Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Bedford Park urges residents to report property damage from recent storm, apply for SBA support Bedford Park, IL – The Village of Bedford Park is urging homeowners and businesses to document and report the damage they experienced during the severe weather storms on July 27. Information should include your name, address and a description of…
What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill By Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Twice each year, my office mails out about 1.8 million tax bills to Cook County property owners. Most people glance only at the amount due. But your bill is much more than a dollar figure. It’s a detailed breakdown of how…
Hastings commends local disaster proclamations after July 27 storms State Senator Michael E. Hastings today thanked Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant for issuing disaster proclamations covering areas impacted by the severe storms that struck the south suburbs and eastern Will County on Monday, July 27. “I want to…
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Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas celebrates Columbian Independence Day Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas hosted a Colombian Independence Day Celebration on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in the Treasurer’s Office. The event was attended by Consul General Diego Alexander Angulo Martínez of the Consulate of Colombia in Chicago. The event recognized the rich history, culture, and…
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Orland Fire Protection Board praises all first responders for emergency response to Monday’s storm OFPD, IL — The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) Board of Trustees said firefighters and dispatchers responded to hundreds of emergency calls during the heavy storms that swept through the region Monday, reporting no major injuries. Deputy Chief Joshua Girdick and…
Court Victory: Grandson Safeguarded From Danger after Mother’s Tragic Death By Jeffery M. Leving Following the shooting death of his mother, a young boy was placed in the care of his uncle—what should have been a safe and stable arrangement. Instead, it quickly became a reported source of fear for his grandfather. He was alarmed…
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Treasurer Maria Pappas: Homeowners Blast Property Tax Increases, but Skip Voting When Given a Chance to Reject Them Just one in five Cook County voters bothered to vote in the last two elections when asked whether to approve property tax increases, allowing a distinct minority of voters to approve hundreds of millions of dollars in…
Three firefighters honored with promotions by Orland Fire Protection District Thursday Orland Park, IL – The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) confirmed the promotions of three firefighters on Thursday to the ranks of Engineer, Lieutenant and Battalion Chief during ceremonies at the Fire District’s board room celebrated by family, friends and firefighters. Deputy Fire Chief…
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Leving Team Fought and Brought Dad’s Twin Boys Home By Laura Reichel No father should have to wonder if he will ever see his children again. Unfortunately for this father, he was forced to face that reality after his twin sons were suddenly pulled out of his life and taken out of Illinois without his…
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Steppenwolf announces new ensemble member, Laura D. Glenn “Steppenwold has been my life’s work. I’m excited for this next step” Laura D. Glenn, was named as the latest ensemble member at Steppenwolf Theater. Glenn whose journey with Steppenwolf began as a summer intern in 1988, has worked on more than 100 Steppenwolf productions over 38…
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Cook County Board of Review Opens 2026 Property Tax Appeal Season on Monday, July 27 Chicago, IL – Tuesday, July 21, 2026 – The Cook County Board of Review (CCBOR) will officially open the 2026 property tax appeal season on Monday, July 27, providing homeowners, businesses, and property owners across Cook County the opportunity to…
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Member of 10-Person Robbery Crew Targeting Chicago Suburbs Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison CHICAGO — A member of a crew that conspired to commit 11 brazen daytime robberies in the Chicago suburbs has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Between January 2022 and March 2023, Perry Maple, 23, participated directly in three…
Northbrook West/Citation Lake Stormwater Project earns highest-priority ranking from Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Northfield Township Road District’s Phase II project placed in Group 1, the top tier, of MWRD’s 2026 Stormwater Partnership Program; construction could begin as early as 2027 NORTHBROOK, Illinois (July 21, 2026) — The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD)…
Court Denies former Mayor Keith Pekau’s Motion to Dismiss lawsuit Former Mayor Must Answer Village’s Complaint, Village of Orland Park says countering misleading information released by disgraced for mayor Keith Pekau Orland Park, IL (July 16, 2026) – The Village of Orland Park announced that on July 6, 2026, the Cook County Circuit Court denied…
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Former Summit Police Chief John Kosmowski sentenced for corruption Former Suburban Chicago Police Chief Sentenced to Three Years in Federal prison for Bribery and Obstruction of Justice CHICAGO — The former Chief of Police in the village of Summit, Ill., has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for corruptly accepting money from a…
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Hastings hosts Summer Soiree Thursday August 6, 2026 Old Plank Trail Frankfort Please join Senator Michael E. Hastings for a Summer Soirée on Thursday, August 6, at Old Plank Trail Tavern in Frankfort. Throw on your summer attire and enjoy an evening with friends and supporters as we gather to support Senator Hastings and his…
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Your Property Index Number or PIN; What You Need to Know By Maria Pappas If you own property in Cook County, there’s one number you should always know: your PIN. That’s short for Property Index Number—a 14-digit code assigned to every piece of real estate in the county. It’s tied to the legal description of…
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Leving Team Stops Mom from Running Off with Dad’s Kids By Laura Reichel A desperate father turned to Attorney Jeffery M. Leving for help fearing he would lose his children forever. The children were living with their dad, however, everything suddenly changed. It was reported that the mother was going to take the children and…
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