Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Bridgeview OKs budget Board also focuses on vacant properties By Steve Metsch The Bridgeview Village Board has approved a balanced budget for 2021. The board unanimously approved the $30.6 million budget at its meeting held at noon on Dec. 16. “The budget is done on time and balanced this year,” Mayor Steve Landek said. No…
Lyons passes balanced budget Like many villages, pandemic took a toll By Steve Metsch The village of Lyons faces a deficit after the pandemic hit revenues hard, but trustees have passed a balanced budget for 2021. And finance department officials think the village can weather the storm. The village will have a $240,000 deficit with…
High-tech Santa Jolly elf visited via Zoom with Lyons kids By Steve Metsch Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Lyons parks and recreation department was unable to have Santa visit in person with kids this year. Thanks to modern technology, all was not lost. Kids were able to visit with the jolly old elf on…
Redbox lists top movie rentals and streams for 2020 With the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic suppressing entertainment and public activities during most of 2020, Redbox lists the movies that were most popular for their customers, through Redbox rentals and also through Redbox Streaming. Here are the lists of the Top 10 films of 2020 including rentals…
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Facebook censors video of fight at Orland Park Mall A fight at the Orland Park Mall in southwest Suburban Chicagoland has become the focus of a debate over censorship by social media giant Facebook and its subsidiary Instagram. The video attracted many comments including some that turned the video into a symbol of racism and…
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The courage of standing up for our Police A student athlete at the University of Illinois stood tall and proud recently while all of her teammates and coaches took a knee during the singing of the National Anthem. That student, who I know but won’t identify, has true courage and is the symbol of what…
Orland Township Provides Gifts and Meals for Over 200 Families Generous community supports Holiday Program. Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady and the Township board distributed food and toys to more than 200 needy families during the Township’s annual Holiday Program Through many acts of kindness and generosity, the holidays were made a little brighter for…
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Marie Newman Appointed to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure On Friday, Dec. 17, 2020, Congresswoman-elect Marie Newman (D-IL) announced her appointment to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The Committee has jurisdiction over all modes of transportation, critical aspects of our nation’s infrastructure system, as well as the U.S. Department of Transportation, Amtrak…
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Abir Othman named next Principal at Andrew High School The High School District 230 School Board unanimously approved the hiring of Abir Othman as Principal of Andrew High School, in light of the promotion of Dr. Robert Nolting to the role of Superintendent beginning on July 1, 2021. “Abir is a strong and compassionate leader…
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Reckoning over media’s biased coverage of Trump is due Whether you supported or opposed President Trump or President-elect Joe Biden is irrelevant to the problems that this country faced int he recent elections. The real challenge was the failure of the mainstream news media is maintain is professionalism and to denigrate into a partisan organization…
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Former Mayor Dan McLaughlin announces bid in Orland Park After consulting with thousands of Orland Park residents, business owners, and community leaders, former Mayor, Dan McLaughlin, will be challenging incumbent mayor, Keith Pekau, in the April 6, 2021 election by continuing his commitment to serve the working families of Orland Park. McLaughlin’s priorities will…
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Orland Township Strike Force ready to oversee COVID-19 vaccine Team on board and ready to administer COVID-19 vaccine Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady announced at the Township’s December Board meeting that the Township has a plan in place to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to residents, if called upon to do so by state and local…
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Orland Township Helping Protect Residents During the Holidays 500 bags of PPE/cleaning supplies to be distributed at Dec. 22 drive-thru Orland Township will hold a drive-thru to distribute bags of cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) to Township residents who are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the office of…
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Media must change its focus from Chicago to the suburbs The news media needs a reboot, especially in Chicagoland. I’m tired of seeing Chicago news dominate the TV stations in Chicago when the real news stories are out in the neighborhoods and in the suburbs. The TV News Media needs to change its focus on…
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Orland Park Village Trustee Daniel Calandriello Will Not Seek Another Term Trustee Thanks Supporters and Provides Thoughts about Village’s Future After more than 7 years of public service on the Orland Park Village Board of Trustees, Dan Calandriello announced today that he will not run for re-election. In a message to supporters, Calandriello stated, “…after…
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Pappas: Areas high in delinquent property taxes lose residents, pay larger tax increases and have the most violent crime Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas today released a study which shows that the areas in Cook County where delinquent properties are a severe problem are losing population, experiencing larger property tax increases, and confronting high levels…
Opinion: Orland Park Village lacks experience to manage COVID-19 vaccine distribution Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau claims he is readying to distribute the COVID-19 vaccinations but with no real experience in health care services, the Village is not the best qualified source to manage this important need. That responsibility should go to Orland Township Supervisor…
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Memoir: “Stories My Father Told Me” Available Now Memories of a Childhood in Syria and Lebanon By Elia Zughaib, Illustrated by Helen Zughaib In a world driven by power, money, and the pursuit of personal success, Helen and her father Elia have given us a glimpse of an intact society stretched to the limit, yet…
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