Category: Suburban Chicagoland

Ryan calls High School Language Requirement “burdensome” and pushes to remove it

May 7, 2026May 7, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

Culture, Education, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, Politics, Racism, Suburban Chicagoland

Village of Orland Park to Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday With Year of Events

May 7, 2026May 7, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Village of Orland Park to Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday With Year of Events The Village of Orland Park is proud to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday with a year full of special events and programs. The season of celebration will kick off with the Red, White & Blue BBQ Fest & Parade on Saturday,…

Civil Rights, Culture, Entertainment, Festival, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland, Veterans

MWRD Vice President Theresa Flynn Leads Berwyn Green Infrastructure Groundbreaking

May 4, 2026May 4, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

MWRD Vice President Theresa Flynn Leads Berwyn Green Infrastructure Groundbreaking MWRD Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn joined by Berwyn Mayor Robert J. Lovero, U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (4th District), and MWRD board colleagues and local aldermen in breaking ground on Green Infrastructure in Berwyn on May 1, 2026 On May 1, 2026, Metropolitan Water…

Environment, Flooding, Government, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Firefighter reflects on 29 years of service after retirement

May 3, 2026May 3, 2026 News Editor No Comments

Orland Firefighter reflects on 29 years of service after retirement Orland Park, IL – From the time he was a young child, Robert Winkelman always wanted to be a firefighter. Last week, he retired after 35 years of total fire service, including 29 years with the Orland Fire Protection District, most recently as a Battalion…

Features, Fire, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas: You May Be Owed Money For Overpaying Property Taxes Up To 20 Years Ago

April 25, 2026April 25, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas: You May Be Owed Money For Overpaying Property Taxes Up To 20 Years Ago By Maria Pappas My office is managing $105 million in potential refunds for property tax overpayments going back 20 years that I’m eager to send back to property owners. But determining who’s…

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

Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas: Thirty Years of Runaway Property Taxes Demand Action

April 13, 2026April 13, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas: Thirty Years of Runaway Property Taxes Demand Action By Maria Pappas Since I came into this office in 1998, there’s been one constant, the inexorable rise of property tax bills. To better understand why, my office conducted a 30-year analysis of property tax data. The findings…

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

Orland Mayor Dodge blasts lies by former Mayor Pekau

April 7, 2026April 7, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Mayor Dodge blasts lies by former Mayor Pekau Mayor Dodge Statement Following Attack on the Integrity of Public Safety Officials. Lies and distortions by Pekau have been repeated by local media, such as the false claims Mike Henry was “not detained” as a result of the Illinois State Police political raid, or that columnist…

Law, News, news release, NewsWire, Orland Park, Police, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Pappas Study Calls for Halt to Runaway Property Taxes

March 30, 2026March 30, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pappas Study Calls for Halt to Runaway Property Taxes Cook County property taxes have grown at twice the rate of inflation over the past three decades, forcing home and business owners to turn over an ever-greater percentage of their annual earnings to local governments, according to a study released Monday by Treasurer Maria Pappas. During…

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

Celebrate 100 Years of Route 66 & America’s 250th!

March 18, 2026March 18, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Celebrate 100 Years of Route 66 & America’s 250th! HOT ROD POWER TOUR & HOT ROD DRAG WEEK. THE SUMMER’S ULTIMATE ROAD TRIPS ON THE LEGENDARY HIGHWAY Plan Your Trip Now For Route 66 in 2026! (LOS ANGELES) March 18, 2026 — This year the mighty HOT ROD Power Tour in June and the highly competitive…

Entertainment, News, NewsWire, Photos, Suburban Chicagoland, Transportation

OLPL to Open “Founding Families of Oak Lawn” Local History Exhibit

March 18, 2026March 18, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

OLPL to Open “Founding Families of Oak Lawn” Local History Exhibit OAK LAWN, Ill.—Monday, March 23, 2026—Oak Lawn Public Library will open its new Local History exhibit, “Founding Families of Oak Lawn.” It will be followed by a reception for the exhibit Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m. in the Library’s Encore Room. As America…

News, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Fire responds to laundry room fire at Mario Tricoci salon

March 14, 2026March 14, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Fire responds to laundry room fire at Mario Tricoci salon Orland Park, IL – A fire that apparently began in the laundry room of the Mario Tricoci salon in Orland Park on Friday, March 13, 2026, damaged an area of the business and forced its temporary closure. No one was injured. Orland Fire Protection…

Business, Fire, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Paying your tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person

March 13, 2026March 13, 2026 News Editor No Comments

Paying your tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person Column: Your Property Taxes with the Cook County Treasurer In 1789, Ben Franklin wrote that nothing was certain “except death and taxes.” Let’s focus on the taxes part of the great American statesman’s uncomfortable reminder: The…

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

Ted Dabrowski cuts through the BS and takes on the biggest drain on property taxes

March 12, 2026March 12, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

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…

Business, Cook County, Education, elections, Government, Illinois Legislature, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Hastings calls for regulation on online prediction markets skirting Illinois gambling laws

March 10, 2026March 10, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hastings calls for regulation on online prediction markets skirting Illinois gambling laws SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings is calling for support on legislation aimed at addressing online prediction platforms that allow users to wager money on real world events while avoiding the licensing and oversight required of regulated gambling operators in Illinois. “These…

Government, Illinois Legislature, Law, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Women Leaders Come Together for Fifth Annual 16th District Women’s Power Brunch

March 10, 2026March 10, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Women Leaders Come Together for Fifth Annual 16th District Women’s Power Brunch On Friday, March 6th, the Fifth Annual 16th District Women’s Power Brunch was held to celebrate women leaders throughout the 16th District. The event was hosted by Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar, 16th District Commissioner on Women’s Issues Claudia Ayala, Hillside Mayor…

Cook County, Democrat, Events, Government, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, women

Orland Firefighters extinguish townhome fire Saturday, resident slightly injured

March 10, 2026March 10, 2026 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Firefighters extinguish townhome fire Saturday, resident slightly injured Orland Park, IL – The Orland Fire Protection District responded to a home fire on the 9100 Block of Greencastle Lane on Saturday afternoon, March 7, 2026, hampered by numerous obstructions officials referred to as “possible hoarding.” One resident was treated for minor injuries. Firefighters with…

Fire, News, NewsWire, Orland Fire Protection District, Police, safety, Suburban Chicagoland

Bridgeview police rescue hostages early Sunday morning in domestic squabble

March 8, 2026March 8, 2026 News Editor No Comments

Bridgeview police rescue hostages early Sunday morning in domestic squabble Bridgeview, IL – The Bridgeview Police were assisted by SWAT Officers late Saturday night (March 7) in response to a report of an armed gunman in a domestic hostage situation and the “aggravated discharge” of a weapon. The report involved a domestic argument between the…

Bridgeview, Crime, Law, News, NewsWire, Police, Suburban Chicagoland

Lyons Mayor Chris Getty Announces Candidacy for Illinois’ 4th Congressional District

February 27, 2026February 27, 2026 News Editor No Comments

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….

elections, Federal, Government, News, NewsWire, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland, Village of Lyons