Flu activity in suburban Cook County has elevated from high to very high for the week ending Dec. 27, 2025, and continues to increase, according to Cook County Department of Public Health’s respiratory surveillance data. RSV activity has elevated from low to moderate and is increasing. COVID-19 activity remains low but[Read More…]
Author: Provided News
Elected leaders condemn attack on Venezuela
Several elected leaders who represent or are running to represent the South Suburbs issued statements since the news broke that the Trump administration bombed and sent troops into Venezuela early Saturday. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody and brought to the U.S. to[Read More…]
Cook County reports drops in homicides, opioid overdose deaths in 2025
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has released preliminary statistics for cases handled in 2025. Homicides and opioid overdose deaths declined substantially over 2024. While the office’s caseload continued to surpass pre-COVID levels, with 6,901 cases falling under its jurisdiction last year, caseloads continued to drop from the pandemic-era peak[Read More…]
Homewood Police Chief Denise McGrath to retire Jan. 9
At the Dec. 9, 2025, village board meeting, Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld announced that Homewood Police Chief Denise McGrath will retire after a three-decade law enforcement career. Her final day of service to the village will be Jan. 9. Following her retirement, McGrath will continue her law enforcement career as[Read More…]
New state public health laws take effect Jan. 1
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that several new laws designed to strengthen public health initiatives will take effect Jan. 1. “The new year offers a critical opportunity to advance public health and protect Illinois families through new laws and innovative strategies,” said IDPH Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. [Read More…]
RTA board approves budget, capital program with no fare hikes or service cuts
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Board of Directors voted on Dec. 18 to adopt the 2026 regional transit operating budget and 2026-2030 capital program. After years of the agency and advocates ringing the alarm on a fiscal cliff when COVID-19 relief funds ran out, the Illinois General Assembly passed Senate Bill[Read More…]
State to increase Planned Parenthood funding to protect reproductive healthcare access
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is investing $4 million in Medicaid family planning programming in order to counteract the federal defunding of Planned Parenthood in Trump’s budget bill. The funding will go towards critical services that many Illinoisans rely on, like contraception, sexually transmitted infection (STI)[Read More…]
Three new physicians join Specialty Physicians of Illinois in Olympia Fields
Three new physicians are now part of Specialty Physicians of Illinois and are accepting new patients at their offices on the Franciscan Health Olympia Fields campus. Internal medicine physician Joseph Guan, board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist and cardiologist Ahmed Hussein and board-certified oncologist and breast surgeon George Salti are all now practicing[Read More…]
Pipefitters Local 597 apprentices host holiday luncheon for Glenwood Academy students
Pipefitters Local 597 hosted an afternoon of holiday cheer on Dec. 18 for 28 students of Glenwood Academy in Glenwood serving 150 students who face a variety of challenges. More than 350 apprentices of Local 597 helped students enjoy a pizza party and visits with Santa Claus, who personally delivered[Read More…]
CNI: How Illinois’ Democratic U.S. Senate candidates plan to address economic issues
By Ben Szalinski, Capitol News IllinoisDecember 8, 2025 Article Summary This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story. Recent polling by Reuters found that 45% of voters list “cost of living” as their top concern heading into the 2026 election. With that in mind, the three[Read More…]
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