DEMOCRACY WATCH Thornton Township meeting failAmid a tsunami of scandals and lawsuits in Dolton and Thornton Township, Tiffany Henyard continues to have trouble getting the basics of governance right. Josh Bootsma of the Lansing Journal reports this morning that Henyard kept members of the public and the press waiting for more than an hour[Read More…]
Opinion
Half Week | June 12: Calumet Country Club pivot, Thornton Township turmoil, H-F Steppers camp, youth scientist achievement
Calumet Country Club redevelopment could be pivoting to housing project Golfers are playing rounds at Calumet Country Club this summer, three years after an Arizona developer had hoped to convert the property into a warehousing facility, but his plans are shifting to another use. Owner Walt Brown said he is[Read More…]
Column: Here’s why your tax bill tells you about government debt and pensions
I do not determine your property taxes. My job as county treasurer is to bill, collect and distribute that money to pay for local government services. Local governments typically rely on property taxes to fund payrolls and other day-to-day expenses. However, taxing bodies typically borrow money to pay for major[Read More…]
Letter: Illinois must protect victims of domestic violence
June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month and every day, more than 300 people are directly impacted by gun violence in the United States. Domestic violence and gun violence are deeply interconnected, impacting millions of women, families, and communities across the U.S. Two-thirds of women killed by an intimate partner[Read More…]
Half Week | May 30: Thornton Township budget hearing Friday, No Mow May no more, MMA for commuters?
Thornton Township reschedules meeting, budget hearings for Friday Josh Bootsma of the Lansing Journal reports that Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard postponed the Tuesday, May 28, budget hearings and board meeting 53 minutes after the scheduled start. The meeting will now take place at 1 p.m. Friday, May 31, in township hall,[Read More…]
Letter: Support Mandela Act to limit isolated confinement
Dear Editor, I am writing to urge support for Illinois SB2257/HB4828, an essential legislative effort aimed at limiting the use of isolated confinement in our state’s correctional facilities. This bill would create the Nelson Mandela Act representing a critical step forward to ensuring the humane treatment of incarcerated people and[Read More…]
Helmets, people
A few weeks ago I was going around the corner where Main Street turns into 187th Street in Glenwood on my bike when I heard a loud ding. I felt it, too. At that corner is one of those temporary stop signs that folds over. I didn’t see it, and[Read More…]
Column: Senior citizen exemptions help give homeowners a break on big tax bills
Senior citizens can get a break on their property tax bills, but they need to apply when seeking savings for the first time. The popular tax break is known as the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption. For homeowners already receiving the break, Senior Citizen Homestead Exemptions are automatically renewed for properties[Read More…]
Page 2: Looking ahead after a decade of local news
June 9 will be the 10th anniversary of the Chronicle’s first published story. We figure this is a good time to think through the state of local news in H-F and see how to keep things going. We’ll be out in the community more than usual this year. We hope[Read More…]
Column: When legislation becomes a personal commitment to reform
As 40th District state senator (representing Flossmoor), I advocate every day for the people I represent to address the problems affecting their families, their neighbors, their businesses and schools. This month, I became an advocate for my family and many others like us who deserve better health care insurance coverage.[Read More…]