Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Senior citizen exemptions help give homeowners a break on big tax bills By Maria Pappas Senior citizens can get a break on their property tax bills, but they need to apply when seeking savings for the first time. The popular tax break is known as the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption. For homeowners already receiving the…
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First Responder Mental Health Legislation Clears Senate The Illinois Senate passed legislation today proposed by Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart that eliminates out-of-pocket expenses for first responders seeking mental health treatment. “We ask first responders to be constantly exposed to traumatic and dangerous situations to protect us,” Sheriff Dart said. “This legislation is a…
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Subject Arrested for Vehicular Hijacking in Orland Park The Orland Park Police Department announced the arrest of a suspect in a vehicular hijacking that occurred on the evening of April 3, 2024. Shawn Flores, a 44-year-old Midlothian resident, faces charges following his apprehension on April 4. The incident began when a male victim was forcibly…
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Homeowner exemptions slash tax bills. So why do so many fail to apply? By Maria Pappas Homeowners can reduce their property tax bills by hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year by taking advantage of the Homeowner Exemption. Exemptions are tax breaks. To qualify for the Homeowner Exemption, first-time applicants must have occupied the…
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Top 10 tips that help homeowners better understand their property taxes By Maria Pappas Homeowners have taught me a few things about property taxes while I have served as Cook County Treasurer. One lesson is that the property tax system is complicated. Many people unfamiliar with the process have told me that they wished there…
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Rainbow PUSH resumes Saturday morning forums starting March 16 We are pleased to welcome you back to the Saturday Morning Forum THIS SATURDAY, March 16th, as we resume our regular programming at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters! You are invited to register and join us to make your voices heard and learn from many of…
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Pappas: When it comes to voting on referendums, the few decide for the many By Maria Pappas If you’ve ever voted, you’ve probably seen one. It’s a referendum, usually asking you to approve some numbers. A referendum is a proposed law on a social or economic issue on which the people can vote, even as…
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Pappas: How a few voters control the fate of more than $1 billion in new spending Statement from Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas This election season, voters throughout Cook County will decide whether to repair aging schools, improve a lake front beach, shut down a fire department and give local politicians new powers to tax….
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Congressman Jonathan Jackson Endorses Sonia Khalil for State Representative Khalil is running for an open seat in the 36th District Congressman Jonathan Jackson today endorsed Sonia Khalil for State Representative in the 36th district. “I am proud to endorse Sonia Anne Khalil for State Representative,” said Congressman Jonathan Jackson, (D-IL-01). “Sonia has demonstrated her strong…
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Word of mouth helps homeowner get $6,805 refund for missed exemptions By Maria Pappas Word of mouth helped chef Gabriel Miranda of Hickory Hills obtain a $6,805 refund for missed homeowner exemptions. Miranda said he and his wife deposited the money into their savings account. Their monthly bills include private high school tuition for the…
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Leving team wins court victory for Dad and his little girl CHICAGO- Dad has been struggling to stay in his 7-year-old daughter’s life after a difficult divorce. Dad, despite his strained relationship with his ex-wife, has always been a loving and dedicated father to his daughter. Suddenly, Dad found himself being denied all contact with…
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Pappas urges property owners to pay First Installment tax bills by Friday, March 1 due date First Installment Tax Year 2023 property taxes are due Friday, March 1, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas reminded taxpayers today. The Treasurer’s Office posted nearly 1.8 million bills online at cookcountytreasurer.com in early December and mailed printed bills to…
One firefighter injured in Orland Park fire Tuesday morning One firefighter was injured but was later released by the hospital after battling a fire at a home in Orland Park early Tuesday morning, officials of the Orland Fire Protection District said. The fire was reported at 3:35 AM on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2024 at the…
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Leving Firm Matrimonial Law Seminar: Learn the effective use of mental health professionals in family law cases and the use of habeas corpus. CHICAGO – The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd. (Leving Firm) will host the next presentation of the Arthur S. Kallow Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Seminar Series on Wednesday, Feb. 21…
Eight injured when car plows into Sports Clip in Orland Hills The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) responded to a reported accident on On Sunday, February 18, 2024 at 2 pm involving an auto that crashed into a business in the Walmart Shopping Center off of 159th Street. The business struck was Sports Clips, 9239…
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Pay your property tax bill online to avoid risk of check-washing fraud By Maria Pappas As the March 1 due date approaches for Cook County property owners to pay their First Installment 2023 tax bills, I encourage people to pay online. It’s more convenient — and much safer. People who still pay their bills by…
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Erika Maldonado to lead Spanish-language outreach for Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Erika Maldonado will lead Spanish-language outreach to taxpayers for the Office of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. Maldonado has strong connections throughout the Chicago-area Latino community. She is a journalist with 30 years of experience who has co-anchored evening newscasts for Univision WGBO-TV…
Money from your property taxes pays for essential local services Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas My office recently mailed property tax bills to owners of nearly 1.8 million parcels in Cook County. First Installment tax bills are due March 1. Local governments, such as school districts and municipalities,…
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