Local News
Orland Park bookie sentenced to 18 months in federal prison
From staff reports An Orland Park man was sentenced last week to a year and a half in federal prison for conducting an illegal sports gambling business and laundering the proceeds. Vincent Delgiudice, also known as “Uncle Mick,” 58, directed an illegal bookmaking business in the Chicago area from 2016 to 2019, U.S. prosecutors said.……
Chicago Ridge detective honored for saving man’s life
By Dermot Connolly The Chicago Ridge Village Board and Police Department recently honored Detective David Jenen for likely saving a suicidal man’s life and probably others. At the March 1 Village Board meeting, Mayor Chuck Tokar read the details of what happened from a report prepared by Police Chief Jim Jarolimek. He said that on……
Former Palos Hills judge arrested in Florida prostitution sting
From staff reports A former Cook County judge from Palos Hills was among more than 100 people arrested during a weeklong undercover human trafficking sting in Polk County, Florida. Officials said Daniel Peters, 66, was picked up as part of Operation March Sadness 2, which began March 8. Detectives said Peters told them he was……
Hills Chamber to bring back Business and Community Expo on Saturday
From staff reports The Hills Chamber of Commerce will once again host the Business and Community Expo from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at Conrady Junior High School, 7950 W. 97th St., Hickory Hills. The expo returns after a two-year absence due to the pandemic. Over 50 exhibitors are scheduled to take part in the expo. Local businesses, direct sales……
Lake Katherine goes green for St. Patrick’s Day
By Kelly White The Chicago River wasn’t the only body of water to take on a shade of green this St. Patrick’s Day. To celebrate the annual day of the Irish, Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanical Gardens, 7402 W. Lake Katherine Dr., Palos Height, created a little holiday magic as volunteers and staff dyed……
Palos Park police warn drivers to stay safe on St. Patrick’s Day
From staff reports Help us to keep Palos Park’s roads the safest in the nation by planning ahead to stay safe on March 17. Palos Park police are encouraging folks to plan ahead for a safe ride home and urge everyone to have a plan this St. Patrick’s Day. If you plan on drinking, designate……
Orland teen charged in Oak Lawn shooting
By Bob Bong A 16-year-old Orland Park youth has been charged as an adult in the shooting last week of an 18-year-old Oak Lawn youth. Police arrested the Orland teen just hours after the shooting. He was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and attempted first-degree murder. Gerald Vetter, Division Chief of Investigations,……
Palos Heights police charge second man in armed robbery
From staff reports A second man, who police say was the brother of the first man arrested, has been charged for his role in an armed robbery that took place at a gas station on December 28. Marlon Triplett, 32, was picked up after police in Indiana were able to obtain a nationwide arrest warrant……
Bald is beautiful
Most Holy Redeemer resumes St. Baldrick’s shaving By Kelly White When 6-year-old Luke Sullivan heard about Most Holy Redeemer’s St. Baldrick’s event to take a stand against cancer, he knew immediately that he wanted to be a part. Not only did he do that, he also raised more money than anyone else for the effort.……
EPCHS art department gets $1,000 grant from credit union
From staff reports The art department at Evergreen Park Community High School will benefit from winning the 2022 grant award from the Evergreen Park Schools Federal Credit Union. The $1,000 grant will allow two EPCHS art classes to provide students with the opportunity to go above and beyond the basics in the art curriculum. Art……
Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School shares the love
By Kelly White Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School students shared the love in February. The school, 5345 W. 99th St. in Oak Lawn, held a Hershey Heartwarming Project, where students used green screen technology to make videos of picture book read aloud and activities for pediatric patients at Hope Children’s Hospital. “Reading books can take you……
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Illinois News
Members of House speaker’s staff sue over ongoing unionization conflict
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Members of a would-be union representing staffers in House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s office filed suit against their boss on Friday, asking a Cook County judge to force recognition of the union. The Illinois Legislative Staff Association, which formed in the fall of 2022, claims Welch’s……
Regulators slash Chicago gas utility’s rate request, setting up likely legal battle
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com Regulators at the Illinois Commerce Commission on Thursday once again reduced a request to increase customer rates from Chicago natural gas utility Peoples Gas. In November, the ICC paused all spending related to Peoples Gas’ controversial “safety modernization program” for replacing aging infrastructure and reduced its $404 million……
Ban on ‘captive audience’ meetings, AI regulations among 466 bills to pass this session
By ALEX ABBEDUTO, COLE LONGCOR, & DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com A bill banning what unions refer to as employer-sponsored “captive audience” meetings about religion and politics has cleared both chambers of the General Assembly. It was one of 466 measures to do so during the Illinois legislature’s recently concluded spring session, including measures……
Would-be union of legislative staffers accuse Welch of undermining organizing effort
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Seven months after Democratic Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch advanced a measure that would allow legislative staff to unionize, members of his own staff on Tuesday blasted the speaker for allowing the bill to languish. The legislation has not seen any action since its passage……
Lawmakers OK bill to require ‘faithful’ electors in 2024, loosen campaign finance rules
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Illinois appears likely to join most of the rest of the country in requiring that the state’s Electoral College votes go to the winner of the state’s popular election. The measure is part of a broad package of election-related legislation……
Once again working through the night, lawmakers finalize $53.1 billion budget
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com After a near-derailment and an all-nighter to wrap up the General Assembly’s spring session, supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House gave final legislative approval to the state budget as the sun rose Wednesday morning. Despite holding 78 seats in the chamber, it took Democrats three tries to reach……
A security camera caught an employee beating a patient. It took 11 days for anyone to take action.
By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with Capitol News Illinois. Cameras in the common areas of Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center were supposed to make the troubled southern Illinois facility safer for the approximately 200 people with developmental disabilities who live there. But……