Cook County Chronicle

02/07/2023

Before you dash to the grocery store, why don’t we make popsicles at home? Here’s a refreshing treat bursting with red, white and blue colors and fresh fruity flavors that bring relief on hot summer days.

Independence Day is just around the corner. Celebrating the Fourth of July brings a sense of patriotism and community as people gather to enjoy parades, fireworks and barbecues. The summer heat adds an extra sizzle to the festivities, making it the perfect time to cool down by indulging in ice pops....

01/07/2023

Spending time with your children away from screens and other distractions is really fun. Passing on a family tradition and strengthening relationships are a couple of reasons why people camp.

Camping with kids may seem like a tough challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. Spending time with your children away from screens and other distractions is really fun. Passing on a family tradition and strengthening relationships are a couple of reasons why people camp. Set Reasonable Expectations ...

01/07/2023

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is ringing in fiscal year 2024 by celebrating a record-high $1.94 billion in Illinois’ “rainy day” fund and setting her sights on doubling that figure in the next decade. “$2 billion sounds like a lot of money, certainly in contrast to $48,000,” Mendoza said in an interview Friday.

There are no champagne toasts or fireworks, but when the clock strikes 12 a.m. on Saturday, it’s the start of a new year in Illinois – a new fiscal year, that is. And just as a new year is a time to contemplate recent accomplishments and make resolutions for the future, Illinois Comptroller Susa...

30/06/2023

The blue and white circus big top found a temporary home in Chicagoland during May and June in the parking lots of Gurnee Mills in Gurnee and in Schaumburg at Woodfield Mall.

  The blue and white circus big top found a temporary home in Chicagoland during May and June in the parking lots of Gurnee Mills in Gurnee and in Schaumburg at Woodfield Mall. “I’m very excited and listen, this is the first circus I’ve ever been to in my life,” said Ricardo Spann of Hoffma...

29/06/2023

In a recent interview with Australian journalist Dave Smith on the news.com website, Schaefer acknowledged his part in Sheila von Wiese’s brutal murder in 2014, but called his federal indictment for conspiracy to murder von Wiese “vengeful.” He also reiterated his contention that he never meant to kill her until a heated argument in her hotel room.
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Tommy Schaefer, currently serving an 18-year prison sentence in Bali for the murder of Sheila von Wiese, could be released from Indonesian custody and back in the United States as early as spring of 2026. In a recent interview with Australian journalist Dave Smith on the news.com website, Schaefer a...

29/06/2023

In a whirlwind visit to Chicago on Wednesday, President Joe Biden trotted out a re-election campaign message built on economic recovery — and effusively praised Gov. J.B. Pritzker for helping him win the White House in 2020.

CHICAGO – In a whirlwind visit to Chicago on Wednesday, June 28 President Joe Biden trotted out a re-election campaign message built on economic recovery — and effusively praised Gov. J.B. Pritzker for helping him win the White House in 2020. “There’s a guy that helped me more than — I can...

28/06/2023

Last year, the party was postponed at the last minute when storms suddenly rolled in over Harbert-Payne Park at McDaniel Avenue and Nathaniel Place. But for 2023, Evanston blue skies and breezy temperatures at 84 degrees made the setting a picture-perfect Saturday in the park.

Stormy weather this year stayed away and did not rain on the parade of people who attended the Honorary Street Naming Celebration for William ‘Bill’ Logan Jr. on June 24 in Evanston. Last year, the party was postponed at the last minute when storms suddenly rolled in over Harbert-Payne Park at M...

28/06/2023

On May 14, Bibli, the name of a baby peregrine falcon, hatched on a ledge at the Evanston Public Library. Bibli had a band placed along a talon on June 9 by scientists connected with the Field Museum’s Chicago Peregrine Program.

The announcement on June 9 had people of all ages reacting in delight. It was a boy and he was named Bibli. Shortly before Mother’s Day on May 14, Bibli, the name of a baby peregrine falcon, hatched on a ledge at the Evanston Public Library. Bibli had a band placed along a talon on...

28/06/2023

Amid record-high inflation last spring, the General Assembly temporarily waived the state's grocery tax for the coming fiscal year and delayed the annual increase in the motor fuel tax for six months. “I would like very much to eliminate entirely the grocery tax, but it is a matter of local governments and what they would do if they didn’t have that income as a result of the grocery tax,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said.

