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we've made up It's Been a Minute features people in the culture who deserve your attention Plus weekly wraps of the news with journalists in the know Exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world's greatest thinkers A radio journal of news and culture produced from a Latino perspective and offbeat features from Chicago and around the world with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior shape our choices and direct our relationships Your guide to examining how the media sausage is made Important ideas and practical advice: Code Switch features fearless and much-needed conversations about race—and Life Kit offers practical advice on things in life no one prepared you for Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX Reveal is public radio’s first one-hour radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting A weekly program presented by the New Yorker magazine’s editor killer beats and the edgiest new talent in storytelling come together for a weekly show that straps audiences into an audio rollercoaster Radiolab is known for its deep-dive journalism and innovative sound design Created in 2002 by former host Jad Abumrad the program began as an exploration of scientific inquiry Over the years it has evolved to become a platform for long-form journalism and storytelling Radiolab is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser The water tower at 22416 Amy Drive in Richton Park (left) Diamond Jones (right) challenged a Richton Park housing ordinance that penalized tenants for calling 911 After a suburban woman successfully challenged a Richton Park law that penalized tenants for making calls to 911 housing advocates are pushing for more protections statewide from so-called “crime-free” policies or laws that they say can lead to evictions and other penalties without due process Diamond Jones worried she and her children were on the verge of homelessness after her landlord gave her 10 days to move out saying she had violated Richton Park’s crime-free ordinance though she hadn’t been charged with a crime which would bar municipalities from penalizing renters for calling 911 for help More than 170 municipalities across Illinois — including Chicago — had similar local laws tenant advocates estimated at the time the lawsuit was filed These ordinances date back to the 1990s as a way to reduce crime in rental properties Diamond Jones left this home in Richton Park after being issued a 10-day notice of lease termination based on the community’s crime-free ordinance said she anticipates municipalities will push back because the current crime-free ordinances allow officials to go around eviction court That leads to a climate in which people are scared to call police for help “They’re fearful if they call 911 due to something that’s happening — a domestic disturbance or as a result of an issue with a mental health problem — they’re fearful that the municipality is going to force their landlord to evict them,” Villa said She added the bill comes as people are struggling to find affordable and stable housing The legislation has passed the Senate Executive Committee and remains in the Senate a portion of the municipal code outlines how a property can be deemed a public nuisance which can lead to eviction proceedings against tenants alleged to be involved in criminal activity How Chicago is enforcing its policy isn’t clear. The Community Safety Through Stable Homes Coalition said in a recent report about crime-free policies that it was not able to gather sufficient records to analyze the impact on tenants in Chicago Chicago officials did not respond to a request for comment the 911 calls used to terminate her lease started when the family called police to report someone had been shot in the neighborhood the family called police to report social media threats they were receiving after being identified as the home that called police to report the shooting someone shot into Jones’ home while her daughters and mother were inside Richton Park police officers emailed Jones’ landlord to notify them the property was in violation of the ordinance “You just don’t know how many nights I didn’t sleep and I was literally trying to figure out a way so that me and my family wouldn’t be homeless,” Jones said We don’t need that type of stuff in our neighborhood.’” Jones moved out of Richton Park to avoid having an eviction on her record though she said she knew she hadn’t done anything wrong She called many places for help until she reached the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights “I wanted this to not happen to anybody else I can replace what was taken from me and put my kids back into that comfortable level.” who challenged Richton Park’s crime-free housing ordinance stands in her attorney’s Loop office in 2023 The village of Richton Park did not respond to requests for comment It amended its ordinance after the federal lawsuit was filed calls by a tenant for police or emergency services because of threats do not equate to criminal activity Other changes include providing a notice of the ordinance violation by mail email or personal delivery to the tenant and property owner The ordinance now allows the tenant or landlord to appeal the village’s determination within 10 days of the notice being issued Jones’ case was among those highlighted in a recent report published by the Community Safety Through Stable Homes Coalition about crime-free ordinances in Illinois which found these types of laws disproportionately affect renters of color in communities undergoing demographic changes an attorney with the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights said the analysis found in some instances calls to 911 did lead to enforcement of the crime-free law it was because of an interaction a minor had with the juvenile justice system “We saw that many municipalities are using call logs not distinguishing between people who are calling for help or otherwise in those call logs as a benchmark for when municipalities are enforcing these ordinances,” Coffey said Jones said she is proud she was able to make change in the