Local News
Joliet Road reduced to one lane in Indian Head Park thru the summer
From staff reports The Illinois Tollway is scheduled to begin a long-term lane closure starting March 14 on Joliet Road under the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) in Indian Head Park as work resumes to rebuild the I-294 bridge over Joliet Road. Reconstruction of bridges and ramps in the I-55 Interchange area is necessary to accommodate the…
Paisan Pizzeria coming to Oak Lawn
By Joe Boyle Oak Lawn Village Manager Tom Phelan was initially underwhelmed when plans for a new pizzeria were being discussed. “My thought was we don’t need another pizza place,” Phelan said during the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting Tuesday night. “But when I found out what would be coming in and what they have to offer,…
Orland Park board asks for Foxx’s resignation
Rossi named as new police chief By Jeff Vorva Whenever the Orland Park Board of Trustees gather for a meeting, it’s not a matter of “if” but “when” someone will get around to bashing Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. Mayor Keith Pekau and the rest of the board members kept the spirit alive Monday…
Moraine Valley looking for local residents to host international students
Learn about another culture while welcoming an international student into your home. Moraine Valley Community College’s International Student Affairs Department has immediate needs for local residents to help integrate students into the U.S. and provide a safe place for them to stay through its Host Home Program. Hundreds of international students from countries such as…
Obituaries March 10, 2022
THOMAS P. ANDRICOPOULOS Thomas P. Andricopoulos, 74, passed away on February 26. He was the beloved husband of Gitana; Loving father of Paul and Sofia; Beloved son of the late Paul and Catherine; Dearest brother of Cathe (Joe); Fond uncle of Christe and Anthony and numerous other nieces and nephews; Loved cousin and friend to…
RoseMarie Lipinski Foundation offers $10,000 scholarship
From staff reports The RoseMarie Lipinski Foundation is offering a $10,000 scholarship to a woman who is seeking to return to or start college, Foundation President William O. Lipinski announced this week. Lipinski said the scholarship, named after his late wife, is intended to help a mother with two children who are in elementary school…
College Roundup: Saint Xavier women’s hoops heading to national tourney
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer St. Xavier’s women’s basketball team may have ended the conference tournament on a rough note, but it is still going to the NAIA National Tournament with a top-five seed in regionals. The Cougars (25-6) earned the fifth seed in the Omaha Sports Commission Bracket and will play No. 12 Bethel…
Chicago Christian leaving Metro Suburban for new conference
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Chicago Christian will be changing conferences in two years. The Knights are leaving the Metro Suburban for a the Chicagoland Christian Conference, a new league to consist of private schools. They will be joined by Aurora Christian, Bishop McNamara, Hope Academy, Christ the King, Marian Central Catholic, St. Edward, Timothy…
Lucky 13: Sandburg’s Josie Canellis is Illinois’ Queen of the Hill
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer During grade school, Josie Canellis wore the number 13 on various recreation and travel teams. She never found it to be an unlucky number. Even though she is wearing No. 5 for the Eagles, the junior still has some fond thoughts about 13, especially after competing in the IHSA 3-point…
St. Rita’s season comes to end against Kenwood
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer If this St. Rita team returns intact next season, look out. The Mustangs were six minutes away from winning their first sectional championship, holding a six-point lead against top-seeded Kenwood at the Class 4A Thornwood Sectional on March 4. The Broncos, however, roared back and went on a roll the…
New director joins Worth Public Library
By Kelly White With a love of books and knowledge, Rachel Snyder is happy to take on her new role as director of the Worth Public Library. “It sounds so stereotypical, but I have always loved books and felt most at home when I was around them,” Snyder, of Lemont, said. “So, a chance to…
Espresso Palette in Chicago Ridge hosts D218 art show
By Kelly White As a young artist, Jason Milne, enjoys spending his free time building his talent. “I grew up in a huge family, so getting some time to myself was difficult; but, whenever I did I always loved to draw,” Milne, 19, of Blue Island, said. Milne attends the Adult Transition Program at District…
Students show off their strength at Stagg powerlift meet
By Kelly White Powerlifting shows your strength. The sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. Male and female Stagg High School students showcased their lifting talents with a Powerlift Meet at the high school, 8015 W. 111th St., Palos Hills, on February 26. “What I…
Dolly Foster says goodbye after 15 years as park horticulturalist
By Kelly White Oak Lawn Park District said goodbye to a beloved employee last month who helped to beautify the city for more than a decade. Master Gardener Dolly Foster who worked as the park district’s horticulturalist for 15 years, left her role in January to pursue her graduate degree in Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois.…
St. Rita tops Homewood-Flossmoor, vying for first sectional title
By Steve Millar Correspondent St. Rita’s Morez Johnson knows how deflating it is for an opponent when it plays strong defense and forces the Mustangs into a missed shot, only for Johnson to grab the rebound and score. “Those second-chance points hurt the other team a lot,” Johnson said after St. Rita defeated Homewood-Flossmoor in…
Neighbors
Comings & Goings
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…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…
Flooding is Illinois’ Most Threatening Natural Disaster. Are We Prepared?
by Meredith Newman, Illinois Answers Project April 16, 2024 This story was originally published by the Illinois Answers Project. The electricity in Mary Buchanan’s home in West Garfield Park was not working – again. The outage lasted four days, starting just after a crew dug up her front lawn to install a check valve in…
Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall. Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…
Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…
Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now. Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…