Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
You May Be Owed Money For Overpaying Property Taxes Up To 20 Years Ago By Maria Pappas My office is managing about $122 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 entitled to a refund isn’t simple. Most overpayments…
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Getty Celebrates Successful Re-Election and Local Victory Sweep Voters in the Village of Lyons and across Lyons Township sent a strong message of confidence and support on April 1st, re-electing Mayor Chris Getty and many other public officials in a sweeping election victory. Mayor Getty, who also serves as Lyons Township Supervisor, expressed his gratitude…
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Vehicles crash in Orland Park and one careens into a nearby home Friday April 4, 2025 Two vehicles crashed at 151st and just east of 80th Avenue in Orland Park (at Meadow Lane), about a half block east of 80th Avenue and near the Orland Fire Protection District Station #2, on Friday morning April 4,…
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Rashid, Porfirio host Town Hall Meeting April 19, 2025 Join State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid and State Senator Mike Porfirio to discuss legislative updates, the impact of federal changes on Illinois, and the continued efforts to fight for working families. The Town Hall meeting will be held on April, 19 2025 beginning at 12 NOON. It…
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Record Number of Property Tax Appeals Filed for 2024 Tax Year The Cook County Board of Review (CCBOR) has received a record number of property tax appeals, involving a nearly 41% increase in the total of Property Index Numbers (PINs) compared to the 2023 tax year. Appeals filed for tax year 2024 increased by 11%…
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Frankfort hosts community cleanup in honor of Earth Day and Arbor Day, April 26, 2025 In celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day, the Village of Frankfort is inviting residents, businesses, and organizations to take part in a community-wide cleanup event on April 26, 2025, to help spruce up neighborhoods, parks, roadways, and the Old…
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Why We Pay Property Taxes In Arrears? Column: Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas One of the most common questions I get in my office, is, “Why do we collect taxes for the previous year?” Here’s the backstory. Cook County’s property tax system has changed dramatically since The Treasurer’s…
Illinois officials offer best wishes to Muslim community at end of Ramadan By Ray Hanania Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, and several officials including from Cook County, the State of Illinois and from officials of the Orland Fire Protection District offered their best wishes to the Muslim American community as they prepared…
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MWRD Vice President Theresa Flynn Honors Duggan Sisters at Women’s History Month Celebration MWRD Vice President Patricia Theresa Flynn with The Duggan Sisters (Mary, Annie, and Clare) The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) celebrated Women’s History Month with a special event on March 27 recognizing women making strides in public safety, cybersecurity,…
Pappas Urges Citizens to Vote on April 1 as Study Reveals Racial and Income Disparities in Referendum Turnout In a first-of-its-kind analysis, the Cook County Treasurer’s Office found much higher property tax referendum turnout in wealthier, predominantly white communities where nearly all people own their homes than in areas with mostly minority populations, lower incomes,…
Mayor Christopher Getty Welcomes Buddy Bear Car Wash to Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty joined business owner Phil DeGeratto and local officials on Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of Buddy Bear Car Wash’s 17th location at 8136 Ogden Avenue in Lyons. The new facility, spanning three acres, represents a multimillion-dollar investment in the community. The…
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Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities State lawmakers have made it easier for people with disabilities to continue receiving annual property tax relief. By Maria Pappas Cook County homeowners who receive the Persons with Disabilities Exemption no longer must reapply for the benefit every year. Lawmakers acted to allow…
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Patch publishes inaccurate news story on Fire District & merger By Ray Hanania The Patch is a great source of information but it should also have checks and balances on the publishing of news and information. This week, Patch writer Lauren Traut published an article on the growing controversy regarding the issue of “consolidation” or…
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Former Homer Glen trustee Pazmino says village board needs independent voice Former trustee and restaurant owner Ruben Pazmino hopes to continue to push his ideas to help taxpayers in Homer Glen as an independent voice in the April 1 election. Homer Glen gets very little attention from the media and its issues and needs are…
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Independent candidates launch social media and website for Orland Fire race The independent candidates seeking re-election and election to the Orland Fire Protection District Board of Trustees in the April 1, 2025 General election have launched their website and Facebook page to inform voters about their experience, platform and news. The candidates are Donald “DJ”…
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Investigation leads to aggravated vehicular hijacking arrest A Country Club Hills man on Tuesday (March 4, 2025) was charged with felony aggravated vehicular hijacking stemming from an incident that occurred in September in Tinley Park. Police said Jamal Britton, 33, approached a 27-year-old man as he was leaving work Sept. 11 in the 18700 block…
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Independent Candidates for Orland Fire Protection District announce their slate Three seats are up for election on April 1 for the Orland Fire Protection District’s Board of Trustees and three slates of candidates are competing for those seats. The independent slate, Fiscal Voices for Fire Safety, includes two Orland Fire Protection District officials, incumbent Trustee…
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Pappas urges property owners to pay First Installment tax bills by Tuesday, March 4 due date First Installment Tax Year 2024 property taxes are due Tuesday, March 4, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas reminded taxpayers today. The Treasurer’s Office posted nearly 1.8 million bills online at cookcountytreasurer.com in early December and mailed printed bills to…