Local News

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Dr. Samer Rajjoub, a surgeon at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital, recently celebrated his 500th robotic surgery. (Supplied photos)

Local physician surpasses 500th robotic surgery at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital

Northwestern Medicine Palos Heights Hospital is celebrating an exciting milestone for one of its surgeons. Dr. Samer Rajjoub, a surgeon at Palos Hospital, recently celebrated his 500th robotic surgery with state-of-the-art da Vinci robots that allow surgeons to perform complex minimally invasive procedures with more precision, often leading to less pain for the patient post-surgery…

Owners of Magical Keys Institute of Music are joined by Palos Hills officials at the grand opening on Sept. 26. Taking part in the festivities were (from left) Kasia Szczech-Dlugosz, Bernadette Szczech, mother of the sisters; Mayor Jerry Bennett, Stan Szczech, father of the sisters; Ald. Donna O'Connell (5th), Ruby, the Palos Hills mascot, and Karolina Szczech. (Photos by Joe Boyle)

A Symphony of Dreams: Sisters open music school in Palos Hills

Two sisters are aiming to bring the power of music to the southwest suburbs. Kasia Szczech-Dlugosz and her younger sister, Karolina Szczech, opened the Magical Keys Institute of Music at 7840 W. 103rd St., Palos Hills, about three weeks ago. They celebrated with a grand opening on Thursday, Sept. 26, to greet the community and…

Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church is proudly celebrating 115 years as a parish and 50 years residing in the Palos Hills community. (Supplied photos)

Honoring Faith and Tradition: Saints Constantine & Helen Church Celebrates 115 Years

A spiritual and social center to meet, practice, and preserve the Orthodox religion and Greek culture, Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church is proudly celebrating 115 years as a parish and 50 years in the Palos Hills community. “When a community of believers comes together in faith and the love of Christ, then He…

Morgan Lietz, 17, of Crestwood, and her father, Dan at the Community High School District 218 September board meeting where Morgan was recogonized for her efforts promoting the importance of organ donation.

A Legacy of Compassion: How One Family’s Fight for Organ Donation Continues After Tragedy

Vikki Tulcus devoted her life to helping others as an advocate for organ donation, touching countless lives.  As fate would have it, Tulcus became someone in desperate need of a donor.  Her story is one of compassion, dedication and tragedy.  Diagnosed with Wegener’s Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease, Tulcus faced her own need for an…

With the renovation of the Fine Arts Center taking place at Shepard High School, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights, “Romeo & Juliet” was held outside last weekend. (Supplied photo)

From Grass to Verona: Shepard Students Transform Outdoors for Unique Romeo & Juliet Experience

Duffy Donovan is a junior at Shepard High School who loves theater. At just 16, Donovan has landed the role of a lifetime—playing Juliet in the school’s first-ever outdoor performance of Romeo & Juliet. The outdoor setting was a requirement due to the ongoing renovation of the school’s Fine Arts Center. With Shepard High School’s…

The Fire's Hugo Cuypers (right) and Toronto's Deybi Flores follow the ball in a Sept. 28 battle. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Pro soccer report: Fire eliminated from MLS playoffs again

The Chicago Fire’s chances for the playoffs officially ended at SeatGeek stadium. With a 1-1 tie with Toronto FC on Sept. 28 in front of an announced crowd of 16,097 in Bridgeview, the Fire (7-16-9) have been eliminated from the Major League Soccer postseason picture for the 11th time in the past 12 seasons. “This…

Mother McAuley players and fans rejoice after the Mighty Macs' win Sept. 26 at Marist. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Girls Volleyball | Hot time for Mother McAuley in rivalry win over Marist

Hot gym. Hot rivalry. It was all getting to Mother McAuley hitter Sydney Buchanan a little bit. So, during crunch time, she pounded kill after kill in the second set and the Mighty Macs took a 26-24, 25-23 road victory over Marist on Sept. 26 in a neighborhood rivalry game in a packed gym that…

Stuart Ross, shown in a game last season, threw for three touchdowns on Sept. 28 in a victory over Concordia Ann Arbor. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)

Area Sports Roundup: St. Xavier football holds off Concordia Ann Arbor

St. Xavier’s football team got pressed a little in the fourth quarter when Concordia Ann Arbor (Mich.) returned a fourth-quarter interception for a touchdown to make it a one-score game. But kicker Peyton Benes relieved the tension with a 23-yard field goal with 2 minutes, 24 seconds to play in what turned out to be…

