Category: Cook County

Word of mouth helps homeowner get $6,805 refund for missed exemptions

March 5, 2024March 5, 2024 Guest Columnist 2 Comments

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…

Blogger, Business, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Leving team wins court victory for Dad and his little girl

February 28, 2024February 28, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

Chicago, Cook County, Jeffery Leving, Law, News

Pappas urges property owners to pay First Installment tax bills by Friday, March 1 due date

February 27, 2024February 27, 2024 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

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…

Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

One firefighter injured in Orland Park fire Tuesday morning

February 20, 2024February 20, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

Cook County, Fire, Government, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Leving Firm Matrimonial Law Seminar: Learn the effective use of mental health professionals in family law cases and the use of habeas corpus.

February 20, 2024February 20, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

Chicago, Cook County, Jeffery Leving, Law, News, NewsWire

Eight injured when car plows into Sports Clip in Orland Hills

February 18, 2024February 18, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

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…

accident, Cook County, Fire, News, Orland Fire Protection District, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Pay your property tax bill online to avoid risk of check-washing fraud

February 16, 2024February 16, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Erika Maldonado to lead Spanish-language outreach for Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas

February 13, 2024February 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

Chicago, Cook County, Culture, Government, Maria Pappas, News, Releases, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Money from your property taxes pays for essential local services

February 4, 2024February 4, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

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,…

Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, News, Taxes

Tinley Police file murder charges against spouse in the murder of his wife and three daughters

January 23, 2024January 23, 2024 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Tinley Police file murder charges against spouse in the murder of his wife and three daughters Maher Kassem, 63, of the 7400 block of W. 173rd Place, Tinley Park, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder after a domestic incident Sunday, Jan. 21 at his home. Kassem shot and killed his wife Majeda Kassem,…

Cook County, Crime, News, Police, Suburban Chicagoland, Tinley Park

Jesse Jackson Sr. Endorses Mariyana Spyropoulos for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk

January 22, 2024January 22, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Jesse Jackson Sr. Endorses Mariyana Spyropoulos for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk The candidacy of circuit court clerk challenger, Mariyana Spyropoulos, received the coveted endorsement of civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. The founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition said he was pleased to endorse Spyropoulos for her steadfast commitment to justice, transparency and community…

Chicago, Cook County, elections, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Illinois program lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 per year in property taxes

January 21, 2024January 21, 2024 Ray Hanania 3 Comments

Illinois program lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 per year in property taxes Your Property Taxes column with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas Illinois offers senior citizens a property tax relief program that works like a loan. The Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral program allows qualifying seniors to defer up…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Cicero Police arrest and charge two suspects in Dec. 26 killing of Alejandro Trujillo

January 15, 2024January 15, 2024 News Editor No Comments

Cicero Police arrest and charge two suspects in Dec. 26 killing of Alejandro Trujillo – Charged with First Degree Murder and Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking are Jason I. Eady of Chicago and Isaac Vaca Hernandez of Burbank Cicero, IL. – The Cicero Police Department announces the arrest of Jason I. Eady and Isaac Vaca Hernandez for…

breaking news, Cook County, Crime, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Slashed interest rate on late property tax payments could prevent home loss

December 16, 2023December 16, 2023 Ray Hanania 2 Comments

Slashed interest rate on late property tax payments could prevent home loss By Maria Pappas As my office prepares for the Annual Tax Sale, we’re doing all we can to help people avoid losing their homes because of unpaid property taxes. One of the biggest legislative reforms to the Illinois property tax system in decades…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Guest Commentary, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

New tool shows where property tax dollars go and informs fed up taxpayers

December 3, 2023December 3, 2023 Guest Columnist 1 Comment

New tool shows where property tax dollars go and informs fed up taxpayers By Maria Pappas When I saw how recent property tax bills shocked and angered many Cook County homeowners I knew people needed to understand why their taxes are so high. I began hearing from frustrated homeowners before tax bills landed in early…

Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

President Dominick, Town Board organize drive to help families impacted by Friday’s fire

December 2, 2023December 3, 2023 News Editor No Comments

President Dominick, Town Board organize drive to help families impacted by Friday’s fire More than 14 families were forced to leave their homes when the 18-unit apartment building where they lived was destroyed by a massive fire on Friday Dec. 1, 2023. The Cicero Fire Department fought the blaze which lasted more than five hours,…

Cook County, Fire, Government, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Raymond Lopez, A Democrat Who Delivers, Files for Congress

November 29, 2023November 29, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Raymond Lopez, A Democrat Who Delivers, Files for Congress Demonstrates his strong grassroots support and the hunger for real change Raymond Lopez officially filed his nominating petitions on Monday Nov. 27 to run for Congress in Illinois’ 4th District. With over 3,000 petition signatures submitted on the first day of filing, Lopez demonstrates the strength…

Chicago, Cook County, elections, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms

November 28, 2023November 28, 2023 Ray Hanania No Comments

Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas today unveiled an innovative online tool that for the first time calculates year-to-year changes for each property tax bill and shows where tax dollars go. The search tool at cookcountytreasurer.com is available as…

Chicago, Cook County, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes