Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Owner of Chicago-Area Convenience Stores Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Defrauding Low-Income Food Program CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced the owner of several Chicago-area convenience stores to four years in prison for scheming to defraud a low-income food program for women and children. From 2010 to 2018, Hassan Abdellatif schemed…
Hastings calls for enhanced training for court-appointed guardians to protect Illinois children SPRINGFIELD — On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a subject matter hearing for a measure sponsored by State Senator Michael E. Hastings emphasizing the importance of high-quality training for guardians ad litem in Illinois courts. This would better protect…
Dad Wins Custody of Son After Terrifying DCFS Call By Laura Reichel An out-of-state dad received a terrifying phone call from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). It was reported that the agency suspected that dad’s ten-year-old son was being neglected by the child’s mother. Dad immediately traveled to Illinois, where the Illinois…
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Statement from John Harrell Candidate for the 8th Illinois House District in the March 17, 2026 Democratic Primary election Voters in the 8th District face many challenges and issues that need to be addressed and that are at stake in this election. One of the most important is curtailing rising property taxes. They need to…
Orland Fire District inducts firefighter trainees into fulltime positions Orland Park, IL – The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) Wednesday (Oct. 4, 2026) swore in five firefighter trainees to positions of full-time firefighters. The five inductees trained for more than a year before qualifying for the positions, and included Benjamin Bergen, Christopher Bailey, Philip McLaughlin,…
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OFPD to co-sponsor blood drive March 21 with Vitalant at Orland Library Orland Park, IL — The Orland Fire Protection District will host a blood drive with Vitalant Blood Donor Center at the Orland Park Public Library, 14921 Ravinia Avenue, Orland Park, on March 21, 2026. The event will be held from 10 AM to…
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Moderate Jewish Lobby J Street denounces Trump war on Iran J Street President Jeremy Ben Ami released the following statement from J Street, the moderate and powerful voice of peace and mutual recognition for the Jewish people in America, on the war started by President Donald Trump against Iran We are appalled by President Trump’s…
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Sean Casten Statement on US Military Action in Iran Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement on US military action in Iran: “Iran’s regime is repressive and destabilizing. Its proxies sow chaos across the region. No one disputes that Iran presents serious challenges. Its support for proxy militias, regional interference, and…
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Phil Andrew: Attack on Iran Without Congressional Approval Risks American Lives Former FBI Agent, Phil Andrew Calls Out Trump Administration For Decisions That Could Ignite Regional Conflict, Demanding Congressional Oversight and Clear Objectives (Buffalo Grove – February 28th, 2026 ) – This morning, Phil Andrew, Candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 9th District and former FBI…
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Video promotion for Richard Boykin candidate for the 7th Congressional District Richard Boykin, a candidate for the 7th Congressional District election to succeed Congressman Danny Davis, released the following promotional video that includes endorsements of some of the region’s most important public servants and community leaders. View the video at the bottom of this report….
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Important News: ICYMI: WBEZ details AIPAC dark money support for Donna Miller Dark Money making its way into Illinois elections, tied to AIPAC and Donna Miller, a recent news stories showcased by Congressional Candidate Robert Peters shows. CHICAGO (Friday, February 27, 2026)– A new WBEZ investigative report details the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s efforts…
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Important News: TV producer detained by ICE among WGN TV lay-offs A producer who got caught up in protests against ICE and was detained is among the reporters and editorial workers laid off by WGN TV this past week. The lay-offs came as a surprise to all. Many good journalist, unfortunately, lost their jobs. Rumor…
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Important News: Sun-Times disclosure slams Giannoulias over campaign donor Secretary State Alexi Giannoulis has put himself in the spotlight, not by weighing a race for higher office, even before he completes the one he was just elected to serve in. But because of the huge collections of funds he is receiving for his election campaign…
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Hastings: new legislation could save homes, protect equity for families facing tax sales SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings is supporting legislation designed to provide critical relief to Cook County homeowners at risk of losing their homes in the county’s 2023 tax sale. Hastings, a chief co-sponsor on the bill, worked to pass the…
Property Tax Exemptions: How Homeowners and Seniors Can Save on Taxes Column: Your Property Taxes with the Cook County Treasurer Property taxes can be a financial burden but exemptions can reduce those costs by offering significant savings to property owners. There are three exemptions that do the most good for the most people. They are…
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Lyons Mayor Chris Getty Announces Candidacy for Illinois’ 4th Congressional District Videos of the announcement are at the end of the news story to view. Chicago, IL – Chris Getty, elected the youngest mayor in Illinois at age 26, announced Thursday that he is a candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 4th District, following U.S. Rep….
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Orland Fire Protection District celebrates firefighter promotions Orland Park, IL — The Orland Fire Protection District held a promotional ceremony on Thursday, February 26, 2026 recognizing five firefighters. Congratulations are extended to Orland Fire Protection District Lieutenants Michael Pericht and Jonathan Kendra, Engineers Jeff Anderson and Jason Smith, and Director of Dispatch Operations Des Breese…
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Important News: TIF expert Tom Tresser on the push to fund new Bears stadium with taxpayer money Important News brings you reporting and commentary that is important to our lives from other writers and news sources. In this post, TIF expert Tom Tresser discusses the downside of the rush to use tax dollars to fund…