Brother Rice senior wide receiver Jimmie Maxson, seen here making a catch earlier this season in a game versus Marist, caught 14 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown in a 28-21 loss to Loyola on Sept. 20. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

K.J. Morris kick-starts Brother Rice in romp past St. Patrick

As beginnings go, it’s tough to top the one that K.J. Morris provided his Brother Rice teammates. On the opening kickoff of the Crusaders’ 48-0 CCL/ESCC crossover victory over St. Patrick at Triton College in Week 5, Morris sprinted 95 yards for a touchdown. For an encore, Morris returned a punt 45 yards for a…

Logo-Richards

North Dakota State commit Myles Mitchell, Richards race past Argo

Fans at Friday night’s South Suburban Red matchup between Richards and Argo hoping to see running back Myles Mitchell at his best were not disappointed. Mitchell powered the Bulldogs to an impressive 41-0 victory in Summit, carrying 29 times for 191 yards and five touchdowns. The North Dakota State commit found the end zone on…

Illinois News

In bribery trial, AT&T lobbyists detail contentious meeting with Madigan ally

In bribery trial, AT&T lobbyists detail contentious meeting with Madigan ally

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – On an afternoon in late April 2017, recently retired state Rep. Eddie Acevedo was called to a meeting in the state Capitol in Springfield. The 20-year veteran lawmaker had joined his sons’ lobbying firm and was looking for work. Meeting with a trio of lobbyists for…

A year after end of cash bail, early research shows impact less than many hoped or feared

A year after end of cash bail, early research shows impact less than many hoped or feared

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – One year after Illinois became the first state in the nation to eliminate the use of cash bail, the impact on the state’s criminal justice system appears to have been far less dramatic than people on either side of the debate had predicted. That, at least,…

ADM carbon sequestration project violated Safe Drinking Water Act, per EPA

ADM carbon sequestration project violated Safe Drinking Water Act, per EPA

By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com DECATUR – Agribusiness giant ADM violated federal regulations, a federal permit and the Safe Drinking Water Act earlier this year when a monitoring well at their carbon sequestration site in Decatur leaked liquified carbon dioxide into “unauthorized zones,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In an August…

On witness stand, former AT&T lobbyist describes how Madigan ally got $22,500 contract

On witness stand, former AT&T lobbyist describes how Madigan ally got $22,500 contract

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – The day before Thanksgiving in 2016, then-AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza read some news that frustrated him. It seemed that energy giant Exelon, the parent company of Chicago-based electric utility Commonwealth Edison, was going to get a big assist from Springfield that would prevent it…

Coroner’s affidavit shows as many as 800 human remains could have been misidentified

Coroner’s affidavit shows as many as 800 human remains could have been misidentified

By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com As many as 800 families across the country who patronized a Carlinville funeral home may never know if the remains on their mantles belong to their loved ones, according to an affidavit signed by Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon. The affidavit was filed in a lawsuit pending against…

Calculated bribe or ‘kiss up’ to Madigan? Corruption trial kicks off for former AT&T boss

Calculated bribe or ‘kiss up’ to Madigan? Corruption trial kicks off for former AT&T boss

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – As the federal corruption trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza formally kicked off on Wednesday, prosecutors and defense attorneys painted two very different pictures of a political hire the telecom giant made in 2017. La Schiazza is accused of bribing former Illinois House…

Supreme Court hears cases pertaining to detention under the SAFE-T Act

Supreme Court hears cases pertaining to detention under the SAFE-T Act

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a pair of cases that test the authority of local courts to hold criminal suspects behind bars while they await trial. The cases come almost one year to the day after the court allowed a new law abolishing…

Supreme Court hears cases pertaining to detention under the SAFE-T Act

Supreme Court hears cases pertaining to detention under the SAFE-T Act

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a pair of cases that test the authority of local courts to hold criminal suspects behind bars while they await trial. The cases come almost one year to the day after the court allowed a new law abolishing…

Jury selection begins in trial of former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan

Jury selection begins in trial of former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday in the trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza, who federal prosecutors allege bribed once-powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation in Springfield. It’s the last in a series of related trials that…

East St. Louis forum to tackle persistent childhood poverty

East St. Louis forum to tackle persistent childhood poverty

By MOLLY PARKER  Capitol News Illinois  mparker@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois has the potential to eradicate childhood poverty, but it will require a concentrated, sustained effort in partnership with families and disadvantaged communities, says Tasha Green Cruzat, president of Children’s Advocates for Change, a Chicago-based nonprofit focused on childhood wellbeing. This hope drives the focus of the policy…