Annie Reilly of Homewood, a music education major, packs up her saxophone as she prepares to move out of her apartment at the University of Illinois. (Provided photo)
Tag: COVID-19
Governor extends stay-home order and school closing through April, local closures follow suit
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced on Tuesday that he will sign a 30-day extension of the state’s disaster proclamation on April 1. The disaster proclamation provides the governor the authority to sign additional executive orders, extending the stay-at-home order and suspending on-site learning in K-12 schools through the month of April.[Read More…]
H-F area experiences deaths, rise in COVID-19 cases
As H-F residents work through their second week of a stay-at-home order, Cook County is reporting the latest infection numbers related to the coronavirus outbreak. On its website tracking COVID-19 cases in suburban Cook County, the Cook County Department of Public Health indicates 21 cases have been reported in Homewood, while 15[Read More…]
Illinois improves website and call center, designates filing days for unemployment claims
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced on Thursday, March 26, the agency is taking additional steps to address the unprecedented volume of unemployment benefit claims the department has fielded as a result of COVID-19. IDES is currently working through an unparalleled number of unemployment benefit claims and questions,[Read More…]
State public health officials announce 1,105 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced on Sunday that 1,105 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were confirmed in Illinois since Saturday, including 18 additional deaths. Illinois has the seventh highest number of cases in the country with 4,596. There have been 65 deaths. On Saturday, IDPH announced[Read More…]
Free breakfast, lunch program for H-F grade schools continues at Parker
The free breakfast and lunch program for students in Homewood District 153 and Flossmoor District 161 will be extended through April 7 in response to Gov. J.B Pritzker’s stay-at-home order.
Thornton distillery shifts to hand sanitizer production to help in COVID-19 crisis
The recent state-issued order shutting down all dine-in restaurants and bars caused Thornton Distilling Company and its tasting room, The Well, to close. The owner and head distiller decided to “pivot” and turn their spirits into a desperately needed product in fighting the spread of coronavirus — hand sanitizer. “Never did[Read More…]
LaBanque Hotel in Homewood to close temporarily because of COVID-19 pandemic
As the worldwide ripple effects of the coronavirus outbreak continue, the tourism and hospitality industries have been hit particularly hard, and on Friday, March 27, Homewood’s boutique hotel, La Banque, closed its doors for “a week or two” according to Manager Meg Sakka. The hotel joins a growing number of[Read More…]
Cook County executive order removes obstacles for donating, distributing COVID-19 supplies
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle issued an executive order on Friday, March 19, accelerating the county’s ability to accept supplies, equipment and other donations from private partners, corporations and individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preckwinkle’s signing the executive order is meant to get critical materials to vulnerable communities in[Read More…]
Coping with COVID: March 28
Flossmoor library extends closure. Franciscan offers online COVID-19 assessment tool. South Suburban Humane Society provides update.


