Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas column explores options to help pay property taxes by Dec. 15 If you can’t pay your taxes by the December 15 due date, there’s a 13-month payment plan available! Register now at CookCountyTreasurer.com. Second-Installment Cook County property taxes are due Dec. 15, for nearly 1.8 million Cook County properties. That…
Orland Park Police Department releases Thanksgiving enforcement numbers Orland Park Police release data in Thanksgiving holiday enforcement campaign to keep motorists and residents safe. From Nov. 21 to Dec. 2, the Orland Park Police Department participated in the statewide “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” mobilization to reduce crashes and…
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Leving Team Won for Grandma, Giving Child a Stable Home with His Teen Dad By: Laura Reichel A devoted grandmother was in desperate need of help protecting her infant grandchild. The child’s mother had reportedly abandoned the baby, left the state, and was later incarcerated out of state. The baby’s teen father was doing his…
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Village of Orland Park Announces New Utility Billing System The Village of Orland Park is introducing a new utility billing system designed to enhance the customer experience and improve day-to-day operations. The new system will provide customers with more flexibility in managing their utility account and streamline the overall payment process. As part of this…
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Illinois Tollway prepared to clear roads and assist drivers during Thanksgiving weekend storm Motorists asked to slow down and increase their distance from other vehicles The Illinois Tollway is reminding drivers to slow down and allow extra time for their Thanksgiving holiday travels and weekend trips as a winter storm moves through Northern Illinois, with…
Veteran’s Appreciation Day Holiday Luncheon to be held Dec. 12, 2025 Illinois Senator Mike Porfirio will join local legislators in celebrating and honoring America’s veterans at a Holiday luncheon to be held at Morton College on Dec. 12, 2025. Among those also attending will be State Sen. Javier Cervantes, State Rep. Lisa Hernandez, State Rep….
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Rickey Hendon urges freeze on property taxes and new regulations to address unjustified hikes Former Senate leader Hendon urges Freeze on Property taxes, and proposes reforms during a press conference held at the Cook County Building on Thursday, November 20, 2025, Watch video of press conference below Rickey Hendon, former Illinois State Senator and former…
Orland Fire District appoints Des Breese as Director of Orland Central Dispatch Orland Fire Protection District, IL – The Orland Fire Protection District named Des Breese as Director of Orland Central Dispatch Operations. The Board of Trustees voted to approve the appointment on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, during their regular meeting. Breese succeeds Gina Cortez….
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Leving Matrimonial Law Seminar: Maintaining Excellence in Matrimonial Law and Client Advocacy By Laura Reichel The nationally acclaimed Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving Ltd. will host the next presentation of the Arthur S. Kallow Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Seminar Series on November 20th at 6:30 p.m. CST at 225 W. Wacker Drive in Chicago,…
Loop’s declining value fuels record 16.7% jump in median property tax bill for Chicago homeowners Homeowners in Black communities hit with biggest percentage increases A dramatic decline in the value of commercial property in Chicago’s Loop, the city’s longtime economic engine, fueled a record property tax increase on homes across the city, according to an…
Third-party notices tell you if a relative or anyone you know misses a tax payment By Maria Pappas Each year, thousands of property owners in Cook County are late paying their taxes, putting their homes in danger of being included in the annual state-mandated tax sale. That’s a problem we want to help you avoid. …
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Orland Fire hosts annual holiday Toy Drive for needy families/children The Orland Fire Protection District is hosting its annual Toy Drive for needy families and children. The Toy drive collections are located at all 6 of the OFPD Fire Stations and the Fire Administration Building, where toy donations can be dropped off. The OFPD Toy…
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Orland Fire Protection District promotes two firefighters Thursday Nov. 6, 2025 OFPD, IL – Two firefighters were promoted by the Orland Fire Protection District during ceremonies administered by the Orland Fire Commission at a meeting held on Thursday, November 6, 2025. Firefighter James Schultz was promoted to the rank of Engineer, and Eric Petravich was…
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Emagine Theatres invite veterans and military to watch movies for free on Veteran’s Day Emagine Theatres Honoring Veterans Day with FREE Admission Emagine Entertainment will once again be recognizing and honoring military service members by inviting them and a guest to see a movie of their choice for FREE on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. For…
Illinois sees 7th highest in total household debt, ranks 29th in debt rise With household debt reaching $18.59 trillion in Q3 2025, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its rankings of the States With the Largest & Smallest Debt Increases, based on new data from TransUnion and the Federal Reserve, to highlight where people may…
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Orland Fire Protection District welcomes new Fire Chief, salutes passing of former Trustee The Orland Fire Protection District, at its regular meeting on Oct. 28, 2025, officially welcomed the newly appointed Fire Chief, Kevin Doyle. Doyle was welcomed to his first official meeting by Board President Beth Damas Kaspar and the Fire Trustees, and he…
Hastings’s insurance reform legislation passes Senate in Springfield State Senator Michael E. Hastings advanced legislation designed to protect homeowners from excessive insurance rate increases and ensure fairness, transparency and accountability in Illinois homeowners insurance. “With this legislation, we are putting fairness and accountability back into the system,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “Here is what this means…
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Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown Estimated 153,000 Federal Workers in Illinois to be impacted by government shutdown Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is committing $50 million to fund zero-interest and low-interest loans to unpaid federal workers during the government shutdown. The loans will be…