Local News
Smookies win Pass Health Foods gluten-free baking competition
By Kelly White A local health food store provided a twist on a friendly baking competition this past weekend. Pass Health Foods, 7228 W. College Dr., Palos Heights, hosted a gluten-free baking contest on November 11. “We chose to have the contest gluten free because we have a large amount of gluten-free customers, both people…
Summit names Ortiz as new police chief
By Carol McGowan Summit trustees last week removed the word acting from Police Chief Mel Ortiz’s title. Ortiz had been acting as chief since John Kosmowski was placed on unpaid administrative leave in May 2022 after he and former Public Works Director Bill Mundy were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly sharing a…
Oak Lawn’s Walsh earns all sectional honors again
After finishing his third season on the Oak Lawn Community High School’s varsity boys soccer team this year, Dylan Walsh can admire some impressive numbers for himself. He scored 13 goals and five assists this season. He’s amassed 35 career goals. He’s contributed nine career assists. And now, he can reflect on earning his second…
Vic Portillo donates Fire Prevention Week materials
Bridgeview State Farm Agent Vic Portillo donated National Fire Prevention Week educational materials to the Bridgeview Fire Department on October 23. The donation includes 100 children’s activity booklets, adult brochures, 10 Tips for Fire Safety Brochures, magnets, stickers, and plastic bags to teach Bridgeview residents about fire safety and cooking safety specifically in accordance with…
Driver charged with reckless homicide after Orland crash
By Bob Bong A 23-year-old Broadview man has been charged with reckless homicide in a deadly crash last month at 151st Street and Harlem Avenue in Orland Park. Orland Park police responded to a report of a crash at the intersection of 151st and Harlem shortly after 4 a.m. on October 28. Upon arrival, officers determined…
Multi-town road project gets completion date
By Steve Metsch There appears to be an end to one long-running construction project in Countryside, McCook and Hodgkins. But another project has once again been extended in Countryside. The good news for motorists who drive on East Avenue between 55th Street may be bidding farewell to orange construction barrels and closed lanes. Roadwork on…
Pair charged in Summit bar burglary
By Bob Bong A Chicago man and a juvenile have been charged with burglary for breaking into a bar in Summit on October 10. Jailen Loggins, 19, of the 7900 block of South Woodlawn Avenue, and a 15-year-old male juvenile were charged with burglary of the Exit Saloon in the 6300 block of South Harlem…
Santa returns Friday to Orland Square for the holidays
Simon is pleased to announce Santa visits for families as part of the Simon Santa Photo Experience at Orland Square. Santa will make his traditional arrival at the mall aboard a fire truck, escorted by members of the Orland Park Fire Department, tomorrow evening, Nov. 10. The Santa Photo Experience will launch upon his arrival and will be…
3 pedestrians hit by vehicles in Palos Heights, 1 dies
By Bob Bong One man, one child and a visitor from England were all pedestrians struck by vehicles in the past week on Palos Heights streets. Edward Durica, 80, was killed when he was struck by a Honda Pilot while crossing Harlem Avenue in the middle of the 12300 block after dining at the Highlander…
Harvey man, woman charged in woman’s murder in Worth
By Bob Bong A man and woman from Harvey have been charged in the murder Saturday afternoon of a woman at an ATM in the 6800 block of West 111th Street in Worth. Tamara Jailynn Johnson, 22, and Jason Jerry Joseph Johnson, 23, were each charged Tuesday with first-degree murder. They were to appear in bond…
Fire hits Harlem Avenue hookah lounge
From staff reports Orland and Palos Heights firefighters responded to a structure fire early Saturday morning at a hookah lounge located in a corner surrounded by forest preserve land. At 5:06 a.m. on Oct. 21, companies of the Orland Fire Protection District and Palos Heights Fire District were dispatched in response to a possible structure…
Students take over Palos Heights City Hall
By Nuha Abdessalam Palos Heights eighth-graders took over city hall last week but it was a lesson in civics rather than a student uprising. The Palos Heights students who took the reins had entered an essay contest for the chance to swap roles with the city’s aldermen and Mayor Robert Straz. The Woman’s Club of…
Palos 118 Boys Softball Finishes First in SWIC Conference
Palos South Middle School’s boys’ softball team finished their season in first place in the Southwest Interscholastic Conference. The Cardinals finished with a regular season record of 10 wins and one loss. After two wins in the playoff tournament, the Cardinals faced off against the Orland Park Junior High Eagles in the championship game winning 11-1, finishing…
Minooka defense stymies Sandburg in 8A playoff opener
By Jason Maholy Sports Editor Sandburg’s potent offense never found its footing and the Eagles dropped their IHSA Class 8A playoff opener on a soggy night in Minooka. Junior quarterback Anthony Shelton hit Charlie Snorek on a 44-yard touchdown pass three minutes into the game, but the Eagles would not score again in a 27-7…
Richards rolls over Hubbard in first round of 6A playoffs
By Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Six different Richards players found their way into the end zone in a 55-7 win over Hubbard to open the IHSA Class 6A playoffs. Richards needed just 93 seconds to drive the ball 57-yard for their first score of the game, a Myles Mitchell 5-yard rushing touchdown. Mitchell and his running…
Football Class 6A Playoffs | Kaneland knocks out Riverside-Brookfield for second straight year
By Kyle Garmes Correspondent Sam Styler is in only his second year as head coach at Riverside-Brookfield, but he’d probably prefer if the Bulldogs didn’t have to see Kaneland in a first-round playoff matchup for a while. For the second consecutive year, R-B’s season ended at the hand of the Knights in the opening round…
Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park police arrest suspects in two bar robberies
From staff reports Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park police worked in conjunction to arrest two male suspects following two bar robberies that took place on Oct. 10. Police arrested Jarlen Loggins, 19, of the 7900 block of South Woodlawn Avenue in Chicago, and a 15-year-old male in connection with the robberies. According to police, the…
Oak Lawn’s Midnight Terror is scarier than ever
By Dermot Connolly The Midnight Terror haunted house in Oak Lawn is back—bigger and scarier than ever, according to its creator. Oak Lawn resident Justin Cerniuk has been operating Midnight Terror since 2014, primarily where it is located now, in a 26,000 square-foot warehouse at 5520 W. 111th St. “I have really been doing this for…
Neighbors open hearts for Adrianna
. Teacher slain on Narragansett sidewalk . By Tim Hadac Garfield Ridge has opened its heart to help pay expenses relating funeral services for a 37-year-old woman shot and killed on a sidewalk near 54th and Narragansett. In less than a week, some 188 people have donated a total of $16,454 to a GoFundMe page…
Garfield Ridge will endure, as always
. By Tim Hadac Editor Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound . Eight years ago, in the wake of a high-profile murder in a Garfield Ridge alley, I was the principal author of an editorial published in the Greater Southwest News-Herald, sister publication to the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound. I recalled that editorial this week as I…
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…
Illinois Supreme Court: FOID records exempt from public disclosure
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday that people may obtain records about their own Firearm Owners Identification cards, but they may not use the state’s Freedom of Information Act to do so. In a 7-0 ruling, the court said the Illinois State Police acted properly when…
Temporary staffing agencies seek to block new state labor law
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A group of temporary staffing agencies and their trade associations are asking a federal court to block enforcement of a new state law that governs how day laborers and temp workers are managed and paid. The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in Chicago, challenges several changes…
Former GOP senator, third-party governor candidate to represent himself in corruption trial
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Monday was supposed to have been the first day in the weeklong federal corruption trial of former Republican state Sen. Sam McCann, who allegedly misused more than $200,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses. A pull-down projector screen in the Springfield courtroom of U.S. District Judge…