Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Illinois Senator Committee approves resolution urging Illinois K through 12 schools to offer Arabic as Foreign Language option By Ray Hanania As Consolidated High School District 230, one of the largest in Illinois, blocked the adoption of Arabic as a Foreign Language at their three High Schools, Sandburg High School, Andrew High School, and Stagg…
Ryan calls High School Language Requirement “burdensome” and pushes to remove it State Rep. Rick Ryan, D-Evergreen Park, is seeking to remove the two-year foreign language requirement Illinois high school students must complete to receive a high school diploma. “Schools are facing a shortage of qualified teachers who can teach foreign languages,” Ryan said. “And…
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Naperville Central, Neuqua Valley High Schools Take Top Spots in Statewide Financial Literacy Contest, Win Bright Start College Savings Scholarships Treasurer Michael Frerichs Hosts 2026 Illinois Personal Finance Challenge. VIDEO is available CLICK HER A team of four students from Naperville Central High School will compete in the National Personal Finance Challenge in Atlanta, Georgia,…
Ted Dabrowski cuts through the BS and takes on the biggest drain on property taxes By Ray Hanania Ted Dabrowski is one of four candidates running for the Republican nomination for Illinois Governor in the March 17 Republican primary election. But he is the only one who is speaking to the real challenges of fast-rising…
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Hastings champions school safety with mobile panic alert bill SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings is spearheading legislation aimed at improving emergency response in Illinois schools using mobile panic alert systems. The bill seeks to provide schools with modern tools to quickly alert first responders in the event of a crisis. “Every second matters…
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Hastings meets with Matteson School District 162 leaders to strengthen school safety measures State Senator Michael E. Hastings visited Matteson School District 162 last week to meet with Superintendent Dr. Blondean Davis and district leaders to discuss security measures, rapid response plans and other protocols designed to keep students safe. The meeting focused on how…
Hastings brings in over $7.2 million in additional funding for local schools through evidence-based funding formula State Senator Michael E. Hastings announced today that local schools in the South Suburbs will receive more than $7.2 million in new evidence-based funding as part of the continued implementation of the landmark education funding reform he supported in…
Orland Fire Protection District hosts Open House June 28 The Orland Fire Protection District will host its annual Open House on Saturday, June 28, beginning at 11 am at the Fire District Training Center, 10728 W 163rd St, Orland Park. The event features live demonstrations of situations firefighters often face, from fighting fires to rescues…
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Level Up your Reading Game with the Oak Lawn Public Library The Oak Lawn Public Library began its youth and adult summer reading programs on Sunday, June 1 under iRead’s “Level Up at Your Library” theme. Patrons can sign up at olpl.beanstack.org to earn prizes by logging their reading through Friday, August 1 and partake…
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Andrew High School makes Unified Sports history…again Batman and Robin, Bert and Ernie, Buzz, and Woody have nothing on an incredible pair of students at Victor J. Andrew High School. T-Bolt seniors Scott Oftedahl and Montrell Sippel were recently selected to represent Special Olympic Illinois at Lobby Day in Washington D.C. It’s a known fact…
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Orland School District 135 turns sex abuse case involving 2 female students into victim shaming By Ray Hanania Everyone remembers in January 2015 when an Elementary School District 135 teacher, Cara Labus, was arrested on charges of sexually abusing two young school girls, aged 14, beginning in 2008 in suburban Orland Park. The case was…
SIU’s Touch of Nature removing invasive plants, restoring native flora and fauna by Christi Mathis The sweet-smelling flowers of bush honeysuckle and multiflora rose may look attractive in forests and yards, but in reality, they pose a serious danger to native flora and fauna. So Southern Illinois University Carbondale is taking action. Along with autumn…
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School District 230 welcomes students to Board of Education Committees Students from across Consolidated High School 230 are adding their voices to Board of Education committee meetings. Specifically, three students from each school have been selected to serve on each of the three Board of Education Committees – Education, Student Support & Development, and Building…
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High School District 230’s President Lynn Zeder should resign from the board Opinion: District 230 President Lynn Zeder was aware of plans involving three TIF districts that will siphon hundreds of millions in property taxes from the district’s three high schools, but she has been publicly silent about it. Instead of addressing these TIFs, which…
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District 230 Board of Education appoints new member The Consolidated High School District 230 Board of Education appointed Orland Park resident Chris Kasmer to serve out a vacant term of office until April 2025. Kasmer serves as president of Carpenters Local 1027 and is in his 14th year as a trustee to the Chicago Transit…
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Press Release: Orland Park should suspend TIF district plans until they release delinquent financial audits Orland Park, IL — Plans by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau to create three TIF districts to address “blighted land developments” should be put on hold until after he releases two delinquent financial audits detailing the true nature of the…
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ Plan to Allow Leftover College Savings Funds to Be Used For Retirement Signed Into Law Treasurer Michael Frerichs Thanks Governor, Lawmakers for Bipartisan Approval Parents who don’t use all the money in their Illinois 529 College Savings Accounts (Bright Start and Bright Directions) are now able to roll over the…
School District 230 T-Bolts score tops on National German Exam Victor J. Andrew had a total of 40 students across the German 1, 2 and 3 courses participate in the National German Exam given by the American Association of Teachers of German. Students scored very well, five of whom received Bronze and Silver medals for…
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