SouthtownStar

Police issued a community alert today about three men who attempted to abduct a 14-year-old boy Friday in Chicago's Mount Greenwood community. The attempted kidnapping happened about 3:15 p.m. in the 10700 block of South Hamlin Avenue when three men in a dark brown minivan drove alongside the boy and parked their car, according to an alert from Calumet Area detectives. A backseat passenger got ... Full Story »

No Cook County sheriff's police officer will ever wear badge No. 32 again. It was retired today in honor of 1st Lt. Derwin Williams, of Glenwood, a drill instructor at the sheriff's police boot camp for nonviolent felons. Williams was killed July 6 while serving with the National Guard in Afghanistan. Full Story »

Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th) will get the top spot on the Feb. 2 Democratic primary ballot for Cook County Board president. A lottery today determined the ballot order for the primary.Next, in order: Terrence O'Brien, who's the president of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago; and Dorothy Brown, the Cook County clerk of courts. Last on the ballot will be the incumbent ... Full Story »

The Chicago public schools will expand its Arabic-language program to three more high schools, thanks to a three-year, $888,000 federal grant announced this morning.Mayor Daley accepted the grant at Durkin Park Elementary School, 8445 S. Kolin, as he rejected suggestions that the Fort Hood, Texas, massacre could lead to an outbreak of anti-Muslim sentiment. "I don't think so," Daley said. "Every ... Full Story »

Sales of homes in Illinois marked the first positive year-over-year increase in more than three years in the third quarter, but the median price in Chicago dropped 20.7 percent, and sales in the city fell 4.8 percent.That's according to the latest report from the Illinois Association of Realtors. Statewide sales of single-family homes and condominiums edged up 0.3 percent to 32,460, while median ... Full Story »

A 10-year-old boy came to his mother's rescue this weekend, stabbing her boyfriend during a domestic dispute in their home in Chicago's West Pullman neighborhood. Daniel McCullough, 38, of the 11800 block of South Wallace Street, had climbed in through a back window and attacked the woman, a Calumet District police lieutenant said. The woman's son tried to intervene and when the man knocked ... Full Story »

U.S. Army Pvt. Najee Hull's first words to his mother after he was shot Thursday at Fort Hood, Texas, were, "I'm sorry." "He thought he had disappointed me. He knew I worried about him (being in the Army)," Yvonne Hull said Sunday. As paramedics rushed Najee to the hospital, Yvonne sought to reassure him. "I said, 'I love you. You can never disappoint me; I'll be right there,' " she said. Full Story »

An out-of-control sport utility vehicle crashed int o two garages in Chicago Ridge on Saturday night, killing an Oak Lawn man and severely injuring three others. Christopher Domagala, 23, of the 9600 block of South Cook Avenue, was pronounced dead at 3 a.m. Sunday by the Cook County medical examiner's office, authorities said. An autopsy on Sunday ruled that Domagala died of multiple injuries ... Full Story »

Arcadia School Principal Pat Ransford summed up the mood perfectly Sunday as she raised her arms in a "V" for victory at the podium of Governors State University's Center for Performing Arts. "It's my pleasure to introduce you to our student leaders," Ransford said, motioning to dozens of beaming elementary schoolers throughout the audience. Parents glowed with pride as Ransford led the group ... Full Story »

Chicago Department of Public Health officials said they've vaccinated almost 51,000 people against the swine flu in seven days. More than 8,200 doses of the vaccine were delivered Saturday. The health department has seven vaccine sites across the city. The vaccinations are available for free to Chicago residents at increased risk for flu and flu complications. Those considered high-risk ... Full Story »

Sophie K upiec learned a $235.95 lesson she's wants to share with the rest of us. On July 29, the Palos Hills woman drove back and forth to a doctor appointment at 95th Street and Pulaski Road in Oak Lawn. When she got home, Kupiec noticed something was wrong. Her beloved car, a 2006 purple Chevrolet Cobalt called "The Grape," was dotted from one bumper to the other with a stubborn grayish ... Full Story »

Nearly a third of federal dollars allocated to Cook County to redevelop foreclosed or abandoned properties will flow to the Southland. Eleven south suburbs, including Park Forest and Richton Park, will share $9 million as part of an effort to target communities and neighborhoods hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis. The money comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's ... Full Story »