community where she lived even though it felt like an enormous battle she is considering moving from the south suburbs to Indiana for a fresh start still gets scared when she hears loud noises that sound like gunfire And Jones still visits relatives in Richton Park “I’m happy I’m not there because it’s not even the same anymore,” she said “It’s not the love and the neighborhood that it used to have when I first moved there.” Terms of Use • Privacy Notice • Cookie Policy • Terms of Sale 2024Jerel Jones has joined the Richton Park Police Department after being fired from his position in Flossmoor (WLS) -- The former chief of the Flossmoor Police Department was sworn in as the new deputy police chief in south suburban Richton Park on Monday night Jerel Jones was fired from Flossmoor earlier this year The Flossmoor mayor told residents there were operational and administrative lapses under his watch, but Jones filed a lawsuit claiming racial discrimination Jones on Monday night said he is very grateful for this new position and plans to finish out his career in Richton Park SEE ALSO | Residents demand transparency from Flossmoor leaders after firing of police chief READ MORE | Former Flossmoor police chief speaks out after firing draws outcry from community North Carolina) went home to be with the Lord on November 17 Illinois to the late Pete and Alvina Bruns Atwood Patsy Hildum.  After a Chicago blizzard in 1968 he decided to move his family to Georgia.  He is survived by three daughters Debra (Rick) Lanier; Tammy (Franklin) Preston; and Jami Thomassen; three grandchildren; Rene Beach and Chase Gilreath and four great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 34 years Alvin was a master craftsman and used his skills as a homebuilder in both commercial and residential fields.  He resided in four homes that he built.  The last home he built was in North Carolina; he bricked his own house at the age of 70.  He operated and owned a trucking company up until his retirement.  Alvin found his love for boats while serving as a Marine in San Diego His second home in his retirement years was Deep Point Marina and Yacht Club in South Port North Carolina where he kept his beloved boat He was an excellent cook and loved cookoffs Most importantly Alvin made Jesus the Lord of his life at the age of 86.  A private graveside service with military honors will be held at Pinecrest Cemetery in Gibson The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association announced its all-state teams for the 2024-25 boys basketball season second and third teams along with special mention in each of the four enrollment classes during the Illinois High School Association state finals in Champaign Richton Park Rich Township; Braden Freeman Chicago Heights Marian Catholic; Cameron Thomas Chicago DePaul College Prep; Jovohn Ratliff Country Club Hills Hillcrest; Hudson Scruggins Chicago Lindbloom; JaVaughn "Diddy" Robinson Bloomington Central Catholic; Jace Allensworth Chicago Perspectives IIT Math and Science; Marc Gamble Chicago Collins Steam Academy; James Huisinga Mason City Illini Central; Conner Longnecker 2024 at 10:37 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A driver was injured in a crash with a semi Friday morning on I-57 South IL — One driver was injured after a car struck a semi on I-57 South near Richton Park Friday morning The crash happened north of Sauk Trail just after 6:30 a.m. A semi was reportedly parked on the right shoulder when a sedan went off the road and struck the semi The driver of the sedan had to be extricated from the vehicle before being taken to an area hospital with injuries All lanes of I-57 southbound are closed as police investigate Traffic was getting by slowly on the left shoulder as of 8:30 a.m. Police anticipate the road will remain closed for some time Drivers are urged to find alternate routes Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2024 at 12:36 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Patch Graphics)FLOSSMOOR IL — The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning until 12:45 p.m "a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Matteson Impact could include flying debris that could be dangerous to those caught without shelter Residents were advised to take cover in the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. A train derailed in at an Illinois village on Thursday promoting an investigation and temporary evacuations in the area According to local news, the incident happened in Matteson, about 30 miles from Chicago, and involved a train from the Canadian National Railway Company Officials at the scene were examining a leaking train car “We’re going freight car to freight car to make sure,” Sean Howard, a village spokesperson, told the Chicago-Sun Times A CN representative confirmed with USA TODAY that an estimated 25 train cars derailed and were carrying "various substances." Officials have not reported any injuries or fires "One railcar containing residue Liquified Petroleum Gas leaked a limited amount of product and there is no danger to public safety," the rep said in an emailed statment "CN is working closely with local officials and thanks first responders for their work." The village initially announced a mandatory evacuation order for specific areas close to the site due to "a large-scale train" event adding that residents should plan to be away long-term "Ensure you take any medication and supplies you may need with you," the statement continued "Residents of Park Forest and Richton Park are encouraged to contact their local departments for further instruction." In an update on Thursday afternoon, the Matteson Police Department lifted the order after securing the area "A precautionary evacuation was ordered but has since been lifted except for properties immediately adjacent to the site," CN said Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY Tracie Bell was 54-years-old and living in Richton Park she resided in a condo on Pleasant Drive and worked as a secretary for the Cook County State Attorney’s Office – which was located at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on California Avenue and 26 Street