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Tom Robb

@tomrobb

#Journalist newspaper reporter & photographer covering local news in Chicago's North and Northwest Suburbs area with http://journal-topics.com my opinions are my own.

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Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

The Journal is working with the Medill School of Journalism, so if you have a minute, please take this anonymous survey.
This will help us know what you see as the most important issues to cover locally.
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06.02.2026 14:51 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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ComEd Buying Properties On Devon To Build Fourth Substation In Elk Grove Village - Journal & Topics Media Group Elk Grove Village trustees Tuesday (Jan. 13) approved a $3,625,000 purchase and sale agreement with ComEd for village-owned property at Devon and Ridge avenues to build an electrical substation.

Elk Grove Village is set to get a 4th ComEd substation.

14.01.2026 22:33 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
AIPAC Working To Influence 9th Congressional District Race? - Journal & Topics Media Group After U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-9th) announced last year she would not run for reelection in 2026, and 16 Democrats joined one already running in the upcoming primary, the money from outsiders looki...

A lot is going on in the 9th Congressional Democratic Primary race.

14.01.2026 20:20 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Glenview Group To Protest ICE Shooting, U.S. Actions In Venezuela - Journal & Topics Media Group Local activist group Indivisible Glenview will hold a protest Tuesday, Jan. 20, to demonstrate against the Trump administration following a recent ICE shooting in Minneapolis and the deployment of U.S...

What is the protest about, Venezuela or ICE? - "All of it."

14.01.2026 20:19 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Northfield Highway Commissioner Under Scrutiny For Unapproved School Project - Journal & Topics Media Group Northfield Township Highway Commissioner Mike Korman authorized a $25,000 contract to repaint parking lot stripes at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview over Labor Day weekend -- a project that is...

Why did a township highway commissioner authorize $25,000 to restripe a high school parking lot?

17.12.2025 20:26 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Melting Snow Reveals Body In Car In Lot Off Dempster; Foul Play Not Suspected - Journal & Topics Media Group Police in Niles have opened a death investigation after an unresponsive person was found deceased inside a car partially covered by snow on Friday morning (Dec. 12) in the parking lot of a business.

Niles police opened a death investigation after melting snow revealed a body in a car parked in a lot off Denpster near Harlem.

12.12.2025 20:52 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Arson Not Suspected In Apartment Fire That Displaced 6 Families; Cops Hailed As Heroes - Journal & Topics Media Group The investigation continues into last Wednesday’s (Nov. 12) fire that displaced six Niles families, although fire officials say arson is not suspected.

We have an update on that big Dempster Street fire from Nov. 12. Three Niles police officers are up for awards after running into the burning building to evacuate residents.

17.11.2025 20:51 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Diffrences Between ICE, Local Police Are Striking - Journal & Topics Media Group Federal agents with Customs and Border Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are not playing by the same rules as local police do. That’s resulted in a breeding ground for a lack o...

The Journal's editorial on ICE.

13.11.2025 17:39 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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3 Niles Police Officers Run Into Burning Building, Help Evacuate Disabled Kids, Mother, Baby - Journal & