Olivia Stevens –

Nikolet Diaz, a teacher and her husband Ivan Diaz listen to speakers in the pouring rain during the Clean School Rally at Nathan Hale Primary School in Crestwood. Students came together as a community to ask Cook County School District 130 Superintendent and the board of education to take immediate action to eradicate cockroaches, mold, mice and maggots from their schools. The rally took place on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. John Smierciak/Daily Southtown)

Supporters of laid-off custodians rally in Crestwood, cite ‘gross stuff’ at District 130 schools

October 1, 2026 at 3:40 p.m.

About 100 union and community members rallied Wednesday to pressure the District 130 school board to reinstate laid off custodial staff.

Calumet City's Mr. Smiley water tower peers over a shopping area in 2022. It's one of two personable water towers in the city that were painted with faces in 1973. (Paul Eisenberg/Daily Southtown)

Judge appoints receiver to manage Calumet City’s River Oaks West shopping center in foreclosure lawsuit

September 30, 2026 at 4:49 p.m.

Less than a month after a $45.6 million foreclosure lawsuit was filed against the owner of River Oaks West shopping center in Calumet City, a Cook County judge has appointed...

The Orland Park Public Library, located at 14921 South Ravinia Ave. (Orland Park Public Library)

Orland Park, Tinley Park libraries decry book banning, want people to ‘read what they want’

September 29, 2026 at 12:44 p.m.

As part of an annual push against book bans, librarians from Orland Park, Tinley Park and other area libraries will highlight materials in their collections that have been censored elsewhere....

The Dolton police station on Park Avenue, on Aug. 3. 2026. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

Dolton police officer on administrative leave amid misconduct investigation

September 28, 2026 at 12:23 p.m.

Dolton officials have placed a police officer on administrative leave as they investigate potential misconduct recorded on video.

Former Ford Heights Mayor Annie Coulter, second from right, presides over a Village Board meeting Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019, at the Ford Heights municipal center. She was among 11 current and former village officials charged Friday in a case brought by the Illinois Attorney General's Office. (Ted Slowik/Daily Southtown)

Ford Heights officials charged with 79 felonies alleging theft and misconduct

September 25, 2026 at 5:48 p.m.

Eleven current and former Ford Heights officials are facing 79 felony charges after investigators raided the Village Hall on Thursday to execute a search warrant. The Illinois Attorney General's Office...

More than 100 people pack into a Cook County District 130 meeting on Sept. 15, 2026, many expressing concerns about school maintenance after 31 custodians were laid off. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

Union: Mold found in Blue Island area schools poses risk to students, staff

September 24, 2026 at 3:34 p.m.

The union representing custodial staff who were laid off by Cook County District 130 filed a grievance over mold found in schools.

Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge speaks during a Village Board meeting on Sept. 21, 2026. The board discussed adding new automated road enforcement to reduce speeding. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

Orland Park considering new speed enforcement cameras, fines for parents in ‘teen takeovers’

September 22, 2026 at 4:24 p.m.

New traffic enforcement measures may soon come to Orland Park, with village officials on Monday discussing technology meant to deter speeding among drivers.

Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing. (Brett Johnson / Daily Southtown)

Plea deal expected for former Thornton Fractional High School teacher charged with sexual assault

September 21, 2026 at 2:19 p.m.

Andre Richmond was charged with criminal sexual assault and child pornography involving two Thornton Fractional South students.

Superintendent Scott Tingley, center, attends the Lincoln-Way High School District 210 board meeting Thursday in New Lenox. School board members voted unanimously to allow six students who engaged in racist taunting of Homewood-Flossmoor High School community members during a football game Sept. 4 to voluntarily withdraw from the district. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

Students involved in racist taunting voluntarily withdraw from Lincoln-Way District 210

September 18, 2026 at 3:26 p.m.

Lincoln-Way District 210 board members will allow students who engaged in racist taunting Sept. 4 to withdraw from the district.

Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge speaks during a Village Board meeting Aug. 17, 2026. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

Orland Park officials spar over tax break for Amazon retail development

September 18, 2026 at 4:08 p.m.

With construction already underway on a retail center at 159th Street and LaGrange Road, Orland Park Village Board members voted to provide Amazon with a nearly $1.5 million property tax...

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