in Chicago Tracie was the mother of an adult daughter and was diagnosed with two conditions – diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis Both of which required her to receive weekly injections “It’s totally out of character for her not to report to work or even call,” Ladonna said when Tracie failed to arrive at work on March 5 and never called the Attorney’s Office to alert them of her absence her coworkers were concerned and contacted the police to conduct a welfare check Authorities performed the welfare check on March 6 Upon arriving at Tracie’s condo in Richton Park and they checked her blood sugar because she was recently diagnosed as a diabetic,” Ladonna recalled Tracie was reportedly cooperative during the welfare check and appeared “to be in the right frame of mind” when paramedics left her home when authorities arrived to conduct another welfare check Cook County Sheriff’s Office – pictured above is Tracie Tracie was never seen or heard from again and has now been missing for over six years Her vehicle was discovered still parked outside of her condo and according to investigators with the Richton Park Police Department it seemed as though she’d just “walked away.” authorities found no activity on either her phone record or bank account ever since she disappeared Ladonna doesn’t think her cousin would have left on her own volition But Richton Park Police Chief Evlia Williams stated that authorities haven’t found any evidence of foul play and her loved ones are still trying to hold onto hope despite the lack of answers “We don’t want to feel or think negatively but because of the elapsed amount of time… we are concerned that maybe foul play could be a possibility,” Ladonna said Tracie is five foot eight and has black hair and brown eyes She was last seen wearing dark pants and a dark hooded parka If you have any information regarding her disappearance you are urged to contact the Richton Park Police Department at (708) 481-8956 Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. More About: Richton Park police will pay $12 million to settle a lawsuit alleging one of its officers shot a 12-year-old boy during a raid of his Markham home in 2019 the officer and Richton Park publicly apologized to Amir Worship who is now a high school junior and is expected to need multiple knee replacements during his lifetime who remains an officer for the Richton Park Police Department claimed the gun was defective and accidentally went off “Officer Blood should be fired,” attorney Al Hofeld Jr but Officer Blood has not even been disciplined in any form or fashion for shooting a 12-year-old boy.” Hofeld said three prior investigations into the shooting were inadequate and called for the Cook County state’s attorney’s office to reopen an investigation into the officer “I accept his apology but he was reckless that day,” said the boy’s mother Richton Park released a statement Wednesday as part of the $12 million settlement which Hofeld said was the maximum payout possible under the village’s insurance plan Crystal Worship discusses a $12 million settlement during a news conference Wednesday was shot by a Richton Park police officer during a 2019 raid of the family’s Markham home his mother Crystal Worship and their family for the tragic mistake made by a Richton Park police officer on May 26 physical and mental harm done to him and his family We sincerely hope and pray that Amir and his family will fully recover after officers entered the home of Crystal Worship and exploded flash-bang grenades The officers were part of the South Suburban Emergency Response Team the south suburban SWAT team composed of officers from each of the south suburban departments They were looking for Crystal Worship’s boyfriend who was arrested and charged with drug possession officers handcuffed Worship’s 13-year-old son and one officer pointed a rifle at Amir Amir was sitting on his bed and complying with the officer’s commands when the officer’s gun went off Amir testified the officer was adjusting the rifle when it fired The officer had been pointing the gun at Amir’s chest Amir has undergone five surgeries and suffers from PTSD The officer remains on active duty with Richton Park police but recently requested to be placed on desk duty The officer was dismissed from the South Suburban Emergency Response Team in September 2020 for “committing multiple violations of firearm safety,” Hofeld said The officer apologized to Amir and his mother over the weekend in a private meeting Richton Park paid $320,000 to Amir’s mother and two brothers for violating their civil rights during the raid Hofeld said children will continue to be shot by police as long as officers continue the universal practice of “pointing guns indiscriminately at everyone in the home when they enter Despite the challenges students may have faced a quality that Southland’s CEO says she’s proud of “Our students faced unprecedented challenges and they addressed every one of them and more than met them,” said Dr a testament to the school’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence.  The seniors are celebrating the accomplishment with pride. Valedictorian Knyiema Martin was accepted into 30 different schools, receiving more than $5 million in scholarship offers including the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship which covers the entirety of her college expenses and most of the graduates received acceptance into the majority of the schools they applied to.  “I have been accepted to 43 different schools and applied to 51,” senior Lundyn Wiliams told reporters.  