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The Broe Group is expected to invest $500 million in Port facilities over the next 10 years under the plan. Emanuel told reporters Sunday the plan will create up to 1,000 permanent jobs and 3,000 construction jobs. The deal would also create a new partnership with Olive Harvey College, including internship sponsorships, job placement opportunities and training programs for new hires… Please click here to read Jon Seidel’s full story in the Sun Times, or related stories on NBC-5,  or the Tribune.

Kelly, who spoke to the Chicago Southland Economic Development Corp. during a gathering at Prairie State College, said she wants to be sure that Foxx — who was confirmed as transportation secretary earlier this month — understands the significance of a proposed airport built near Peotone. Meanwhile, she said her meetings with Will County officials will aim to overcome their hesitancy to support a Peotone airport, since they have said in the past Will County should run the new airport. Instead, the bill signed Thursday by Quinn puts control of the proposed facility under the Illinois Department of Transportation… Please click here to read  Gregory Tejeda’s full story in the Times. [shashin type=”album” id=”5″ size=”small” crop=”n” columns=”max” caption=”y” order=”date” position=”center”]

Recent Rich East High School graduate Tribuana Jones at a Prairie State College manufacturing skills training class By Edward Paesel Recent Rich East High School graduate Raheem Johnson likes working with his hands. One day he wants to study architecture. Or construction. But he isn’t sure and wants to buy some time. Fellow graduate Tribuana Jones was absolutely sure she did not want to work at McDonald’s for the rest of her life, but was uncertain if she could afford college or if she even wanted to go. So on July 8, Raheem and Tribuana, along with Rich East teacher Rodney Freeman, showed up for the first day of class in a manufacturing skills training program at Prairie State College. It’s the first time recent graduates and high school educators have become involved in the grant-funded program for displaced or unemployed adults. It is run by the Calumet Green Manufacturing Partnership. “A universal high school mantra is that we need to prepare students for college, but a lot of kids don’t have the money or desire for college,” said Rich East High School Principal Mark Kramer. “We also need to prepare them for jobs.” In response, Kramer took 30 students on tours to Kay Manufacturing Co., Esmark Steel and Luster Products last school year, and is also taking steps to add manufacturing skills training to the curricula at Rich East High School. In addition, he is sending teachers like Freeman to learn the program. The first Rich East manufacturing classes are scheduled for the 2014-15 school year… Please click here to read the rest of Ed Paesel’s guest commentary in the Times. [shashin type=”album” id=”6″ size=”medium” crop=”n” columns=”max” caption=”y” order=”date” position=”left”]

Village officials will hold a dedication ceremony starting at 9 a.m. for a pedestrian bridge over LaGrange Road. Residents who want to walk or ride bikes over the 200-foot span that morning can gather at the bridge’s west entrance, near the 143rd Street Metra station. The pedestrian bridge is just north of 143rd Street… Please click here to read Mike Nolan’s full story in the Southtown Star.

The Rail Fan Park, built by the Park Forest recreation and parks department in cooperation with Canadian National Railroad and the village of Matteson, features a great view of one of the country’s largest rail intersections, officials said. The two-acre park — located within the village of Matteson — features a 35-foot-high platform overlooking a four-way interchange known as a Double Y intersection, in which trains can move easily in all directions, and one can cross over itself as it loops around…. Please click here to read Susan Demar Lafferty’s full story in the Southtown Star, or here to read a related story by Jerry Shnay.

Ann Schneider With several hurdles still facing the proposed South Suburban Airport, the state’s top transportation official said Thursday she felt confident ground could be broken in about two years, with “planes in the air by 2020.” Speaking after Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation giving her agency the power to court developers and investors interested in working in tandem with the state to build an airport near Peotone, Ann Schneider, secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, said the state hopes to have final approval from the federal government sometime in 2015, and initial construction could begin before the end of that year…. Please click here to read Mike Nolan’s full story in the Herald-News,  here to read Phil Kadnar’s related story in Sun Times Media,  here for a story in the Times, or here for another story in the Tribune.

