Top News.
Cakes, cookies and holiday Cheer at Pass Health Foods Holiday Bake-Off
Local bakers showcased homemade holiday treats at Pass Health Foods’ annual bake-off, celebrating wholesome ingredients, creativity and community spirit.
Your Sports. All Heart.
Local football playoff scoreboard
Check out all the IHSA playoff matchups for local football teams.
Jayce Prohaska, Mother McAuley rally to win supersectional, advance to state
Down 20-19 in the third set, Mother McAuley rallied to beat Downers Grove North in the Class 4A Lyons Supersectional with…
Lyons falls short against Bolingbrook in Class 8A second round
EJ Kuhlman and Brendan McCabe ran for touchdowns for Lyons in a 22-14 loss to Bolingbrook in the Class 8A second…
Mike Clark’s football Top 10
Check out where local teams are ranked heading into the state quarterfinals.
Eric Jacobs, Jordan Lewis lead Richards into 7A quarterfinals
Jordan Lewis ran for 292 yards and two touchdowns, and Eric Jacobs also ran for a score as Richards got past…
Downers Grove North knocks out St. Rita in Class 7A second round
Kyle Keyser had an early defensive touchdown, but St. Rita fell 17-7 to Downers Grove North in the Class 7A second…
Area roundup: Fire to open playoffs at SeatGeek
The Fire finished fourth in the Eastern Conference and will open the playoffs against Charlotte.
Reavis’ Santiago Chavez makes history, wins cross country state title
Louisville commit Santiago Chavez became the area’s first cross country state champ since Lyons’ Danny Kilrea in 2018.
Peyton Heatherly, Mother McAuley oust rival Marist in sectional final
Mother McAuley avenged season-ending losses to Marist the past two years by eliminating the RedHawks in two sets in the Class…
Area football roundup: R-B eliminated; Mount Carmel, Nazareth advance
Riverside-Brookfield’s nine-game winning streak was snapped in a Class 6A loss to Riverside-Brookfield, while Mount Carmel and Nazareth moved into the…
Tributes.
Clifford Buchmeier, 75
With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Clifford Buchmeier, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, who departed this world on Nov. 11, 2026. Born on Aug.…
Jacek “Jack” Kalicki
Jacek “Jack” Kalicki died Oct. 20 in Elgin, surrounded by family.
Helen “Eleni” Zourzias
Helen “Eleni” Zouzias, who lived through wartime Greece and the occupation as a child before immigrating to the United States, died Oct. 26 in Hinsdale.
Christopher Andy “Chris” Gunka, 42
Christopher Andy “Chris” Gunka died Oct. 23. He was 42.
Susan Marie “Susie” Hernandez
Susan Marie “Susie” Hernandez, who played the lottery every day and filled her family’s Thanksgiving table with cherry cups and Hawaiian salad, died Oct. 28 in Chicago after a…
David Duane “Dave” Mack
David Duane “Dave” Mack, a former mayor and village trustee of Justice who also served as a volunteer firefighter there, died Oct. 29 in La Grange after a battle…
Business.
Drive-through holiday light show coming to Orland Square Mall
Tickets start at $39.99 per vehicle for Cosmic Sleigh Ride, scheduled to run Nov. 17 through Jan. 3, 2027.
Comings & Goings: American Sale to close all stores after sale to new owner falls through
Liquidation sales continue in Bridgeview, Orland Park and five other locations until the chain shuts down.
Orland Park learns a lesson from land use moratorium
In October 2025, the board imposed a nine-month moratorium but extended it to the end of 2026.
Santa arrives at Orland Square Mall Nov. 6 with fire department escort
Reindeer, hot chocolate and a dance performance fill a 4 to 6 p.m. party, with Santa photos running through Dec.…
Orland Park DMV closes before move to Orland Hills
The Illinois Secretary of State driver’s facility serving the Orland Park area is scheduled to open in its new home…
Palos Park American Legion to dissolve
American Legion Post 1993 in Palos Park is ready to dissolve.
Orland Park to demolish former garden center, restaurant
The Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees voted at the Oct. 19 meeting to award Markham-based KLF Enterprises a…
More News.
Palos Heights Woman’s Club spreads holiday cheer through giving
The Palos Heights Woman’s Club welcomed community generosity at its annual Thankful Thursday fundraiser, collecting food and toys for…
Constance Volk turns artistic experimentation into an immersive experience
Artist Constance Volk combined intricate paintings and original music in “GET LOST,” an exhibition exploring life’s unexpected twists and…
Palos Park Woman’s Club blood drive celebrates 13 years of giving
Palos Park residents and Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters joined the Woman’s Club’s annual blood drive to help save lives through…
SXU honors Police Chief Dan Murphy for military service
Saint Xavier University honored Police Chief Dan Murphy on Veterans Day, recognizing his Air Force service, law enforcement career…
Palos Heights comes together to honor those who served
Palos Heights honored veterans with a breakfast, ceremony and reception, bringing residents together to recognize their service, sacrifices and…
Plan changes delay Centennial Park pickleball courts
Orland Park trustees voted 6-1 to add up to $278,000 for design changes; officials hope for play by fall…
Construction flagger in critical condition after Archer Avenue crash in Palos Park
An 82-year-old driver was taken to a hospital and released after Monday’s crash near Cog Hill Golf Course.
Palos Heights to honor veterans with ceremony, reception
A Veterans Day ceremony for veterans and residents is scheduled for 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at Memorial Park, 7607…
Cynthia Ramirez joins Green Hills Library Board
Cynthia Ramirez joins the Green Hills Public Library District Board of Trustees, bringing her passion for education, literacy and…
We/Us.
Orland Park mayor to read new names on veterans memorial at Nov. 11 ceremony
Veterans who served from 1941 to 2022, including Marine Joseph J. McCarthy, join the engraved names.
Oak Lawn police lieutenant completes Northwestern command school
The 10-week School of Police Staff & Command met in New Lenox from Aug. 24 through Nov. 6, 2026.
FBI honors retiring Evergreen Park police chief
Michael Saunders, the retiring police chief in Evergreen Park, continues to receive honors with the latest being an award from the FBI.
Mayhem.
Chicago man charged with retail theft
Kenneth L. Sanders, 21, of Chicago, was arrested on Oct. 22 and charged with retail theft at Verizon 159, 9264 W.159th St.…
Basement fire damages Orland Park home; no injuries reported
Everyone inside the Camelia Lane home got out before firefighters arrived, and the structure was saved.
Orland Park police arrest 3 for retail theft
Lamont Simms, 39, of Harvey, was arrested Oct. 6 and charged with retail theft at Walgreens, 7960 W. 159th St.
Palos Heights police charge driver after 100 mph chase
A 29-year-old man faces a felony charge of aggravated fleeing to elude police after Palos Heights officers said he sped away from…
Opinions.
Ray Hanania: Halloween for today’s kids just isn’t the same as it was for us
Ray Hanania: Halloween for today’s kids just isn’t the same as it was for us Baby Boomers.
Letter: Our schools deserve a more meaningful comparison
Letter to the editor regarding Palos Heights School District 128 referendum by Richard Flacko.
Letter: Republican voters three times rejected Gorman
Republican voters have rejected Liz Gorman in her last three primary elections. Orland Republicans dumped her as Republican Committeeman after she failed them, time after time. This year Orland Republicans confirmed that opinion by rejecting her as Committeeman, again. The last time Liz Gorman ran for County Commissioner in a Republican primary, she lost, decisively. …