In addition to the 100% college acceptance rate Southland’s graduating class also received $50 million total in merit and need-based scholarships Cover photo: Every Graduate at Majority Black Chicago High School Accepted to College for 11th Consecutive Year/Photo Credit: @SouthlandCollegePrep/Instagram Congratulations to all who struggled and persevered By clicking Submit, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Because of Them We Can (BOTWC) is the Internet’s most inspiring site of Black History and Excellence celebrating all things positive about the culture who is challenging Richton Park’s crime-free housing ordinance stands in her attorney’s office earlier this month When Diamond Jones moved into a ranch-style home in Richton Park was excited to provide a bigger space for her daughter while also having enough room for her younger brother But after calling the property home for four years she was forced to move abruptly after being issued a 10-day notice of lease termination That notice cited the village’s crime-free ordinance but Jones said she was given no clear answers about how she violated the ordinance facilitating or conspiring in criminal activity Jones said she moved to avoid having an eviction order on her record District Court challenging the constitutionality of that ordinance represented by the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Winston & Strawn LLP alleges Richton Park violated her constitutional right to due process and violated her First Amendment rights “They let me down,” Jones said about the suburban community The former home of Diamond Jones in Richton Park Jones left the house after being issued a 10-day notice of lease termination citing the community’s crime-free ordinance A series of events tied to Jones’ lease termination notice started June 24 Jones and her family received threats via social media accusing the family of calling police The family called 911 and reported the threats someone opened fire and shot into Jones’ home while her two daughters and mother were home Emails obtained by Jones’ lawyers indicate that on June 29 Richton Park police officials were evaluating if Jones had violated the crime-free ordinance Richton Park police emailed Jones’ landlord to notify them that the property was in violation of the ordinance The Village of Richton Park declined to comment Jones’ landlord is not a defendant in the lawsuit Crime-free ordinances are in place in communities across Illinois where there is a “chronic illegal activity premises” ordinance the HOPE Fair Housing Center filed a federal lawsuit challenging Peoria’s chronic nuisance ordinance which they eventually settled to include due process protections for tenants gets emotional as she speaks in her attorney’s office Friday said they would like to see these types of ordinances eliminated The ordinances also disrupt affordable housing because some municipalities issue fees to landlords if they don’t evict a tenant “We don’t force homeowners to leave their community or to become unhoused because they made too much noise or because one of their teenagers got into a fight,” Chavarria said “We don’t treat so many other people this way We’re really seeing this targeted at renters Crime-free housing ordinances date back to the early 1990s and some of the first ones were developed in Arizona as a way to reduce crimes in rental properties according to a guide published by the Illinois Department of Human Rights estimates 179 municipalities across the state have variations of crime-free ordinances “We view them as part of a legacy of local laws that really reinforce regional patterns of segregation,” Alvarez said “They are often enacted in response to perceived or actual changes in demographics in majority-white communities because they rely on contact with law enforcement as the main trigger of a violation these ordinances disproportionately impact people of color.” Jones previously lived in the south suburbs Moving there meant she would be closer to relatives who could help her with child care The village requires every lease for a rental property to include an addendum outlining how a landlord can terminate the agreement if the tenant a guest or anyone else living there violates any provision of it She didn’t think twice about signing the addendum “Everything checked out — I’m moving in,” she said that’s the last thing that you’ll think about.” The ordinance outlines how a tenant could be in violation due to an “unreasonably high number of calls” for police services for noise complaints Calls related to domestic violence or sexual violence aren’t supposed to count A sign outside Richton Park’s administration and police building The village’s’s crime-free ordinance is being challenged by Diamond Jones police said the person wounded in the June 24 shooting near Jones’ home was visiting Jones’ home The email goes on to detail how an estimated seven gunshots were fired at Jones’ home during the June 27 “These incidents have placed the neighborhood in danger and created a high level of fear,” the official wrote in the email The family doesn’t believe they were suspects in the shootings They thought they were witnesses who were cooperating with the investigations she received a notice of termination indicating she had 10 days to leave the property because she violated the crime-free lease addendum “I didn’t have anywhere to go within 10 days It was devastating to know that I still didn’t know why I was being evicted embarrassed that I have to tell people that I’m being evicted for this particular reason.” Jones said she went to the village’s offices A village worker gave her a list of 11 emergency calls made from in or around her home since 2019; the calls vary from a wellness check to a misdial to a noise complaint One of the calls stemmed from when the family reported the online threats and another call was from the day the shots were fired into the home Jones said she learned she was pregnant with her third child Keeping busy with moving her children into a smaller apartment in another county meant she couldn’t focus on her pregnancy still are scared by loud noises and don’t like to be left alone Jones said she never understood why people who witness crimes were reluctant to come forward but she now questions if this would have all been avoided if her family would have kept quiet “We’re trying to seek justice,” Jones said about the lawsuit “I don’t want that to ever happen to anyone I don’t want anybody to obviously not want to help going forward 2023 at 2:58 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren has now received correspondence from five different communities outside of Arlington Heights proposing their municipalities as a possible new home for the