Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Musician offers free concerts Indian Head Park man plays ukulele in yard By Steve Metsch Three afternoons each week, you can find Michael Malone sitting on a stool, playing a ukulele in front of his Indian Head Park home. Malone, 51, plays original songs for anyone who happens to be in the 6400 block of…
Opinion: For Pekau, it is always about him, even in closing Secretary of State’s Office Once again, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau puts his own political interests above the interests of the residents of Orland Park in his ultimatum that forced the closure of the Secretary of State’s Satellite Office that was located in the…
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Peaceful protest in La Grange No problems reported as hundreds march By Steve Metsch Charlotte Wolf said she wanted to make a stand “because there is a lot going on in the world right now.” So, the recent graduate of Lyons Township High School organized a peaceful protest rally and march in La Grange on…
Virtual Pet Parade a success Organizers are pleased with participation, results By Steve Metsch The reviews are favorable for the first-ever virtual Pet Parade in La Grange. Molly Price, event coordinator for Pet Parade Charities, the non-profit which sponsors the parade, said Monday that “everybody was really supportive of it.” Fears of spreading the coronavirus…
Radio host files lawsuit against Governor Pritzker Chicago radio talkshow host Amy Jacobson, a popular former Chicago TV reporter, has been banned by Gov. J.B. Pritzker from attending his daily and political coronavirus briefings. Jacobson co-hosts the conservative weekday morning radio show “The Answer” with political activists Dan Proft and the show is among the…
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Maywood man charged with aggravated battery to a child after incident May 23 at Super Target in Tinley Park A 31-year-old Maywood man was charged with aggravated battery to a child, endangering the life or health of a child, domestic battery, criminal damage to property and two counts of fleeing and eluding police after an…
Virtual Pet Parade on Saturday Virus results in 180 video entries submitted By Steve Metsch Organizers of the 74th annual La Grange Pet Parade, another victim of the coronavirus pandemic, are overwhelmed by the response from the public. Forced to cancel the parade because of the governor’s ban on large public gatherings, they had asked…
Tara Reade reminds us how hypocritical the DNC really is Sexual harassment claims by Tara Reade against Democratic Presidential contender Joe Biden are not being taken as seriously as sexual harassment claims made by women against President Donald Trump. That’s because no one is really concerned about sexual harassment. They are more concerned about how…
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Legislature passes budget to help victims of COVID-19 Maintaining social distancing and meeting at the Bank of Springfield Building, a multi-purpose arena that holds 80,000, the Illinois House approved a $42.6 billion budget to provide support to victims of the coronavirus and ensuring that statewide services to residents continues, ending an 11-week recess forced by…
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Memorial Day online Virus forces communities to honor a new way By Steve Metsch With Memorial Day fast approaching, several communities have opted to hold scaled back ceremonies and in some cases are going virtual. The Village of Lyons, which normally marks Memorial Day with a ceremony at the eternal flame outside the pumping station…
Thrown for a loss Uncertainty forces star quarterback to leave Naz By Steve Metsch Tim Racki has a glittering record as a high school football coach – taking two schools to nine state title games and winning seven – but his biggest challenge may come this fall. Not only does Racki not know if there…
Lyons, Brookfield drenched Salt Creek overflows after heavy weekend rains By Steve Metsch With more rain forecast in the coming days, residents of Lyons and Brookfield who live near Salt Creek are hoping to avoid an encore of May 17. The Lyons Fire Department was busy that Sunday helping about 50 residents and 19 pets…
Gov. Pritzker authorizes restaurants to operate open-air seating beginning May 29 Restaurants and bars will be permitted beginning May 29 to provide open-air seating to customers as long as tables are at least six feet apart. The idea has been circulating among legislators who have been working to find ways to ease the burden that…
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Illinois House adopts COVID-19 guidelines in advance of meeting House Speaker Michael J. Madigan released the following statement Tuesday: “Last week when I announced the House would return to Springfield, I asked all members to commit to safety precautions approved and guided by the Illinois Department of Public Health to help prevent the spread of…
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Opinion: Look who’s “grandstanding” now in Orland Park Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau is a nasty bully who can’t take any criticism but has one quality: he can turn friends into enemies faster than any politician I have met in 45 years. Monday (May 18, 2020), Pekau threatened to take Pritzker to court after bashing…
Treasurer Maria Pappas postpones collections to help coronavirus victims Video Interview Below: Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has launched an initiative to help taxpayer san property owners who have been economically impacted negatively by the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The Treasurer’s office will extend the period by two months in which property owners can pay their…
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Orland home fire on Beacon Tuesday, May 12th The Orland Fire District responded to the 143 block of Beacon in the Old Orland Historic District for a reported structure fire on Tuesday, May 12. Upon arrival, Battalion 6 found a two-story wood frame building with smoke coming from the rear of the structure. The alarm…
New start for Lyons motel Officials hope restrictions prevent seedy encore By Steve Metsch With a laundry list of restrictions and requirements, what had been called the Presidential Inn in Lyons has re-opened under strict surveillance by the village. The plans were unveiled at the village board meeting on May 5, 13 months after the…