Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
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…
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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,…
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…
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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…
Sheriff Dart and Friends of the Chicago River Join Forces to Clean-Up the Ford Heights Community and River The Cook County Sheriff’s Office co-hosted a volunteer community clean-up of the Deer Creek River in Ford Heights Village Thursday, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced Friday Nov. 10, 2023. Approximately 30 volunteers from the Sheriff’s…
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Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Black Men United cohost veterans event at Hines VA Hospital Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas will help military veterans and their families search for savings on their property tax bills during a Veterans’ Appreciation event Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital with Black Men United. Treasurer’s…
Stagg High School hosts massive Vocational Fair Bricklayers, firefighters, carpenters, estheticians, and real estate agents were just a few of the 50-some occupations represented at the second annual Stagg High School Vocational Fair. Professionals spent the day on November 7, 2023 discussing their careers with interested students, as well as detailing their career paths and…
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Senator Mike Porfirio hosts Veterans Appreciation Luncheon at Morton College, Monday Nov. 13, 2023 State Senator Mike Porfirio will host a Veterans Appreciation luncheon at Morton College on Monday, November 13, 2023. Please RSVP to attend the luncheon at the college, 3801 S. Central Avenue, Cicero, Illinois, that begins at 11 AM. Porfirio has been…
Nursing Moms Support Group to Celebrate Halloween with Baby Costume Contest at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital’s Nursing Mom’s Network is giving new moms who might be stuck at home this Halloween the chance to dress up with their babies and step out of the house at a Halloween party on October…
Pappas: School districts hiked property taxes on Cook County homes, businesses An analysis of Cook County’s 1.8 million property tax bills for 2022 shows that school districts are chiefly responsible for hefty tax bills that are due Dec. 1, according to Treasurer Maria Pappas. The median residential tax bill in the north and northwest…
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The Maine massacre & gun control, & the election of Rep. Johnson as House Speaker Former Congressman Bill Lipinski and columnist Ray Hanania discuss the massacre of 18 people by a gunman in Maine this past week and the politicization of “gun control” and the failure to impose harsh penalties for killers of all sorts….
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Issues and controversies that I just can’t seem to ignore Award winning columnist Ray Hanania writes about migrants and illegal aliens, the failed policies of President Biden, handicapped parking violators, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau one of the region’s worst elected officials next only to Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, and the killing of civilians…
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Qualifying disabled veterans are fully exempt from paying property taxes By Maria Pappas Veterans deserve our thanks, especially those whose abilities were diminished as a result of active military service. Illinois law recognizes that. Qualifying veterans whose disabilities are certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are eligible for tax breaks. Veterans classified as…
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Keep Halloween Spooky and Fire Free Decorations were the first thing to ignite in roughly 800 reported home fires each year Halloween is a fun, spooky and exciting time for kids and adults as they scour for that perfect costume and people add spooky decorations to their homes. If you don’t keep fire safety in…
No one injured in structure fire at 135th an Harlem, Al-Hayba Hookah Lounge At 5:06 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, companies of the Orland Fire Protection District and Palos Heights Fire District dispatched in response to a possible structure fire at the Al-Hayba Hookah Lounge, 13500 S Harlem Ave (formerly the Ale House) on…
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The Importance of Checking Your Furnace, Winter is Coming! The weather might be crisp and lovely right now, but Chicago’s fierce winter winds and snow are on their way. Before it gets colder, take this time to check your furnace and any other appliances that may have been damaged in the June 29 – July…
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Pappas: Second Installment 2022 tax bills are now online, two weeks before they are mailed Cook County property owners who don’t want to wait until their property tax bills arrive in the mail may now view, download and pay their Second Installment bill for the 2022 Tax Year online at cookcountytreasurer.com, Treasurer Maria Pappas announced…
Grasso responds to Pekau’s pathological lies and abuse of his village office Real Republican Gary Grasso responds to Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau’s vicious political lies and mischaracterizations. Pekau made his political attacks in his taxpayer funded position as Mayor of Orland Park, something Pekau does quite often. By Ray Hanania Orland Park Mayor Keith…
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