Chicago Bears IL — Like anyone else who follows the comings and goings of National Football League franchises Richton Park Mayor Rick Reinbold has noticed the trend of teams who call major cities home transitioning to the suburbs after the Chicago Bears announced this spring that they were considering options outside of Arlington Heights for a new stadium Reinbold and other village officials figured “Why not us?” Reinbold recently sent a letter to Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren pitching the team on considering Richton Park as the future home of a multi-billion-dollar stadium and entertainment district “There’s going to be one lucky winner,” Reinbold told Patch on Tuesday He added: “We think we can make it happen here in Richton Park.” Reinbold told Patch on Tuesday that he conferred with other Richton Park staff members before sending the letter to Warren last week Reinbold invites Warren to consider the village’s “greenfield opportunities” that specifically would involve nearly 1,000 acres of undeveloped farmland and green space that could easily be developed for a new stadium and business and entertainment district Reinbold pitched Warren on the community’s diversity and its relatively close proximity to Chicago the village’s access to major expressways like I-57 I-94 and I-355 along with a Metra stop would provide Bears fans easy accessibility to the domed venue the Bears are looking to build Reinbold said that the village is always on the lookout for economic development opportunities and figured the Bears could be a good fit After holding initial internal conversations the village decided it could be a contender in the Bears stadium sweepstakes Many pundits expect Arlington Heights to still be the front-runner in the competition to land the Bears. But in a meeting last month with Arlington Park residents, Warren characterized discussions with the village as being in a stalemate who started in his new role with the Bears in April said that the team “has to” consider other options and said that he is looking for a legitimate partner with which to work as stadium plans move forward Reinbold said that the available land in Richton Park that sits just west of I-57 would be “perfect” for the kind of development project the Bears are seeking Bears officials predict that once complete the project would be the single-largest development project in Illinois state history Bears chairman George McCaskey estimates that the stadium and entertainment and district project could reach a price tag of nearly $10 billion Reinbold said bringing the Bears to the area would not only be a win for Richton Park but for the Southland region the mayor calls the region a middle-to-upper-class swath of land that includes neighboring communities such as Frankfort the village — the mayor wrote — puts Richton Park at the center of a prosperous trade area as well He cites 2022 retail figures for the region that totaled $1.8 billion in retail sales While Richton Park is the first south suburban community to make its pitch to the Bears Reinbold is hoping Warren takes him up on his invitation to come visit a southland region that he says “is open for business” for himself Reinbold said that it is much too early to try to speculate what a new Bears stadium within the village would mean for local residents The Bears have said they will not seek taxpayer assistance in building a new stadium but would “need help” in financing the remainder of the entertainment and business district residents have been frustrated with the Bears’ lack of specifics on how building there would affect their tax bill Warren said that while the team is willing to negotiate with local officials the team is looking for tax assurances to ensure that the team has the right public-private partnership in place to move forward Reinbold said that a stadium that the Bears are hoping will not only host home football games but bigger sporting events like Super Bowls and major concerts would not create a major traffic burden on the area considering the number of expressways that are close by He said that should the Bears choose the village regional businesses would flourish becomes of the influx of fans that would be flocking to the area for home games and other events He said an incentive package would need to be negotiated but believes that if the team generates the kind of revenue it expects by building a new stadium local residents would be part of a win-win proposition “Everything is positive about it,” Reinbold said But I think the overwhelming majority of the impact will be positive.” The village has yet to hear back from the Bears The Bears have not laid out a timeline to move forward with the building project But Warren anticipates that the Arlington Park property will likely sit vacant for a couple of years once it is completely demolished Reinbold said that he and others will wait on the Bears and will hope to be a strong contender to land the Bears when all is said and done Reinbold realizes that the village is among a number of hopefuls looking for a chance to sell the franchise on remaining the Chicago Bears outside of Chicago Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. TrendingCommercialChicagoASovereignty Management pays $28M for Richton Park apartmentsChicago-based Globetrotters sold affordable housing complex A large housing complex in Chicago’s south suburbs has traded hands as apartment rents in the metro area surpass the national average 240,000-square-foot Richton Square apartment complex at 22300 Richton Square Road in Richton Park sold for $27.5 million in a sale closed Aug An LLC that shares an address with Chicago-based developer and property manager Sovereignty Management bought the property from a venture led by Niranjan Shah a Chicago-based engineering and management firm The firm did not respond to a request for comment Shah’s LLC had bought the property from a land trust in 2005 for $4.2 million The price per unit of about $80,000 puts the sale on par with one of Chicago’s largest-ever multifamily deals, the Pangea Properties portfolio sale which sources said came out to a per-unit price of more than $75,000 It’s below