SPRINGFIELD – A new state fiscal year will begin July 1, ushering in the reinstatement of a 1 percent tax on groceries and a second increase to the state’s motor fuel tax in 2023. Amid record-high inflation last spring, the General Assembly temporarily waived Illinois’ grocery tax for the comi...

28/06/2023

In May, there were 2,525 Illinois residences in foreclosure, a 3.6 percent increase from April. Despite having the nation’s highest percentage of homes in foreclosure, Illinois’ numbers are better than they were a year ago.

Illinois has the nation’s highest percentage of housing units in foreclosure. One in every 2,144 Illinois residences was in foreclosure proceedings for May, according to the most recent data from ATTOM, a property data provider. In May, there were 2,525 Illinois residences in foreclosure, a 3.6 pe...

27/06/2023

Saul Martinez Castanon faces two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct for his alleged actions. Castanon was arrested affter an Illinois State Police plane was targeted with a laser pointer.

  A 36-year-old Berkeley man has been charged with allegedly pointing a laser at an airplane. Saul Martinez Castanon faces two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct for his alleged actions. Castanon was arrested Thursday, June 22 after an Illinois State Police plane was targeted with a laser poi...

27/06/2023

Cornelius Byrd, 26, a resident of the 3600 block of West Bryn Mawr Avenue, faces felony counts of first-degree attempted murder and aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm.

A Chicago man faces charges in connection with a May shooting in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Cornelius Byrd, 26, a resident of the 3600 block of West Bryn Mawr Avenue, faces felony counts of first-degree attempted murder and aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm. Byrd appeared Sunday, June ...

26/06/2023

The Amtrak line ran its first 110 mph service on Monday, up from 90 mph previously, which would make the one-way trip less than five hours long. The trip is now a full 30 minutes quicker than when the service ran at 79 mph when the project began in 2010.

CHICAGO — A trip from St. Louis to Chicago via Amtrak’s Lincoln Service will be about 15 minutes quicker starting this week due to track upgrades that allow for increased speeds. The Amtrak line ran its first 110 mph service on Monday, up from 90 mph previously, which would make the one-way trip...

26/06/2023

As of Friday, Starbucks workers began participating in Strike with Pride, demanding that the company negotiate a fair contract with union stores and stop what workers call a “union-busting campaign,” which has impacted the company’s LGBTQIA+ workforce.

Workers at more than 150 Starbucks stores across the country, including several in Illinois, may strike over the next week, claiming unfair labor practices. As of Friday, June 23, Starbucks workers began participating in Strike with Pride, demanding that the company negotiate a fair contract with un...

26/06/2023

More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze at the former Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church on the city's East Side

An early morning blaze Sunday, June 25 damaged an abandoned church on Chicago’s East Side. More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze at the former Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 10310 S. Ave. H. The church building has stood on the East Side since 1891, according to a Luthera...

26/06/2023

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 68-year-old female who was diagnosed with high blood pressure at 32. I am 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weigh 130 pounds. I’ve been taking 240 mg of verapamil for all of these years. A few years back, my medication started coming in 120-mg dosages, so I started taking...

25/06/2023

The humble potato is underrated. It’s a low-fat, low-cholesterol source of carbs and protein, packed with vitamin C, vitamin B6, iron, calcium and more potassium than a banana. The bad reputation comes from typical toppings, like copious amounts of butter, sour cream and bacon.

Remember stuffed baked potatoes? I was discussing food with some friends, and none of us could recall the last time we had stuffed baked potatoes. We’ve been so occupied with quinoa and cauliflower rice that we overlooked the King of Carbs — good carbs, of course. The humble potato is underrated...

24/06/2023

Gardens, farmers markets, and stores are benefiting from the wide variety of fruits and vegetables available during summer months. And summertime brings the best colors of produce..

Gardens, farmers markets, and stores are benefiting from the wide variety of fruits and vegetables available during summer months. And summertime brings the best colors of produce. No fruit or vegetable has the same mix of vitamins and minerals. By eating different fruits and vegetables (in a variet...

23/06/2023

Four gas utilities and the state’s two largest electric utilities are currently requesting authority from the Illinois Commerce Commission to increase rates. Together, these companies serve 4.1 million gas customers and 5.3 million electric customers in Illinois.

CHICAGO — Millions of Illinoisans could see higher energy bills next year, but the size of those increases will be determined by a state agency that has recently had its oversight powers expanded. Four gas utilities and the state’s two largest electric utilities are currently requesting authorit...

