Kirk moved to Chicago rehab center

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, who suffered a stroke nearly three weeks ago, was transferred Friday to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

Gaskill case headed to grand jury

Robert Gaskill, the River Forest foster paraent who is accused of molesting two children in his care, appeared before a judge Thursday morning and learned his case will be presented to a grand jury. Judge William H. Wise continued Gaskill’s case until Friday, Feb. 24, …

Snow makes its way back to the area Friday

Feeling a chill in the air? Snow will be back as soon as Friday when lake effect snow could hit the city and Northwest Indiana with six inches.

Paid ally talks up Welch in TribLocal post

Emanuel “Chris” Welch’s campaign staff touted the labor and political endorsements the 7th District state representative candidate recently received by sending out a number of press releases last month. But Francine Harrell, who sits with Welch on the Proviso District 209 school board and is …

Welch has support and cash from local labor, pols

A few weeks after being snubbed for an endorsement by the Proviso Township Democratic Organization, Emanuel “Chris” Welch, a candidate for 7th District state representative, gained some key support from local politicians and labor groups. Late last month, Welch received “the overwhelming support” of a …

Welch tells unions he’ll protect their pensions

In the 7th District state representative race, local unions are putting their support behind candidate Emanuel “Chris” Welch. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Illinois Council, Local 399 Operating Engineers, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 recently endorsed Welch as their candidate for state …

River Forest’s bond rating upgraded to AA+

River Forest received word last week that Standard & Poor’s Rating Services upped its bond rating from AA to AA+, a sign of the town’s strong fiscal health. A report from the ratings agency says the improved score was the result of residents’ high income, …

Locked in

The annual Eighth-Grade Lock-In was Friday at Roosevelt Middle School in River Forest. One of the most memorable events of middle school, this overnight event — from 7:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. — began with a motivational speaker, followed by sports, games, dancing with a …

River Forest to ticket car sticker scofflaws

River Forest will begin cracking down on residents who do not purchase vehicle stickers from the village, according to a press release issued by the police department last week. On Feb. 4, River Forest police mailed citation notices to about 300 residents who are believed …

Crime taskforce’s  cases up by 65 %

An annual report issued last week by West Suburban Directed Gang Enforcement taskforce mostly highlighted a number of headline-grabbing arrests that took place in 2011. But it also addressed a strategy the multijurisdictional law enforcement group has grown fond of: long-term investigation. WEDGE is a …

Catholic cemeteries offer to bury 300 bodies stacked at morgue

The Archdiocese of Chicago is offering to pay for up to 300 burials for the bodies being held at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Oak Park cops nab suspect in bank robbery

Oak Park police dragged a suspect from a trash dumpster where he was hiding after allegedly robbing a bank on Tuesday afternoon. A man wearing sunglasses and a scarf over his face entered the Charter One Bank, 810 S. Oak Park Ave., at 1:44 p.m. …

Sen. Kirk upgraded to ‘good’ condition, watched Super Bowl

Sen. Mark Kirk’s condition has been upgraded from “fair” to “good.”

Doctors hope to be able to re-attach the 8-inch-by-4-inch section of his skull that had to be removed after he suffered a stroke two weeks ago.

Then the Highland Park Republican can begin physical …

River Forest-Oak Park community stunned by Gaskill arrest

River Forest and Oak Park residents were still reeling this week from the news that a well-known community member had been arrested for sexual abuse. Robert L. Gaskill, 63, of 601 Ashland Ave., was charged Saturday for allegedly sexually abusing two adolescent girls in his …