last year’s median per-unit sales price for multifamily sales according to a fourth-quarter report from Northmarq stabilized and rehabilitated more than 140 properties involving over 3,500 residential units The firm says its rehabilitation projects often involved properties that had been given back to the lenders or were mismanaged or neglected Its current and former Chicago-area projects include several smaller multifamily buildings on the city’s North Side and a portfolio of about 100 single-family homes on the South and West sides Globetrotters’ property management arm has developed rehabilitated and managed market-rate and affordable residential properties since 1983 Chicago’s apartment rents are rising at an annual rate of 3.6 percent three times higher than the national average according to a report this week from CoStar The metro area’s apartment rent growth has been the highest among its major market peers for the last three quarters that rate is below the 7.9 percent growth the metro area posted in the first quarter of 2022 speaks with a reporter during an interview in her attorney’s Loop office Diamond Jones should have been granted a thorough explanation the moment she was alerted she was being evicted from her rental property in Richton Park Giving her a detailed rationale as to why she had to leave her home was the least officials in the south suburb could do is more information that what some tenants have gotten once they’re accused of breaking crime-free and nuisance ordinances Many don’t know even know they are being evicted for such violations an assistant professor at University of Illinois Chicago School of Law for anyone who cares about fairness in housing Prochaska and others note that laws like the crime-free ordinance Jones supposedly violated are inherently discriminatory more often affecting Black tenants like Jones and other people of color The ordinances are supposed to curb illegal activity and provide a path to evict tenants who are engaged in criminal activity She and others at the home called police a number of times for help including two times when shootings occurred outside the home as the Sun-Times’ Elvia Malagón reported last week Those calls for help were what apparently led to her eviction District Court that challenges the constitutionality of Richton Park’s crime-free ordinance When Jones pressed for answers as to why her lease was being terminated a village worker handed her a list of 11 emergency phone calls made from in or around her home since 2019 One call was made in 2022 after the family was harassed online following a shooting on the block that involved someone who had been a guest at Jones’ home Another was made a few days later when someone fired into Jones’ home while her mother and two daughters were inside her landlord was notified the property was in violation of the ordinance “No one should have to choose between keeping their home and calling the police for help,” as the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois sums it up The ACLU says crime-free ordinances may violate “a number of legal protections.” Chicago police and other law enforcement agencies often complain that community members are tight-lipped about crime making it harder for them to solve murders and protect public safety Rebuilding public trust in police is essential — and if crime-free ordinances deter calls from those who live in high-crime areas and might need police help rebuilding that trust will be even tougher Illinois passed a law that aimed to protect people with disabilities and domestic or sexual violence survivors from being penalized under crime-free ordinances should they call the police for help there should be protections for all those others who call for police assistance said the string of events that took place before Jones’ eviction “placed the neighborhood in danger and created a high level of fear.” But did Richton Park consider Jones and her family were frightened There is no statewide data on how many evictions are based on crime-free ordinance violations which exist in some 179 municipalities across the state landlords frequently pressure tenants outside of the official court process hire a moving company to remove their belongings or simply refuse to renew a lease that is expiring States should use their authority to rein in deeply flawed crime-free and nuisance ordinances, Prochaska argued in a research paper published in the Lewis & Clark Law Review earlier this year Starting on Jan. 1, municipalities in California can no longer impose penalties or require landlords to evict any tenant based on calls to law enforcement suspected criminal activity and other so-called nuisances Jones said her experience has been “heartbreaking.” We suspect there are others with similar tales Landlords need the power to move quickly to remove a tenant who is a legitimate threat to the safety of a building or the surrounding neighborhood But renters shouldn’t face the loss of their home simply from calling police for help too often The Sun-Times welcomes letters to the editor and op-eds. See our guidelines A horse traverses a muddy track at Hawthorne Race Course in 2017 An investor group is looking to open a new harness racetrack in Richton Park accusing Hawthorne’s owners of not moving quickly enough to add casino games at their track A group of investors says they’re ready to trot out a new harness racetrack and casino in the far south suburbs that would provide a much-needed whip to Illinois’ struggling horse racing industry — but they need state lawmakers to lift the starting gate Prospective partners in the newly formed Greenway Entertainment Group LLC envision a “first-class racino destination” with 1,200 slot machines just off Interstate 57 in Richton Park and they say they can lock up the $350 million needed to make it a reality There’s just one thing reining in their proposal: state law allows Hawthorne Race Course — the Chicago area’s only surviving track — to veto any potential new track within 35 miles of their storied 132-year-old grandstand in Stickney “They’re blocking other viable projects,” said Roy Arnold the former president of the shuttered Arlington