North Cook News

Details lacking behind move to abolish the Park Ridge League of Women Voters

By W.J. Kennedy | Oct 24, 2023

Sources close to the disbanding of Park Ridge chapter of the League of Woman Voters by the national League board say they are still unsure what led to the board’s September 30 decision to shut down the 70-year-old chapter.

Evanston High School hit with lawsuit for failing to release documents on race restricted courses

By W.J. Kennedy | Oct 16, 2023

North Cook News has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against Evanston Township High School (ETHS) over conflicting, and inadequate responses, it received from the school FOIA officer concerning its 2023-24 course catalogue...

Voters to have say on proposed salary increase for Burr Ridge mayor

By W.J. Kennedy | Nov 11, 2020

A proposed salary increase for the mayor of Burr Ridge will go before the voters in April under a resolution approved Monday by the village board.

Burr Ridge attorney calls Mayor Grasso’s response to pay raise opponent 'misogynistic'

By W.J. Kennedy | Nov 6, 2020

Mayor Gary Grasso’s proposal that the salary for the office of mayor leap from the current $6,000 a year to $30,000 is getting personal.

In rarity for Illinois, residents of Maine Township get a tax break two years in a row

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 6, 2020

For the second year in a row, the Maine Township Board, citing its flush reserve funds, approved an abatement of the General Assistance and Town Fund tax levies.The abatement means that taxpayers are off the hook for the levies approved in December, Trustee Susan Kelly Sweeney, who pushed for the abatements both this year and last, told North Cook News.

Retired principal’s pension story will make taxpayers “vomit,” fiscal watchdog says

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 3, 2020

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From Prairie State Wire

Senate GOP Leader Bill Brady said to have voiced private support for abortion funding, gun control legislation

By W.J. Kennedy | 4 years ago

Former high-level aides to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has revealed that Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) told the then governor he was right for signing HB 40 in September 2017, the law requiring Medicaid funding of abortions. At a separate meeting, Brady also recommended that the governor sign gun control bills should they reach his desk.

New Trier High School handout suggests volunteering at Planned Parenthood prevents climate change

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 20, 2019

New Trier social studies teacher Kerry Hall recently distributed a handout to his class that listed “Volunteer at Planned Parenthood or similar organization” among a list of suggestions on how to avert climate change.

Week of 'leftist transgender ideology' scheduled for Evanston/Skokie students

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 19, 2019

Evanston/Skokie District 65 students and their parents are about to get a taste of one pro-family activist’s warning about the new state law requiring the teaching of LGBTQ history in public schools.

Presence St. Francis in Evanston closing its obstetrics unit, hospital confirms

By W.J. Kennedy | Jul 26, 2019

Presence St. Francis Hospital on Ridge Road in Evanston is closing its obstetrics unit, hospital spokesman Matt Wakely confirmed to North Cook News.

From Prairie State Wire

Pritzker’s claims of paying down pension debt “simply dishonest,” fiscal watchdog says

By W.J. Kennedy | 5 years ago

The recently approved state budget hardly makes Illinois the beacon of fiscal prudence that Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and legislative leaders claim it is, budgetary analysts at Wirepoints say.

Local taxpayers exposed as Illinois local governments lose control over pension eligibility

By W.J. Kennedy | May 31, 2019

The same day the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) ruled that the Maine Township Board was right when it voted not to certify the pension eligibility of a politically connected elected official, it stripped all local governments of the authority to certify the pensions of their elected officials.

From Prairie State Wire

Madigan 'bullying' income tax increase through legislative process

By W.J. Kennedy | 5 years ago

House Speaker Michael Madigan used his absolute power over the legislative process to move legislation to the floor on Friday that exchanges Illinois’ constitutionally mandated flat income tax with a progressive tax.

New Trier Superintendent advocates discrimination against white, affluent students

By W.J. Kennedy | May 17, 2019

New Trier Superintendent Paul Sally reprimanded a school guidance counsel for statements attributed to him in a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) story concerning plans by the College Board to apply an “adversity score” to all children taking college entrance exams, SATs.

New Trier High School screens discredited doc on college campus sexual assault to “educate” seniors

By W.J. Kennedy | May 16, 2019

Critics on the right and left shredded the 2015 documentary film The Hunting Ground for its one-sided, inaccurate illustration of sexual assault on college campuses. Yet for the second year in a row New Trier High School screened the movie for seniors.

Nichols Middle School segregates teacher staff meetings while inundating students with racial awareness programs

By W.J. Kennedy | May 6, 2019

Children at Nichols Middle School in Evanston are being served a steady dose of racial sensitivity and equity awareness by a school administration that segregates its teachers.

Alderman Joe Gallo censured by Rolling Meadows City Council

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 14, 2019

Rolling Meadows 4th Ward Alderman and mayoral candidate Joe Gallo was censured by City Council Tuesday night on a 5-1 vote, with Gallo the lone vote against the motion.

Sex ed teacher, candidate for District 211 school board shares 'incredible' report on segregation in Illinois schools

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 12, 2019

Outspoken sex education teacher Kim Cavill, 37, is running for the Palatine-Schaumburg District 211 school board, and calls a recent investigative series by the magazine Governing on segregation in Illinois “incredible.”

Maine Township (finally) approves tax abatements

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 8, 2019

Taxpayers in Maine Township finally got the break that some trustees have been fighting for when the Board voted at a special meeting Wednesday night to approve a 100 percent abatement in the levy of the General Assistance Fund (GA) and 10 percent of the Town Fund (TF).

Rolling Meadows Alderman Gallo investigated over 'loutish' behavior

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 22, 2019

Rolling Meadows Third Ward Alderman Laura Majikes has filed a complaint against fellow Alderman Joe Gallo over his “loutish and rude” behavior immediately following the Feb. 12 City Council meeting, a source told North Cook News.