Press release from Gov. Pat Quinn’s office: Governor Pat Quinn today announced nearly $190 million in federal grants and loans have been approved to date to help people and businesses in 35 counties recover after widespread flooding in April. In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today approved the state’s request for a 15-day extension of the registration deadline. People who suffered damage or loss between April 16 and May 5 now have until Aug. 8 to register for federal grants and loans. In May, Governor Quinn successfully secured a federal disaster declaration that made these grants and loans available. Federal aid approved to date includes $142.7 million in FEMA grants to more than 58,000 people whose homes and personal items were damaged or destroyed. In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $46.4 million in loans for people and businesses affected by flooding. “These grants and loans are helping thousands of people repair or rebuild their homes after the historic floods this spring,” Governor Quinn said. “Without this aid, recovery would have been difficult, if not impossible for many people. We requested the deadline extension to ensure everyone who suffered damage or loss has a chance to apply. I urge all those in need to apply before August 8.” People in the 35 federally designated counties are eligible to apply for federal aid, which can include grants to help with home repairs, replacement of damaged personal property and other disaster-related expenses, as well as low-interest, long-term SBA loans. Those counties include Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Clark, Cook, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Henry, Kane, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Peoria, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago and Woodford. Registration for federal disaster aid can be completed online at or via web-enabled phone at m.fema.gov. People may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Residents who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services (VRS) can call 800-621-3362. Governor Quinn also secured federal aid to help local governments in 40 counties recover most of their expenses for response and recovery from April floods. Those counties include Adams, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Clark, Crawford, DuPage, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Lawrence, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, Will and Woodford counties. FEMA and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) currently are assisting local governments with their applications for federal reimbursement of 75 percent of eligible flood-related expenses.

[shashin type=”album” id=”4″ size=”large” crop=”n” columns=”max” caption=”n” order=”date” position=”left”]After decades of talk, the possibility of a south suburban airport is taking a step forward. Governor Pat Quinn has signed legislation that could make the dream of the south suburban airport a reality. Quinn signed the bill at Governor’s State University on Thursday. The bill Quinn signed gives the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) the power to build the airport. It is being called a global transportation hub in unincorporated eastern Will County. The airport will eventually employ 14,000 people. It will also create 11,000 construction jobs. Its name officially will be the South Suburban Airport…. Please click here for the full story on WLS News, or here for a related story on WGN, or read a press release issued from Gov. Quinn’s office.