International Racecourse who’s part of the Greenway bid “We want to make this industry sustainable and the clock is ticking.” Former Arlington International Racecourse President Roy Arnold is part of Greenway Entertainment Group LLC which wants to build a harness racetrack and casino in Richton Park The veto provision was negotiated as part of a statewide gambling expansion law passed in 2019 that allowed existing tracks to add casino games and authorized a new harness racetrack to open in the south suburbs Pritzker to help fund his signature $45 billion infrastructure improvement plan also added six new casinos and introduced sports betting the sports betting industry is flourishing and the casino projects are moving forward — but Hawthorne still hasn’t installed the slots that were viewed as a lifeline for the industry And their plan for a new south suburban track crashed out of the gate A bill introduced in Springfield last month by state Sen Patrick Joyce would eliminate Hawthorne’s veto power this summer opening the door for the Greenway group to apply to break ground on a track in the Essex Democrat’s district “We’re ready to move forward since they [Hawthorne] apparently aren’t The horsemen can’t wait much longer,” said Mike Campbell the former president of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association He’s also part of the Greenway group along with suburban developers Drew Daniels and Tom Walsh plus an unspecified number of other investors “We’re trying to raise the phoenix from the ashes,” Campbell said Their 80-acre site near Sauk Trail was previously a landfill that’s now being prepared for commercial development “We would love to see this type of investment in the community,” Richton Park Village President Rick Reinbold said Hawthorne President Tim Carey has contended that his family’s track has kept the harness industry afloat since Maywood and Balmoral parks shut down in 2015 a role that has become even more vital since Arlington Park was shut down by Churchill Downs Inc “We wanted protection,” Carey said of the veto provision during a March 22 state Senate Executive Committee meeting on the new bill but I have to tell you: doing what they’re suggesting [eliminating the veto] extremely hurts us.” called before the Illinois Gaming Board in mid-March to explain the delay in Hawthorne’s $400 million racino renovation that was announced in 2020 pointed to supply chain issues related to COVID-19 and a volatile financing market for the hold-up Carey told the Senate panel that while they “very very easily could have just put 1,200 slots in the grandstand,” they wanted to make sure “we got that racetrack right.” “We felt an obligation to the horse racing industry,” he said “The benefit in doing that and having a project of this caliber is long term for Illinois horse racing.” Carey had partnered with developer Rick Heidner on a proposal that would’ve broken ground at the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center But that plan was scrapped in late 2019 after Heidner’s name surfaced in a federal search warrant related to a public corruption investigation and Gov Pritzker’s office refused to sell the land for the project Heidner was not a target of the federal probe and was not accused of wrongdoing Carey says Hawthorne is “actively going after” a new south suburban location “and we can do that simultaneously.” “We believe that we can get Hawthorne Race Course up and running by the end of 2024 and the south suburban one will be shortly thereafter,” Carey said Campbell said an “inexplicable” delay would be dire for an industry where dwindling purses have sent trainers to neighboring states where racinos have made tracks more lucrative “We’re thankful Hawthorne has continued racing but it’s time to move the ball forward,” Campbell said urging the governor to push the track to “fulfill the intent of the 2019 gambling bill.” A spokesperson for the governor said he’d “thoroughly review any legislation that the General Assembly sends to his desk” but wouldn’t take a side on the bill aiming to revoke Hawthorne’s veto power The city of Richton Park, Illinois, will pay $12 million to settle a lawsuit stemming from a 2019 SWAT raid during which a police officer shot a 12-year-old boy in the kneecap a lawyer for the boy's family announced today filed by Crystal Worship on behalf of her son Amir alleged that SWAT team officers from the Country Club Hills and Richton Park police departments burst into their house on the night of May 26 throwing flashbangs and detaining the family including Amir and his 13-year-old brother Richton Park police officer Caleb Blood shot Worship in his bedroom after the room had been secured and "long after it was obvious that a 12-year-old child posed no threat."  shot while sitting on the edge of the bed with his hands up," the lawsuit said "An officer shot him with his assault rifle striking him in the knee and shattering his knee cap this officer was pointing his rifle directly at shirtless Amir as he sat on the edge of his brother's bed." The officers were executing a narcotics search warrant for Worship's boyfriend who was subsequently arrested for illegal gun and drug possession the case against Thurman was later dismissed According to a press release from the law office of Al Hofeld the settlement will also include a public apology from Richton Park as well as retraining and recertification for Blood several internal investigations failed to find any misconduct regarding the shooting Hofeld said the Worship family will call on the Cook County State's Attorney to re-open its investigation and charge Blood "Officer Blood has not yet been held accountable by any agency He was never disciplined and never even taken off the streets," Hofeld said in a press release "You can't just shoot a 12-year-old child for literally no reason and do it with complete impunity." The settlement is the latest in a string of costly lawsuit payouts in the Chicago area stemming from botched SWAT raids Hofeld has represented 11 families who say police pointed guns at their children In 2018, Chicago settled another civil lawsuit by a family who claimed CPD officers stormed their house and pointed a gun at a 3-year-old girl for $2.5 million And in 2020, the Chicago Police Department made national headlines after body camera footage showed officers humiliating a naked woman during a wrong-door raid Chicago police burst into the apartment of Anjanette Young based on a faulty tip and handcuffed her while she was naked forcing her to stand in full view of male officers as they searched her home Responding to the furor over Young's case, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced a new search warrant policy for the Chicago Police Department. The city eventually settled a lawsuit filed by Young for $2.9 million As for Amir Worship: according to Hofeld's office He will likely require multiple knee replacements during his lifetime and will never play sports again Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" C.J. Ciaramella is a reporter at Reason. