Local News
College Roundup: Saint Xavier women’s hoops heading to national tourney
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer St. Xavier’s women’s basketball team may have ended the conference tournament on a rough note, but it is still going to the NAIA National Tournament with a top-five seed in regionals. The Cougars (25-6) earned the fifth seed in the Omaha Sports Commission Bracket and will play No. 12 Bethel…
Lucky 13: Sandburg’s Josie Canellis is Illinois’ Queen of the Hill
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer During grade school, Josie Canellis wore the number 13 on various recreation and travel teams. She never found it to be an unlucky number. Even though she is wearing No. 5 for the Eagles, the junior still has some fond thoughts about 13, especially after competing in the IHSA 3-point…
St. Rita’s season comes to end against Kenwood
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer If this St. Rita team returns intact next season, look out. The Mustangs were six minutes away from winning their first sectional championship, holding a six-point lead against top-seeded Kenwood at the Class 4A Thornwood Sectional on March 4. The Broncos, however, roared back and went on a roll the…
Catholic kids ditch school masks
Public schools stick with pandemic regs By Tim Hadac Reports of local Catholic school children rejoicing over the lifting of mask mandates were widespread this week, while their parents reacted with a mix of opinions. “I’ve seen kids jubilant over this—some so much so that they appeared to be crying tears of joy,” said Garfield…
Say man shot 3 in Back of the Yards
Accused trio of plotting to have him killed By Tim Hadac A 59-year-old man has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in connection with the shooting of three men in his Back of the Yards home. Jesus Hernandez has confessed to the slayings, according to published reports, allegedly…
Standing with Ukraine
While the Southwest Side’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine appeared to be limited to prayers in churches last weekend, one Southwest Side elected official, 15th Ward Raymond Lopez, joined retired 11th Ward Ald. James A. Balcer and a handful of military veterans in a display of solidarity in the Loop. “Chicago must stand…
Rush anti-lynching bill passes House
Inspired by Emmett Till’s 1955 murder From staff reports A bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-1st) that would — for the first time in history — designate lynching as a federal hate crime passed the House of Representatives earlier this week by a 422-3 vote. The bill (H.R. 55) is called the…
Head in the stars, feet on the ground
‘Astro Joe’ brings astronomy to the people By Kelly White When Joseph Guzman was a child, he used to swipe his father’s binoculars and lie out in the backyard, exploring the urban skies with great fascination. The young boy did not know what he was observing, but he felt a strong attraction to the…
Don’t get sidelined by sports scams, BBB warns
By Better Business Bureau staff When shopping for a team jersey or other sports memorabilia, watch out for fakes. Scammers know that authentic game-used and/or autographed items can fetch big bucks – especially for items commemorating big games. When shopping online, it can be hard to trust that a seller or product is genuine. Follow…
St. Bede girls are volleyball champions
Members of the St. Bede School’s varsity girls volleyball team pose for a photo after their triumph last month as champions of the Scottsdale Park volleyball league. In a nine-team league, the Blue and White went 7-1 and prevailed in the championship match over St. Richard, 23-8 16-14. In recent years, St. Bede has been…
St. Rita tops Homewood-Flossmoor, vying for first sectional title
By Steve Millar Correspondent St. Rita’s Morez Johnson knows how deflating it is for an opponent when it plays strong defense and forces the Mustangs into a missed shot, only for Johnson to grab the rebound and score. “Those second-chance points hurt the other team a lot,” Johnson said after St. Rita defeated Homewood-Flossmoor in…
Snow brought out the best neighbors
By Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 I am not sure if we are officially done with the snow yet, or if it is just wishful thinking; but in either case I’d like to give a shout out and many thanks to my neighbors for…
Library has an offer you can’t refuse
By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 Here’s some good news for movie lovers. Monday night movies are back at West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St. On March 14, The Godfather will be shown at 4:45 p.m. Call ahead at (312) 747-7381 to reserve your spot. It’s not…
Easter egg hunt coming to Archer Park
By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 284-7394 I would love to write something witty and cheerful, but I just can’t do it right now. Watching the news, the situation of the world, our nation, etc. is a heavy load for all of us. There…
Newman notes fund infusion for Metra
From staff reports U.S. Rep. Marie Newman (D-3rd) recently announced that she has helped secure a $513.6 million award of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation (Metra). The new funds are intended to help transit agencies around the country maintain service and keep workers on the payroll as…
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Illinois News
State officials offer last goodbye to former Thompson Center as renovations begin
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO — State officials kicked off the private renovation of the building which once served as the state government’s Chicago headquarters. The James R. Thompson Center, as it was known under state ownership, was sold in 2022 to a development firm that is renovating the building for its…
Public officials seek greater oversight of prescription drug middlemen
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois draju@capitolnewsillinois.com As state lawmakers hold hearings targeting the role of pharmacy benefit managers – an influential arm in how the health insurance industry prices prescription drugs – multiple state agencies are considering how to better regulate the industry. Often referred to as pharmaceutical “middlemen,” PBMs act as third-party intermediaries…
Thousands of youths at risk of losing access to after-school programs
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Advocates for community-based after-school programs say as many as 40,000 youths statewide could lose access to tutoring services, recreation and other extracurricular activities this summer unless Illinois lawmakers approve an infusion of funds to keep them going. “The time is now for legislators to act to…
Lawsuit alleges sexual abuse was rampant in state-run juvenile detention centers
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Rampant sexual abuse occurred unchecked for decades at Illinois’ juvenile detention centers, a new lawsuit filed on behalf of 95 former detainees alleges, citing hundreds of incidents over more than two decades. The plaintiffs were boys between 12 and 17 years old when the alleged abuse occurred and…
House GOP advances 2 human trafficking victim protection bills as others remain in limbo
By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com After Illinois received another failing grade from a national advocacy group, state House Republicans have introduced legislation aimed at further protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators of human trafficking. Shared Hope International, an advocacy organization that works to prevent sex trafficking, said in its 2023 Illinois report card that…
Remembering Lee Milner
NEWS TEAM Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com On Wednesday, April 17, the Springfield, Illinois Capitol and journalism communities lost a devoted friend and advocate when Lee Milner passed away. As Dean Olsen wrote in his piece in the Illinois Times earlier this month, “Readers of Illinois Times often have seen Milner’s work as a freelance photojournalist. But…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…