva Staff writer Former Riverside-Brookfield baseball standout Ryan Cermak is a leadoff hitter who is belting the ball like a cleanup hitter. The Illinois State University centerfielder hit three straight homers — including grand slams in consecutive at-bats— and broke a school record with 10 RBIs in a 15-7 victory over Western Illinois……

Chicago Fire II player Chinoso Offor (left) and Rochester’s Lamar Batista make nice in front of an official after they were jostling and shoving for a few minutes during the teams’ 0-0 tie on Sunday in Bridgeview. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Pro Soccer Report: Fire II gets a point, but still no goals after three games

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The new Chicago Fire II team is winless and scoreless through three games, but coach Ludovic Taillandier knows wins and losses are not the team’s main focus. The Fire II, which tied Rochester 0-0 April 10 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, is a mix of youth and Chicago Fire players……

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Marist sees better days ahead after rough start to season

By Steve Millar  Correspondent It’s been a tough start for Marist against a loaded schedule. But after the RedHawks fought back again and again in a 3-2 loss to 2021 Class 2A state runner-up Joliet Catholic on April 6 night at Joliet Memorial Stadium, there were plenty of reasons to think things are going to……

Lizzie Sedekis (white helmet) is congratulated by her Chicago Christian teammates after a home run against Timothy Christian on April 6 in Palos Heights. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Area Sports Roundup: Chicago Christian softball team looking to get their groove back

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Kevin Pittman said he’ll take some of the blame. The Chicago Christian softball and boys basketball coach has an annual tradition. After the rigors of the basketball season, he uses spring break to recharge. “When they asked me to take the softball job, I said I would do it for……

Mary Stanek

Can May flowers be far behind?

By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place •  (773) 284-7394 April showers bring May flowers, or so the saying goes. One could only wish. It seems it’s been a cold, rainy, slow start to spring. But Palm Sunday will soon be here. That usually is a nice……

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Rain can’t stop West Lawn fun

By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place •  (773) 504-9327 Even though the weather has been cold and rainy, there’s always something going on in West Lawn.  Last week, the Envision organization held its Market Day at the St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish Center. There were lovely homemade arts……

Kathy Headley

Construction season has arrived

By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 Well, it’s official. The portable toilet has arrived on our corner, which told me the work by the gas company contractors was set to begin. No sooner had the pot landed, I began to hear the sound of……

The Academy for Global Citizenship has ambition plans for a publicly-funded charter school in the Hearst area. --Supplied image

Pritzker green-lights Madigan improvement projects for SW Side

Were briefly frozen after indictment  By Tim Hadac Three public works projects affecting the Southwest Side appear to be back on track now that Governor JB Pritzker has given the green light to their state funding. Funding had been jeopardized briefly by a request from 10 state representatives (none from the Southwest Side), who in……

Illinois News

Once again working through the night, lawmakers finalize $53.1 billion budget

Once again working through the night, lawmakers finalize $53.1 billion budget

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com After a near-derailment and an all-nighter to wrap up the General Assembly’s spring session, supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House gave final legislative approval to the state budget as the sun rose Wednesday morning.  Despite holding 78 seats in the chamber, it took Democrats three tries to reach……

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……

Lawmakers move to pause – then further regulate – carbon dioxide pipeline development

Lawmakers move to pause – then further regulate – carbon dioxide pipeline development

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – After state regulators rebuffed several proposed carbon transport projects over the past year, lawmakers have moved to formally ban new projects until the federal government sets forth new safety rules. The technology is used to take carbon dioxide – a powerful greenhouse gas – and move……

Senate Democrats send $53.1B spending plan to House

Senate Democrats send $53.1B spending plan to House

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Two days after the General Assembly was scheduled to adjourn its spring session, Democrats in the Illinois Senate advanced a $53.1 billion budget to the House Sunday night, where leaders expect it to pass without changes. The fiscal year 2025 spending plan, which came together over a stretch……

Prairie Band Potawatomi land deal clears Senate, will head back to House

Prairie Band Potawatomi land deal clears Senate, will head back to House

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is a step closer to acquiring a 1,500-acre state park in DeKalb County, much of which was once part of a reservation that was illegally seized from the tribe in the mid-19 th century. As the Senate worked through its last……

Budget negotiations will extend into next week as House leaves Springfield

Budget negotiations will extend into next week as House leaves Springfield

By JERRY NOWICKI & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Democrats in the General Assembly will go at least three more days past their self-imposed adjournment deadline after failing to pass a budget bill Saturday, although the spending and revenue framework were made public for the first time. “The House and Senate are……

Maternal health, abortion protection measures advance as session nears end

Maternal health, abortion protection measures advance as session nears end

By ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com In the final days of their spring legislative session, Democrats in the General Assembly advanced measures aimed at expanding and protecting aspects of maternal and women’s health care. If signed into law, the measures would expand insurance coverage of pregnancy and postpartum services, maintain abortion as a viable……

Health insurance changes targeting ‘utilization management,’ more will head to governor

Health insurance changes targeting ‘utilization management,’ more will head to governor

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A package of health insurance reform measures that Gov. JB Pritzker called for at the beginning of the legislative session will soon be headed to his desk for his signature. The Illinois House gave final approval Saturday to a pair of bills that limit the ability……

Capitol Briefs: Republicans sue over law banning legislative candidate slating

Capitol Briefs: Republicans sue over law banning legislative candidate slating

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com One week after Gov. JB Pritzker signed an elections-related measure that his fellow Democrats quickly muscled through the General Assembly, Republicans sued over the new law, alleging the majority party is blocking ballot access to would-be legislative candidates. The law , passed early this month as the legislature’s……

Illinois Supreme Court considers expectation of privacy in hospitals

Illinois Supreme Court considers expectation of privacy in hospitals

By DILPREET RAJU  & ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – While Cortez Turner was in a hospital room being treated for a gunshot wound to his leg in 2016, police took his clothes. Now, the Illinois Supreme Court is weighing whether that action violated Turner’s expectation of privacy under the Fourth Amendment. The……