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); highly curated editorial content brings attention to hidden gems Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family With more than five years of writing experience Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites Share LinkThe Town Of Richton Park In Illinois Is The Star Of A Hallmark Channel Christmas MovieA Hallmark Christmas movie "Christmas Under The Stars," is based on a novel set in Richton Park and highlights the personal story of its author This film is bound to put the Land of Lincoln on the map once again This holiday season why not enjoy some extra special Christmas movies in Illinois Christmas Under The Stars is a holiday Hallmark Channel movie based on a novel set in Richton Park Village of Richton Park / FacebookIt first aired on TV in November of 2019 so if you are lucky you can make it a holiday tradition to hunt it down for this year as well is a 57-year-old maintenance worker for Homewood-Flossmoor High School and his personal story is nearly fit for the movie itself David Wilson via Wikimedia CommonsNever attaining higher education he married his high school sweetheart but soon after admitted he had a drinking problem and it wasn't long after that he sobered up and regained some control over his life Dunlap used writing to help him through his sobriety James Cohen / FlickrHe wrote down his memories, some of which were hard to deal with and some of which were sweet and which built the backbone of his Hallmark Christmas movie. The movie stars Jesse Metcalfe as well as Autumn Reeser and it is sure to be replayed many times throughout the holiday season Village of Richton Park / FacebookThough filming took place in Los Angeles you may still get the feel of this town when you watch the film This new Christmas Hallmark movie puts this southern Chicago suburb on the map everyone will want to get their Christmas trees from the stands around here Maybe a little love can be found there too United States Census Bureau via Wikimedia CommonsCan you think of any other Hallmark movies in Illinois Take a sneak peek at Christmas Under The Stars in this video from the Hallmark Channel: For more Christmas movies in Illinois, check out these eight places around Illinois that have shown up in famous movies. If you've ever seen Illinois Christmas movies, we'd love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts with us in the comments. 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A suburban mayor is hoping the Chicago Bears’ quest for a new stadium goes south Richton Park Mayor Rick Reinbold invited team president and CEO Kevin Warren last week to consider his “lively and diverse suburban community” as a potential destination instead of Arlington Heights where the Bears have complained high property taxes could block their drive for a dome at the former Arlington International Racecourse A 32-mile drive from Soldier Field by way of Interstate 57 Reinbold pitched the team on his village’s proximity to major highways and the Metra Electric line as well as its position “in the middle of an affluent middle- and upper-middle class swath of the south and southwest suburbs.” have a combined median household income of $98,000 annually well above the region’s $81,000 figure,” Reinbold wrote in his July 21 letter “That leads to Richton Park being at the center of a prosperous trade area as well.” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has talked with Warren about keeping the team within city limits but hasn’t offered specifics on how — or where — he’d entice them to stay The team is under lease at Soldier Field through 2033 but can break that pact at a small cost relative to any multibillion-dollar stadium project Fans cheer as fireworks go off during The Star-Spangled Banner at Soldier Field before the Chicago Bears took on the Washington Commanders in October 2022 A Bears spokesman declined to comment on the Richton Park overture reiterating the team’s “responsibility to listen to other municipalities in Chicagoland about potential locations that can deliver on this transformational opportunity for our fans The team has repeatedly threatened to move since first calling Soldier Field home in 1971 the team has made clear they want out of the NFL-smallest Soldier Field and into a massive The Arlington Park purchase marked the first time they’ve put their money where their relocation mouth is while Warren was brought in as CEO earlier this year due largely to his experience landing a new stadium as an executive with the Minnesota Vikings An aerial view of the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights in July Reinbold said by phone Tuesday that he hasn’t heard from the team but that he’s confident Warren will recognize a “tremendous opportunity” in 1,000-plus acres of greenfield Richton Park has west of I-57 As for whether the team could avoid a property tax impasse with local school districts — like the ones pushing back against any breaks for the Bears in Arlington Heights — Reinbold said he thinks “in the southland to talk to and work with developers as best we can.” “We speak the language of business here in Richton Park,” he said “We’re willing to negotiate any and all incentives that would be needed to close the deal.”