22/06/2023

In a move that drew intense backlash from immigrant rights advocates, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed House Bill 1298 then immediately filed emergency rules authorized by the law to “temporarily” pause enrollment in the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program as of July 1.

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration wasted no time last week in exercising new authority granted by lawmakers to limit the number of enrollees in a pair of state-funded health care programs for low-income noncitizens. In a move that drew intense backlash from immigrant rights advoc...

22/06/2023

In a budget presentation, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle told reporters that no new revenue streams are being pondered to make up the projected shortfall. “No tax hike is being contemplated,” Preckwinkle said. “We’ll be able to do this.”

Cook County is projecting a $85 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2024, but residents are not expected to see any more money coming out of their pockets to cover the gap. In a budget presentation Wednesday, June 21, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle told reporters that no new reven...

21/06/2023

Newly minted Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson got the person he wanted to replace him on the Cook County Board of Commissioners, former mentor and fellow Chicago Teachers Union official Tara Stamps.

Newly minted Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson got the person he wanted to replace him on the Cook County Board of Commissioners, former mentor and fellow Chicago Teachers Union official Tara Stamps. When Oak Park Township Committeeman and selection committee chair Don Harmon announced Stamps’ selecti...

21/06/2023

Too much watering can be as bad as not enough watering. When the soil is without moisture, water the tree. Soil will generally dry out within seven to 10 days of not having a good soaking rain, so says the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Commonly in Illinois there are periods of drought. During these times trees need to be given special attention and monitoring. Symptoms of drought include: wilted foliage a sparse canopy of off-colored and undersized leaves leaf scorch yellowing of the leaves leaf drop and premature leaf color Check...

21/06/2023

John Clemens, who serves at Our Lady of Hope Mission in Rosemont and Mary Seat of Wisdom parish in Park Ridge, had not been doing ministry work since the fall when decades-old allegations surfaced against him and two other priests.

A priest at two northwest suburban parishes has been reinstated after being cleared of allegations of child sexual abuse five decades ago. John Clemens, who serves at Our Lady of Hope Mission in Rosemont and Mary Seat of Wisdom parish in Park Ridge, had not been doing ministry work since the fall wh...

20/06/2023

A new law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker expands local police departments’ authority to use drones to surveil certain events, respond to certain 911 calls, inspect buildings and participate in public relations events.

CHICAGO – Next time you attend a parade, there might be an eye in the sky. A new law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday expands local police departments’ authority to use drones to surveil certain events, respond to certain 911 calls, inspect buildings and participate in public relations eve...

20/06/2023

The region has received “significantly” below average rainfall since very early this spring, according to the NWS. The most significant rainfall deficits over the last 30 days were located near the Chicago metro area.

The National Weather Service has officially designated many areas of northern Illinois and northwest and Indiana as being in a severe drought status. The region has received “significantly” below average rainfall since very early this spring, according to the NWS. The most significant rainfall d...

19/06/2023

The process to select a replacement for former Cook County 1st District Commissioner Brandon Johnson will conclude Tuesday, June 20, with a meeting of west suburban and westside Chicago committee persons.

The process to select a replacement for former Cook County 1st District Commissioner Brandon Johnson will conclude Tuesday, June 20, with a meeting of west suburban and westside Chicago committee persons. Johnson, who was elected Mayor of Chicago in April, resigned his County Board seat in May. The....

19/06/2023

Over the past year, construction workers inside the Illinois Statehouse have stripped most of the building’s north wing down to its bare bones and are now in the process of restoring it to its original grandeur. That portion of the historic building, which includes the Senate chamber, has been closed to the public since last spring.

SPRINGFIELD – Over the past year, construction workers inside the Illinois Statehouse have stripped most of the building’s north wing down to its bare bones and are now in the process of restoring it to its original grandeur. That portion of the historic building, which includes the Senate chamb...

19/06/2023

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DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve been experiencing pain in my chest, dizziness and shortness of breath on exertion. The chest pain lasts for a few hours. At one point, it was so bad that I couldn’t walk a hundred feet, had to use a cane and severely limit my physical activity. I’ve been to the doctor...

19/06/2023

A 22-year-old Chicago man has been charged with attempted murder in the stabbing of a man Friday night, June 16. Vidal Herazo of the 3000 block of West 41st Place, is to appear today (Sunday, June 18) in Cook County Central Bond Court in Chicago. Herazo was arrested by members off the Chicago Police...