District 227 cuts administrators

To save $651,300, Rich Township High School District 227 is consolidating 11 administrative positions into five. Supt. Donna Leak says the cut, along with last month’s teachers cut, will not adversely impact students. Yet, there will be fewer students taking fine arts and career tech education classes because the number of class periods has been reduced from seven to six and students cannot fit those classes in their schedules.

ManorCare to host open house in Homewood

ManorCare Health Services, 940 S. Maple Ave., Homewood, will host an open house for its newly expanded and renovated rehabilitation unit and gym at 3 p.m. Tuesday. The event will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony officiated by Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld. The short-term rehabilitation …

Metra restrictions have some Southland commuters railing against summit

For Southlanders who hop aboard a Metra train Saturday, Sunday or Monday, there will be no morning coffee allowed, nor sack lunches, luggage or backpacks. Those are just some of the restrictions being imposed on all Metra commuters Saturday through Monday during the NATO Summit in Chicago.

Two more file suit to halt $118M jackpot payout to workplace pool

Two more people have filed lawsuits in a dispute over who was participating in a workplace lottery pool that won the $118 million Mega Millions jackpot with a ticket bought at a Glenwood gas station earlier this month.

Jose L. Franco and Marco Medina, both …

Campus (East) for May 20, 2012

Here is a look at what Southlanders are accomplishing in college. News from the SouthtownStar’s East region includes Chicago Heights, Homewood, Matteson, Crete, Flossmoor and Richton Park.

All aboard for Homewood rail fest

Homewood hosts its ninth annual Rail Heritage Days this weekend in the downtown area.

Around Town (East) for May 20, 2012

Here is a look at events in the SouthtownStar’s East region, which includes Beecher, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Crete, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Homewood, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park, Steger and University Park.

Carpe Weekend: Out with the new, in with the old

The world marches on, and inevitably technologies that once were state-of-the-art get reduced to the role of mere novelties.

Plays once were the one and only way folks could see a fictitious scenario played out in the real world, but now we have television and …

Community Sports Calendar (East) for May 20, 2012

Here is a look at sporting events in the SouthtownStar’s East region, which includes Beecher, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Crete, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Homewood, Matteson, Monee, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Richton Park, Steger, and University Park.

Suit seeks to halt $118M jackpot payout to Chicago Heights workplace lottery pool

Twelve former co-workers who won a lot of dough are being sued by two guys who are still stuck making bread.

The lawsuit concerns who was participating in a workplace lottery pool that won the $118 million Mega Millions jackpot with a ticket bought May …

Property Transfers for May 20, 2012

Property transfers for Cook and Will counties. Curious about more home sales in your neighborhood? For more Chicago area transactions, see “recent sales” at www.searchchicago.suntimes.com/homes/.

Kadner: When office lottery pools end up in the courts

It’s the nightmare of anyone who has been asked to participate in an office lottery pool. Your co-workers buy a ticket that wins millions and you’re left out. Well, the nightmare is reality for two men who work at the Pita Pan bakery in Chicago …

Campus for May 17, 2012

Here is a look at what some Southland students are accomplishing in college, including news from Glenwood, New Lenox, Oak Forest and Mokena.

Plan for new cemetery makes sense

Better government does not need invention as much as more common sense. So we have nothing but a positive reaction to a plan by Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey (D-Chicago). His plan, unveiled last week, to use five acres at the former Oak Forest Hospital …

Country Club Hills, Flossmoor police blotter

COUNTRY CLUB HILLS

RETAIL THEFT: Kevin Rouser, 49, of Joliet, was charged with retail theft after stealing a television and other items totaling $664 between March 28 and May 1 from Wal-Mart, 4005 W. 168th Place, police said.

THEFT: Six feet of piping was stolen …

Welch says CC Hills to repay county within three years

Country Club Hills Mayor Dwight Welch said Monday night that he has known about Cook County’s $6.6 million overpayment to the city since October and expects to pay back the county within three years.

Welch said a city employee, whom he declined to identify, contacted …