Local News
Kids’ Free Days August 1-3 at Brookfield Zoo
From staff reports With the start of the new school year just around the corner, there is still time to take the family on a summer adventure to Brookfield Zoo. On August 1, 2, and 3, the zoo is offering free admission to children ages 11 and under. (Admission for adults and parking fee still…
Orland Park police nab felon with a gun, stolen car parts
From staff reports Orland Park police on patrol in the parking lot at 288 Orland Square Drive on July 21 were checking out an unoccupied vehicle with a Temporary Dealer Permit in the window when they saw a black handgun with an extended magazine on the driver’s side floorboard. A short time later, officers observed…
Most Holy Redeemer Carnival
Although it was delayed for several weeks, Most Holy Redeemer Parish was finally able to hold its annual summer carnival at the church grounds, 9525 S. Lawndale Ave. in Evergreen Park, from Thursday, July 21, through Sunday, July 24.
Cook County 4-H Fair on Saturday
By Bob Bong Did you know that Cook County has a county fair? That’s right, the same kind of county fair we are all aware of with projects by members of the Cook County 4-H, a parade of clubs, and even a livestock judging. The Cook County Fair was moved to Toyota Park in Bridgeview…
Traffic to shift next week on 88th/Cork Avenue Bridge in Justice
Move is part of the interchange work on Tri-State Tollway By Bob Bong Traffic on 88th/Cork Avenue in Justice is scheduled to shift onto the southbound side of the bridge next week as part of an interchange project on the Central Tri-State Tollway in Justice. Beginning at 7 a.m. on Monday, July 25, all traffic will shift…
Palos SD128 Supt. Brownlow completes Leadership Academy, named ISAL Fellow
Dr. Merryl Brownlow, superintendent of Palos Heights SD 128, has earned the unique distinction of being named an ISAL Fellow after completing the IASA School for Advanced Leadership academy, an 18-month program designed to elevate superintendent’s leadership skills and impact student achievement. Brownlow received her diploma during a graduation ceremony held June 17 at the…
Deja Brew benefit for Danny Golden
Oak Lawn’s Deja Brew Bar & Grill is selling a special burger to support CPD Officer Danny Golden, who was shot a paralyzed, anytime between July 21 and July 28. The Back the Blue burger is a 10-ounce beef patty, with maple bourbon BBQ sauce, cheddar, onion ring and thick cut bacon, along with a…
Pekau, Rossi visit paralyzed Chicago cop Golden
By Jeff Vorva Chicago police officer Danny Golden received a visit from Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau and the village’s police chief, Eric Rossi, Monday afternoon. Golden is paralyzed from the waist down after he was shot in the Beverly neighborhood in Chicago while trying to break up a fight at a bar on July…
Archdiocese to hold job fair at St. Linus
The Archdiocese of Chicago announced it will hold job fairs to fill parish and school positions at three locations, including St. Linus in Oak Lawn, on Thursday, July 28. The job fairs are aimed at recruiting new and experienced teachers, early retirees and those seeking career change to fill full- and part-time teacher and principal positions,…
Gaelic Park to host Continental Youth Championships
The Chicago Gaelic Athletic Association will host the 2022 Continental Youth Championships at Gaelic Park this July 28-31. The CYC is an annual tournament that rotates cities and features hundreds of Gaelic football, hurling, and camogie games. Over 1,500 youth players representing 22 clubs from all over the United States as well as Canada will…
Rest easy, Nathan
By Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com I am heartbroken as I write to you today. It’s only been two days since my family lost our dog, a lovable mutt (a rat terrier mix, we were told when we adopted him from a shelter) named Nathan. He was 7…
Driving a bus not magical
But it feels that way, I learned By Steve Metsch En route to my debut driving a school bus, I got psyched up listening to “Magic Bus” by The Who. “I don’t want to cause no fuss,” Roger Daltrey sang, “but can I buy your magic bus?” I didn’t have $100,000 to buy a new…
‘Me? A school bus driver?’