[shashin type=”album” id=”3″ size=”small” crop=”n” columns=”max” caption=”n” order=”date” position=”left”] A special thanks to everyone who contributed to make this event a success… PLATINUM SPONSOR Comcast Robinson Engineering, Ltd. GOLD SPONSORS AT&T SILVER SPONSORS Baxter & Woodman, Inc. Consulting Engineers Clark Dietz, Inc. Mi-Jack Products, Inc. BRONZE SPONSORS Kane McKenna and Associates, Inc. Tower Contracting, LLC Weaver Boos Consultants LUNCH SPONSOR Comcast ComEd BEVERAGE SPONSORS – BOTH COURSES City Beverage Comcast IL Metropolitan Investment Fund The Horton Group Republic Services, Inc./Allied Waste Services COCKTAIL SPONSORS Comcast ComEd HOLE SPONSORS – BOTH COURSES Call One Calumet City Plumbing Co., Inc. Cook County Commissioners Elizabeth “Liz” Gorman, Joan Patricia Murphy and Deborah Sims Fifth Third Securities, Inc. – Douglas DeAngelis Franciscan St. James Health Gallagher Asphalt Corporation Homewood Disposal The Horton Group Lansing Mayor Norm Abbott Nicor Gas Company South Suburban College – Frank M. Zuccarelli, Chairman Speer Financial, Inc. Thornton Township Walgreens HOLE SPONSORS – ONE COURSE Aqua Illinois Bernardi Securities Bud’s Ambulance Edwards Wildman Palmer Governors State University HR Green Ice Miller LLP Louis P. Vitullo, Ltd. Senator Toi Hutchinson SILENT AUCTION DONORS Allied Waste – Hank Potts Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox James Whigham, Manager – Village of Hazel Crest Lincoln Oaks Golf Club Lincolnshire Country Club Medieval Times Odyssey Country Club Village of Glenwood, Mayor Kerry Durkin, Village of Homewood, Mayor Rich Hofeld DOOR PRIZES Auto Truck Group Bloom Township Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Village of Lansing, Mayor Norm Abbott Municipal Collections of America Tria Architecture Walgreens TABLE PRIZES Aurelio’s Pizza – Homewood Balagio Ristorante Ed Paesel Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery Frankie’s Ristorante Gatto’s Restaurant & Bar Hooters Plush Horse Ice Cream Shoppe Sybaris Pool Suites Target – Homewood The Bennett Curtis House The Essence Suites Tom Paesel Village of East Hazel Crest, Mayor Tom Brown Village of Orland Park, Mayor Dan McLaughlin Village of Richton Park, Mayor Rick Reinbold Village of South Chicago Heights, Mayor Dave Owen Village of Tinley Park, Mayor Ed Zabrocki MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS Mayor Thomas A. Brown, Village of East Hazel Crest Mayor Kerry Durkin, Village of Glenwood Manager James Whigham, Village of Hazel Crest Mayor Rich Hofeld, Village of Homewood Mayor Norman F. Abbott, Village of Lansing Mayor Daniel J. McLaughlin, Village of Orland Park Mayor Richard P. Reinbold, Village of Richton Park Mayor David L. Owen, Village of South Chicago Heights Mayor Ed Zabrocki, Village of Tinley Park TICKETS Lighthouse Printing – Sue Kirschner SPECIAL THANKS Michael J. Scholefield, Master of Ceremonies Congratulations to the following: Lincolnshire… Closest to the Pin #4 – Maureen Kelly Closest to the Pin #18 – Gene Steinmarch Longest Drive #3 – Beau Sprech Lowest Score Foursome  59 – Country Club Hills (Mayor Dwight Welch, Anthony Davis, Gene Keefe, Beau Sprech) Lincoln Oaks Closest to the Pin  #4 – Gino Knox Closest to the Pin #13 – Tiffany Nelson-Jaworski Longest Drive #3 – Kim McCullough Longest Drive #16 – Matt Davies Lowest Score Foursome  59 – Anything Goes (Jamie Davies, Matt Davies,  Harvey Swatsworth, Todd Struebing)

The Village Board approved a resolution Tuesday for an intergovernmental agreement to include the village in a land program overseen by the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association. The association works with area municipalities to operate the South Suburban Land Bank and Development Authority, an organization created to help communities work together to redevelop vacant, foreclosed and other underused parcels of commercial and residential property…Other communities already participating in the Land Bank include Park Forest, Blue Island and Oak Forest, although the association says it is willing to work with all 42 member municipalities in the area. The land bank receives some assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Please click here to read Gregory Tejeda’s full story in the Times.

UIC’s Midwest Latino Health Research, Training & Policy Center will be hosting a workshop, “FOOD: A Path to Healthy and Sustainable Communities.”  The workshop will feature a case study on FarmedHere by Paul Hardej. FarmedHere® produce is grown indoors in urban facilities, away from the bugs, diseases, pesticides, and weather that impact most produce today. The vertical growing technology and local distribution methods reduce energy use, travel time and costs tremendously, making this model one of the most sustainable ways to guarantee access to fresh, healthy produce in city centers, in any season. On average a head of lettuce travels 1,200 miles to reach your plate, our greens travel just across Chicago, which is why they’re the freshest.  For more information visit http://farmedhere.com/. Click Food–A Path. . . workshop to download the flyer.

Services to be provided include healthcare, employment, legal, substance abuse, housing, haircuts, clothing and meals. To sponsor, donate or for more information, please contact Bill Browne at Billbrowne1225@comcast.net or 708-705-6090. Cook County Commissioner Joan Patricia Murphy is collecting toiletries and sundry items for the Veterans outreach event.   Donations of gently used men’s clothing are also needed.  Donations must be received before Wednesday, September 4th at Commissioner Murphy’s District Office, located at 5405 W. 127th Street in Crestwood.