West Cook News

"Its time to fight fire with fire:" Opponents of Hinsdale tax hike referendum ask police to investigate threatening social media posts

By W.J. Kennedy | Nov 12, 2018

Opponents of a $166 million Hinsdale District 86 ballot initiative have asked police to investigate social media posts threatening them.

Hinsdale District 86 opposition movement eyeing board seats after defeating referendum

By W.J. Kennedy | Nov 7, 2018

A grassroots movement that on Tuesday defeated Hinsdale District 86’s proposed $166 referendum is now looking to run candidates for four school board seats that will be contested in April.

In final push, teachers union donates big to “Yes” effort in Hinsdale's $166 million referendum

By W.J. Kennedy | Nov 5, 2018

The local teachers union has entered the battle over Hinsdale D86’s $166 million referendum in a big way, donating about $30,000 to the “Yes” in the days before Tuesday's election.

Hinsdale D86 referendum: Vote “no” backers won't press charges against “yes” leader allegedly caught stealing signs

By W.J. Kennedy | Oct 31, 2018

A woman caught on videotape Oct. 26 taking down signs of a grassroots movement working to defeat the school’s $166 million referendum will not face charges.

From Prairie State Wire

Communist Party USA “involved” in Sean Casten bid to unseat Peter Roskam in the 6th

By W.J. Kennedy | 6 years ago

An election guide posted on the Communist Party USA’s (CPUSA) website said that the party is “deploying its resources” to unseat U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), as part of a larger effort to flip 24 Republican seats the Democrats need to capture control of the House.

From DuPage Policy Journal

A queen of the Chicago machine launches her political career in the western suburbs

By W.J. Kennedy | 6 years ago

Like some other single 30-year-olds, Bridget Fitzgerald still lives with her parents, in Western Springs.

Dismissal of discrimination complaint intensifies fight in Hinsdale 86

By W.J. Kennedy | Oct 10, 2018

The U.S. Department of Education’s dismissal of a discrimination complaint against Hinsdale High School District 86 has hardened the battle lines between school officials and a group of residents vowing to erase what they view as inequity between the district’s two high schools, Central and South. It has also escalated a war of words between the two sides.

Morton College president cites attorney meddling for school’s shaky academic status

By W.J. Kennedy | Aug 17, 2018

Morton College is on a slippery slope of losing its accreditation, and its president and director of operations are placing at least part of the blame on the school’s attorney, Michael Del Galdo, a source close to the situation told West Cook News.

From DuPage Policy Journal

Mottl: Hinsdale District 86 referendum a big ask with no school boundaries set

By W.J. Kennedy | 6 years ago

A $166 million referendum approved in early August by Hinsdale High School District 86 has a slim chance with the voters in November without school attendance boundaries for Central and South high schools in place, says Zach Mottl, a Burr Ridge trustee and co-chair of a citizens group fighting for parity between the schools.

From Chicago City Wire

Republican Party officials boycott Cook County meeting over proposed bylaw change

By W.J. Kennedy | 6 years ago

A proposed change in the bylaws of the Cook County Republican Party that would have allowed Democrats to serve as Republican ward committeemen fizzled at a meeting of party officials July 25 and county Republicans lacked a quorum necessary for a vote after nearly 30 committeemen boycotted the meeting.

Riverside Police chief: Criminal history of 17-year-old motorbike thief validates earlier carjacking legislation

By W.J. Kennedy | Jul 17, 2018

Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel said that a juvenile arrested recently for stealing a motorbike is why carjacking legislation introduced earlier this year in Springfield was no “overreach” as some have claimed.

District 86 eliminates buffer zone between Central and South High Schools

By W.J. Kennedy | Jun 19, 2018

Hinsdale Township High School District 86 voted on Monday night to eliminate the buffer zone between its Central and South High Schools.

Complaint wants attendance boundaries changed for 'more affluent' Hinsdale Central High

By W.J. Kennedy | Jun 6, 2018

Boundaries governing which of two highs schools -- Central or South -- students attend in Hinsdale Township High School District 86 could change now that the school board has decided to place the controversial issue on its June 18 meeting agenda.

Last minute anti-carjacking bill gives west suburban police part of sought-after changes in law

By W.J. Kennedy | Jun 5, 2018

Chicago-area law enforcement got a portion of what they wanted in carjacking legislation approved on the last day of the spring session in Springfield when a few days before it appeared as though they would get only a watered-down change in the law.

Durkin's sister-in-law last sold office furniture in 2001 before landing high-paying Tollway job

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 20, 2018

Laura Durkin, a sister-in-law to House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, last worked in 2001 selling office furniture before landing a $80,000-a-year job last spring with the Illinois Tollway as general manager of Engineering.

From Prairie State Wire

Cook County GOP's endorsement of Rauner may not be what it seems

By W.J. Kennedy | 7 years ago

Republicans from at least one township in Cook County said that Tuesday's endorsement of Gov. Bruce Rauner was the outcome of a rigged process and not a reflection of grass-roots support within the party.

Burr Ridge hits back against Durkin’s “misleading” claims about the village’s fiscal health

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 1, 2018

Burr Ridge has taken the first step in defending its fiscal reputation in the face of accusations from House Republican Leader Jim Durkin’s re-election campaign that the village finances are nothing short of a disaster.

Straub says story about Durkin's possible influence on sister-in-law's hiring raises questions

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 30, 2018

Burr Ridge Mayor Mickey Straub said he hopes that Rep. Jim Durkin’s sister-in-law cleared all the proper channels in getting her job last April as general manager of engineering at the Illinois Tollway, but a recent story by the Chicago Daily Herald raises suspicions that she did not.

Ex-Broadview mayor reaffirms Durkin's role in proposed strip club deal

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 11, 2018

Henry Vicenik, the former mayor of Broadview, told West Cook News that House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) called him to see if he were amenable to a deal proposed by the politically connected backer of a proposed strip club in the village.

Village of Burr Ridge sends cease-and-desist letter to Durkin's campaign

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 10, 2018

The Village of Burr Ridge is demanding that House Republican Leader Jim Durkin’s re-election campaign, “Citizens for Durkin,” halt mailing a flier that contains “false and misleading” information about the village’s fiscal health and the competency of its governing officials.