Yes you, First Student says By Tim Hadac In a world where “Help Wanted” signs now outnumber “Wear a Mask” signs by about a thousand to one (or so it seems), employers across the board are scrambling to compete for prospective employees like never before. Having a leg up on the competition are companies already…
City giving away bicycles
From staff reports A new program that will provide 5,000 free bikes, as well as maintenance and safety equipment, to Chicagoans by 2026, began earlier this week. Called Bike Chicago, the effort will see at least 500 bikes distributed to age and income-eligible Chicagoans throughout the program’s first year. Over the next four years, the Chicago…
Prayers in the park, for peace
A handful of Clearing and Garfield Ridge residents gathered last week at Hale Park to pray for peace, the well-being of police officers and an end to violence in the city. Organized by Clearing resident Jennifer New, the circle included several local faith leaders, as well as 23rd Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares. Tentative plans call…
Hot Dog Day in Palos Park
The Village of Palos Park presents: Hot Dog Day on Thursday, July 21, from 5-7:30 p.m. on the Village Green, 8901 W. 123rd Street. Music is provided by LEGACY, playing vintage rock and soul. Come on out and enjoy fresh grilled hot dogs with friends and family! Picnic tables will be available. Hot dogs –…
Palos South assistant principal cited for work promoting safe schools
Palos South Assistant Principal Meagan Doornbos has been recognized by the Illinois Chapter National School Public Relations Association for her work promoting the efforts of the Palos South Save Promise Club. Doornbos received the Award of Excellence in the school administrator category at an awards luncheon in Bolingbrook on May 13. Her efforts have included…
Orland Fire District dedicates training center in honor of former Chief Robert Buhs
The Orland Fire Protection District, ranked as having one of the highest “save rates” in the nation, dedicated the Robert M. Buhs Education & Leadership Development Center on July 15 in honor of a former fire chief who officials said was the district’s chief architect. Orland Fire Chief Michael Schofield said the Fire District Board of Trustees, including President…
Veterans and families enjoy a banner day on Orland Park
By Jeff Vorva When former Stagg teacher Diane Gurnea looks up and sees the banner displayed on Ravinia Avenue and 143rd Street in Orland Park, she can’t help but to be proud. Her father, John Langevin, and uncle, Robert Langevin, share a banner that was recently erected. The Village of Orland Park held its Hometown…
It doesn’t have to be this way
By Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com Today I begin on a note of profound sadness. One of our own, a Garfield Ridge police officer, took her own life recently. I normally don’t name suicide victims, but CPD Officer Patricia “Patsy” Swank left a young son behind, and her…
Illinois News
Jury deadlocks, mistrial declared in case of ex-AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A federal judge on Thursday declared a mistrial after a jury deadlocked in their deliberations over whether former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza bribed longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan via a no-work contract for the speaker’s political ally. After nearly 15 hours of deliberation…
High court: Smell of burnt cannabis is not cause for warrantless vehicle search
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Law enforcement officers in Illinois cannot rely on the smell of burnt cannabis alone to justify searching a vehicle without a warrant, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. The decision was unanimous, though Justice Lisa Holder White did not take part in it. Writing for the court,…
State wraps up case in challenge to assault weapons ban
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – A federal judge invoked images from the 1917 race riots in East St. Louis, Illinois, on Thursday at the end of a trial in a case challenging the constitutionality of the state’s ban on assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines. Judge Steven McGlynn, who has…
Gun expert says assault weapons ban ‘describes the most popular firearms I’m involved with’
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – A firearms expert testified Wednesday that the weapons restricted under Illinois’ assault weapons ban include many of the most common firearms that American consumers use for self-defense. Steven Randall Watt, a combat veteran and retired law enforcement officer who now owns a private firearms…
Case of former AT&T boss accused of bribing Madigan heads to jury
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – On Valentine’s Day in 2017, then-AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza got some good news: After years of trying to push for legislation in Springfield that would save the company hundreds of millions of dollars annually, powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan had agreed to a…
State Supreme Court hears arguments in Jussie Smollett’s effort to overturn conviction
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in actor Jussie Smollett’s appeal to overturn his conviction on disorderly conduct charges for falsifying a hate crime. Smollett, who was an actor on the TV show “Empire,” was improperly charged with the same crime twice, his legal team…
Testimony continues in 2nd Amendment challenge to Illinois’ assault weapons ban
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – An engineer who spent decades designing weapons for one of the world’s leading gun manufacturers testified Tuesday that the assault-style weapons now banned in Illinois are intended only for civilian use and cannot be easily converted into military-grade firearms. James Ronkainen, a former engineer…
Contractor’s unsecured databases exposed sensitive voter data in over a dozen Illinois counties
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Around 4.6 million records associated with Illinoisans in over a dozen counties – including voting records, registrations and death certificates – were temporarily available on the open internet, according to a security researcher who identified the vulnerability in July. The documents were available through an unsecured cloud storage…
Prosecutors rest case against former AT&T Illinois boss accused of bribing Madigan
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – After years of pushing in Springfield, AT&T Illinois’ executive team was thrilled when the Illinois General Assembly in 2017 passed legislation that would get the company out from under expensive obligations to maintain its aging copper landline wires in Illinois. “Game over. We win,” AT&T Illinois…
Trial begins in challenge to assault weapons ban
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com EAST ST. LOUIS – The owner of a gun store testified Monday that Illinois’ ban on the sale of assault-style weapons and large capacity magazines has had a significant impact on his business and prevented his customers from buying items they would normally use for self-defense, hunting, target…