With state tax revenue down this year, Oak Forest is looking to increase its tax levy to meet its expenses for next year. But the increase will not be as much as initial projections, city officials say. City finance director Colleen Julian said income tax revenue from the state is down about $379,000 and sales tax revenue is down $327,000. The city also had about $3.6 million in investment ... Full Story »

Finding a tow truck in the Southland might have been a bit of a challenge Sunday morning. A total of 309 tow trucks traveled from the Caterpillar Plant in Joliet to Toyota Park in Bridgeview. The procession was sponsored by the Tow Trucks for Tots program, which started last year to support Toys for Tots. The parade of tow trucks set a new world record, outnumbering last year's figure by 69 ... Full Story »

A man was charged Sunday after leading police on a chase after a shooting in Burbank early Saturday - until his vehicle ran out of gas. The man, whose name was not being released, was charged with one misdemeanor count of unlawful use of a weapon, according to Burbank police Capt. Tim Klein. About 2 a.m. Saturday, police responded to reports of a shooting outside of The Club, a bar at 4829 W ... Full Story »

Two men who led police on a chase after a shooting in Burbank early Saturday are in custody - after their vehicle ran out of gas. About 2 a.m., police responded to reports of a shooting outside of The Club, a bar at 4829 W. 77th St., according to Burbank police Capt. Tim Klein. The shooting happened in the lounge's parking lot, but when police arrived, the victim had left the scene with a ... Full Story »

Oak Lawn officials wrestling with a $2 million gap in next year's budget are looking to raise taxes as they go into the budget planning process. The estimated 2010 budget gap includes the projected $800,000 in givebacks from the village's fire and public works unions earlier this year. This fiscal year the budget gap stands at $2.7 million. One solution discussed at a special village finance ... Full Story »

Business has been good for Frank Sorice - too good, really. Sorice runs Operation Blessing of Southwest Chicagoland, a food pantry that began 27 years ago in a trailer behind Moraine Valley Baptist Church in Palos Heights. For the past seven of those years, the home for Operation Blessing has been a converted garage next to a body shop on Midlothian Turnpike in Crestwood. Sorice, a New Lenox ... Full Story »

When the convoy of police cruisers, motorcycles, limousines, a hearse and cars carrying friends and family started its slow procession down 103rd Street, the thousands of people lining the sidewalks and spilling into the street fell silent. Men wiped tears from their eyes, and mothers clutched their children a little tighter. Veterans stood at attention while others placed their hands on their ... Full Story »

When the Blue Island Park District Board was kicking around plans to replace the crumbling stadium in Memorial Park, John Murphy had an idea with lasting implications. Murphy, former director of the park district, suggested people may be interested in buying paving bricks engraved with names or messages. They would be a lasting memorial, just like those bricks around the World Series monument ... Full Story »

Pat Curran knows that a little beef jerky can go a long way."It's hands-down our most requested item," said Curran, co-founder of Operation Care Package, which sends packages to military members overseas. "We received a picture from a group one time, in their slack vests, and they had Slim Jims in all of their pockets." The dehydrated meat sticks are just one of the small comforts that can make ... Full Story »

Throngs of flag-waving spectators lined 103rd Street in Evergreen Park on Saturday morning for the funeral procession of Army Spc. Jared D. Stanker, of Evergreen Park. The 22-year-old soldier was buried with full military honors at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Worth. Full Story »

When fire swept through an Oak Forest apartment complex, many of the newly homeless residents turned to Together We Cope for help. When displaced residents from New Orleans were moved into the Howe Developmental Center in Tinley Park after Hurricane Katrina, Together We Cope supplied clothing and personal care items. And now, as the economy falters, south suburban residents who've lost their ... Full Story »

An assistant Will County state's attorney has been cleared of allegations he sexually assaulted an office secretary last summer, State's Attorney James Glasgow said. "Further investigation has determined the charges were unfounded," Glasgow said, calling the situation "an unfortunate incident." On Aug. 15, the 30-year-old woman contacted Joliet police and said the prosecutor had raped her ... Full Story »

Homewood soldier Najee Hull, who was shot three times during the Fort Hood rampage Thursday, was the gunman's first victim, his family said Army officials told them. Hull, 20, is "expected to make a full recovery," his sister Nanette Hull, also of Homewood, said Saturday night. "It's horrible," Nanette said of the shooting. "It's life changing." Army Pfc. Hull was shot shot twice in the back ... Full Story »