Local News
Invest in Cook transportation projects coming to south suburbs
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle joined the County’s Department of Transportation and Highways last week to announce the list of 35 projects that will receive funding under the 2024 ‘Invest in Cook’ grant program, including projects in Summit, Forest View, Evergreen Park and Worth Township. A total of $7,995,113 will be distributed across 26 municipalities, four…
Oak Lawn families enjoy a ‘night out’
Oak Lawn Police Chief Daniel Vittorio recalled the first National Night Out event planned for the village. He was working with the canine unit at the time and said there is one main difference now compared to back then. “The biggest difference is with the new board and having more committees,” Vittorio said. “The Special…
Oak Lawn police make arrest in 2022 robbery at Reichman Jewelers
Oak Lawn police have arrested a suspect in the July 2022 robbery of Reichman Jewelers in which one of the co-owners was shot and critically wounded. The robbery occurred at 2 p.m. on July 1, 2022. Three male black men entered the store, drew their firearms and disarmed the security guard. As the robbery continued,…
Crowds savor this year’s Taste of Orland
The days of summer are dwindling but that did not stop Orland Park from savoring the last of the season with a three-day food festival. The Tate of Orland Park was held the weekend of August 4 at Orland Park’s Metra Station at 15609 Park Station Blvd., Orland Park. This was the first time for…
Palos Park gets a jump on National Night Out
By Kelly White The Village of Palos Park has taken the traditional National Night Out and turned it into a week of fun-filled events. Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters and Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk joined forces to create “National Night Out Week” — a week of events geared to heighten crime prevention, safety awareness, neighbors…
Orland Township helps kids get ready for new school year
The summer clock is winding down and Orland Township was there to get ready to prepare students to enter back into the classroom with its annual Back-To-School Health Fair. Presented by Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady and the Orland Township Board of Trustees, the free health fair was held on July 28 at the township,…
Taste of Orland Park returns this weekend
From staff reports Orland Park’s annual Taste of Orland Park presented by Northwestern Medicine arrives at the new Centennial Park West August 2 through 4. Now in its 21st year, the Taste of Orland Park showcases Orland Park eateries, community organizations and several bands throughout the weekend. Special events within the fest include three days…
Palos Park seeks grants to help pay for police body cameras
By Jeff Vorva Per a mandatory law by the state, smaller communities’ police forces are required to equip their officers with body cameras starting Jan. 1. Larger and mid-size towns have been using bodycams in recent years and now towns such as Palos Park are preparing for it. The problem is that while it is…
Palos Heights police officers cited for saving resident
By Nuha Abdessalam Palos Heights Mayor Robert Straz, city council members, and Police Chief William Czajkowski recognized Officers Grady Connell and Jake Wiegrand for their exceptional performance and duty. Their swift and decisive actions, a testament to their professionalism, resulted in a life-saving award. At the July 16 Palos Heights City Council meeting, Czajkowski recounted…
Palos Heights Senior Living resident turns 100
By Kelly White Jack Quinn is a modest man who enjoys spending time with his family and friends. A resident at Palos Heights Senior Living, 7100 W. College Drive, Quinn proudly celebrated his 100th birthday with those he loves most on Thursday, July 18. “I can’t believe it,” Quinn said. “I’m working on the second…
Shepard High School welcomes new principal
By Kelly White Shepard High School is kicking of the new school year with a new principal. The high school, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos Heights, welcomed Dr. Timothy Baker into the role of principal as of July 1. “As principal of Shepard High School, it is my responsibility as the instructional leader to ensure…
Palos Park plans week of National Night Out events
Police Commissioner Dan Polk says Palos Park is not content with a single National Night Out, so the village has planned a week’s worth of events to celebrate the annual get-together of first responders and residents. Events will begin with Coffee with the Chief at 7 p.m. Friday, August 2, at police headquarters at 8999…
Orland Park to get new village manager next spring
By Jeff Vorva Orland Park will be on the lookout for a village manager next spring. Current manager George Koczwara, whose contract expires Oct. 14 and was not renewed by the village board, resigned in June but plans on fulfilling his obligations until that date. Mayor Keith Pekau said that an interim director will be…
Evita heading to the Olympics … again
By Jeff Vorva Evita Griskenas, of Orland Park, will compete in her second Olympics, representing the United States in rhythmic gymnastics in the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. Griskenas, a Sandburg graduate, qualified for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and finished 12th in the qualifying round in the individual all-around. She will be the only…
Andy’s Frozen Custard to open Friday in Garfield Ridge
By Bob Bong Andy’s Frozen Custard will open its first store in Chicago Friday morning in the Garfield Ridge community. The store at 5446 S. Mulligan Ave. will hold its ribbon cutting and golden scoop ceremony at 11 a.m. followed by its grand opening from 11:30 to 4 p.m. Guests will get to meet company…
Green Hills Library collecting back-to-school supplies
By Kelly White It may still be summer but the Green Hills Public Library District is preparing students for their return to the classroom. The library, 10331 Interlochen Dr., Palos Hills, is hosting a Back-to-School Collection Drive from now until Friday, August 9. “One of my biggest goals as a librarian has always been breaking…
Oak Lawn Library hosts Jazz Music Legends of Oak Lawn
By Kelly White The sweet sounds of jazz have filled the Oak Lawn Public Library. Patrons were invited out on April 27 for the unveiling of the library’s latest Local History exhibit, “Jazz Music Legends of Oak Lawn.” The exhibit will be on display at the library, 9427 Raymond Ave., Oak Lawn, for the rest…
Smith Village residents and employees celebrate 100 years of senior living
By Kelly White Residents at Smith Village residents and employees celebrated the 100th year of the senior living community by forecasting the future. Hundreds of Smith Village residents and employees at Smith Village, 2320 W. 113th Place, Chicago, along with community leaders and elected officials, marked the senior living community’s anniversary by looking into the…
EF1 tornado barrels through Justice and Bridgeview
By Carol McGowan An EF1 tornado, packing winds of 90 miles per hour, swept through Justice and Bridgeview Monday night. Village of Justice Public Works Director Joe Cekus said he knew trouble was on the way. “I was looking in the sky for rotation and I heard a train,” he said. “I quickly realized that…
Illinois News
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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…
