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🌱 Patch AM: Richton Park Man, 24, Had Illegal Gun, Drove Erratically With Child Unrestrained: Sheriff

Make time for Adult Spades/Bid-Whist Club on the Chicago Heights Patch calendar

Tuesday May 12th Patch AM

Good morning Chicago Heights! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

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Before we get to what's happening, a big thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Chicago Heights PatchAM possible. Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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In today's newsletter:

  • Child unrestrained as illegal machine gun found during Chicago Heights stop
  • How a stranger from Australia is helping save a Heights veteran’s home
  • How far Cook County’s new license plate cameras reach toward Chicago Heights

Also on today's calendar: Adult Spades/Bid-Whist Club and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What's black, white, and blue? 🤔 (Answer below!)


Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: A few showers, with a high of 76 and low of 49 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Partly sunny; windy, cooler, temps: high: 57, low: 40.
  • Thursday: Brilliant sunshine, with a high of 64 and low of 48 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Richton Park Man, 24, Had Illegal Gun, Drove Erratically With Child Unrestrained: Sheriff (patch.com) — Residents in Chicago Heights may be alarmed after sheriff’s investigators stopped a speeding Dodge Charger on Lincoln Highway and found a loaded, illegally modified gun and an unrestrained child in the backseat. The 24-year-old Richton Park driver now faces serious firearm and traffic charges, and was ordered held in Cook County Jail after a court appearance in Markham.    

• 10,000 miles for a miracle: Australian creator helps save Chicago Heights veteran's home (fox32chicago.com) — A disabled Army veteran in Chicago Heights is fighting to save his home from foreclosure after property tax exemption errors left him with more than $243,000 in debt. Australian creator Sam Weidenhofer flew nearly 10,000 miles here, launched a GoFundMe, and has already helped raise over $43,000. The support is giving the veteran renewed hope to keep his home and care for his kids.    

• Cook County Sheriff's Office pitches expanded surveillance network (chicagoreader.com) — Chicago Heights is on the southern edge of a growing Cook County license plate reader network that now stretches from Barrington down to your area. The sheriff is seeking board approval to greatly expand AI-powered jail monitoring and roadside cameras, while civil liberties advocates warn about privacy, racial bias, and a lack of transparency or oversight in how these tools are deployed.    


📸 Around Chicago Heights

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Chicago Heights

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • South Side Exiles live on the Outdoor Rooftop —Mike Brick Read on Patch
  • Aerotek posted a job opening for Slitter Assistant in Chicago Heights. Apply here.
  • Albertsons Company posted a job opening for Meat Cutter in Chicago Heights. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Chicago Heights here.

🗞 Nearby News

Flossmoor

  • Flossmoor approves acquisition of Dixie Highway parcels for redevelopment (hfchronicle.com)
  • H-F High students capture 17 top awards at video festival (hfchronicle.com)

Frankfort

  • Lincoln-Way East Celebrates Student-Athletes At Spring Signing Day (patch.com)

Mokena

  • Mokena PD Hiring Entry Level Officers (patch.com)

Ok Chicago Heights! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A sad zebra (Thank you Mary K. for sending it in!)Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!


👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.


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