Olivia Stevens

6 days ago | pilotonline.com | Angie Leventis Lourgos |Gregory Pratt |Carolyn Stein |Olivia Stevens

Catholics across the region celebrated the historic announcement Thursday that the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the church was born and raised in the Chicago area and marveled that the faithful will now be led by a relatable local boy who grew up in the south suburbs, cheers for the White Sox and hits up Aurelio’s pizza when he comes back home.

6 days ago | yahoo.com | Angie Leventis Lourgos |Gregory Pratt |Carolyn Stein |Olivia Stevens |Jeremy Gorner |Caroline Kubzansky | +1 more

Catholics across the region are celebrating the historic announcement that the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the church was born and raised in the Chicago area. In his first words as Pope Leo XIV, 69-year-old Robert Francis Prevost proclaimed “peace be with you,” invoking a message of dialogue, unity and care for those in need from Vatican City on Thursday. “When I heard the news of the new Holy Father at that moment, at least here in Chicago, the sun came out,” said the Rev.

1 week ago | chicagotribune.com | Olivia Stevens

For each small business Willette LeGrant stepped into in downtown Flossmoor Wednesday, the more she said she felt connected to the community as a whole. “I do not feel like I was talking to small businesses,” the Illinois district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration said after the tour, guided by Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson.

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Olivia Stevens

For each small business Willette LeGrant stepped into in downtown Flossmoor Wednesday, the more she said she felt connected to the community as a whole. “I do not feel like I was talking to small businesses,” the Illinois district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration said after the tour, guided by Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson.

1 week ago | chicagotribune.com | Olivia Stevens

While a flurry of journalistic and social media attention over the past four years has associated Dolton with chaos, financial mismanagement and secrecy, Jason House pointed to a more positive result of Tiffany Henyard’s leadership after he was sworn in as her replacement Monday night. “Unity,” the new mayor said, was top of mind at the Royal Estates Assisted Living Ballroom, where as many as 500 people gathered to celebrate new beginnings for the village of just over 20,000 residents.