Local News
Oak Lawn girls take on Kenwood tonight for Regional title
By Brian Frangella Trying to win a conference championship in any sport requires the ability to overcome obstacles that may get in the way. Last year, it was the uncertainty and oddity of dealing with a global pandemic that presented challenges for the Oak Lawn Community High School girls basketball team. However, the Spartans captured…
Boys swim avenges early losses for second in SSC Red
By Brian Frangella After losing to both Shepard and Evergreen Park during the regular season, the Oak Lawn Community High School boys swim team knew it had its work cut out for it at the South Suburban Conference Red meet last weekend. And the Spartans were well prepared for the challenge as they battled to…
Orland Park arrests man as an armed habitual criminal
From staff reports A Chicago man was arrested in Orland Park last week after he was stopped and a handgun was found in his waistband. Police stopped a vehicle traveling northbound in the 16900 block of LaGrange Road about 10 p.m. on Monday, February 7. The vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation and the…
Orland Park police arrest federal parolee with weapon
From staff reports A Calumet City man was charged last week after he refused to leave a vehicle and a loaded handgun was found on the floorboard. Orland Park tactical officers were investigating a suspicious, unoccupied vehicle in the parking lot of 304 Orland Square Drive at 3:15 p.m. on Friday, February 11. During their…
More renovations planned for Worth golf course
By Joe Boyle Upgrades continue at Water’s Edge Golf Course in Worth with plans for an electronic message board to be erected on the property this year. An ordinance was approved for a license agreement with BRT Outdoor LLC concerning Water’s Edge Golf Course signage during the Worth Village Board meeting on Tuesday night. The…
Oak Lawn man charged with shooting brother 6 times
By Bob Bong An Oak Lawn man was charged last week with attempted murder after he allegedly shot his brother six times in a violent altercation. Police said they received a call of shots fired shortly after midnight on February 8 in the 9600 block of South Karlov Avenue. As officers were responding to the…
Palos Heights to re-open discussion on video gaming
By Jeff Vorva Video gaming discussion is back in Palos Heights. The Palos Heights City Council’s License, Permits and Franchises Committee will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on March 7 at the Orchard Room of the Palos Heights Recreation Center. Members of the committee, headed up by Alderman Brent Lewandowski, will talk about…
Foxx and YouTube face Pekau’s wrath
By Jeff Vorva The Cook County State’s Attorney and YouTube have Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau hot under the collar. Pekau continues to be upset with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx about felons who are free who are coming into his community with illegal weapons. And he is none too happy with YouTube taking…
Palos Park to allow Cog Hill to apply for video gaming
By Jeff Vorva At 8:25 p.m. Monday night the long-awaited decision was made on video gaming in Palos Park. After months of conversation and listening to businesses and the public, the village council voted 3-1 to allow the only Class G liquor license business in town – Cog Hill Golf and Country Club – to…
Pritzker, Ezike address plan to lift mask mandate
School mandates would remain in place for ‘coming weeks,’ pending court decision By Jerry Nowicki Capitol News Illinois and Tim Hadac If COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to decline for the rest of the month, Gov. JB Pritzker plans to lift his executive order that mandates face coverings indoors by Feb. 28. The plan does not apply…
Eagle healed, released to mate
Rescuers thrilled with victory By Kelly White Wildlife advocates last week released an eagle in the forest preserves several blocks northwest of Garfield Ridge. The eagle was the subject of a story last month in the Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound. The release marked the end of a six-week rehabilitation stint that started when the bird…
Ease off vax regs, aldermen ask
Quinn, Burke, Tabares say regs ‘cripple’ businesses By Tim Hadac With numbers of newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases falling across the city, the three aldermen serving Clearing and Garfield Ridge are among 11 City Council members who last week called on Chicago Department of Public Health Allison Arwady, M.D. to rescind a pandemic regulation many have…
Del Galdo named Super Lawyer for 12th straight year
Lauded by suburban mayors for skills From staff reports A national legal magazine is out with its 2022 list of best Illinois lawyers and tapped eight Chicago-area attorneys as the state’s “super” local government lawyers–including Berwyn-based attorney Michael Del Galdo, a recognition that drew praise from several suburban Cook County mayors. “Super Lawyers” magazine, part of…
They had my back when I was stuck
By Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com We’ve dug out from snowmagedon, and I want to personally thank the three people on 61st Street who came to my rescue when I got stuck in the snow. I was nervous and I was making all the mistakes a driver could…
Summit wants to hear from residents
The Village of Summit is looking to get input from its residents on a variety of issues. Summit, in partnership with Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, and the Illinois Housing Development Authority, is undertaking a Community Needs Assessment survey as a part of the Homes for a Changing Region process. This…
Lyons Township to co-sponsor St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Countryside
By Steve Metsch The annual Countryside St. Patrick’s Day Parade is getting a boost from the Township of Lyons. The township board unanimously approved a $1,000 sponsorship for the city’s popular event. “We have traditionally sponsored this event,” Township Supervisor Christopher Getty said at the board’s Feb. 8 meeting. “Although we have not participated in…
Lyons man ‘accomplished something’ with Kilimanjaro climb
By Steve Metsch Stephan Alheim of Lyons learned a lot about himself while making the 19,341-foot climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. He learned preparation is important, especially when it comes to breathing properly. He also learned to have faith in the climbing guides. And he learned to always bring an extra…
Lyons to raise water rate as Chicago charges more
By Steve Metsch With its hand forced by Chicago, the Lyons Village Board has unanimously approved an increase in the water rate. The new rates will take effect March 1. Lyons has no choice but to raise the rate since Chicago raised the rate it charges water suppliers that sell water to the village, Mayor…
2 hurt in Justice house fire
By Carol McGowan Two adults were taken to the hospital in good condition, with possible smoke inhalation, after a house fire at 8217 S. 85th Court in Justice last Thursday. The Roberts Park Fire Protection District was called to the fire just before 12:30 in the afternoon on February 10. Firefighters arrived on the scene…
Man charged in string of armed robberies in Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Hickory Hills
By Bob Bong A Chicago man has been charged in a string of armed robberies that took place in Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Hickory Hills and other communities. He was charged February 2 for the December 28 robbery of the Shell station at 12121 S. Ridgeland Ave. in Palos Heights. Palos Heights police said they…
Illinois News
Stateville may close as early as September under Pritzker’s prison plan
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Stateville Correctional Center could close as early as September under a plan laid out by Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration on Friday. Top officials with the Illinois Department of Corrections testified in front of a key panel of state lawmakers. The 12 members on the General Assembly’s…
Labor-backed bill banning ‘captive audience’ meetings awaits House action
By ALEX ABBEDUTO Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With two weeks left before the General Assembly’s spring session is set to adjourn, negotiations continue on a labor union-backed initiative that would allow Illinoisans to skip religious and political work meetings without reprimand. Dubbed the “Worker Freedom of Speech Act,” Senate Bill 3649 advanced out…
House gives OK to new state agency focused on early childhood programs
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House gave final passage Thursday to a bill establishing a new cabinet-level state agency whose mission will be to provide a kind of one-stop shop for services focusing on early childhood development and education. By the time it’s fully operational in 2026, the new…
ANALYSIS: ‘Significant enough’ opposition to Pritzker’s revenue plan leads to call for cuts
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com When Gov. JB Pritzker proposed his budget for the upcoming fiscal year in February, he sought authority from lawmakers to raise more than $1 billion in revenue through various changes to the state tax code. Among other things, he sought to raise $526 million through extending an expiring…
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…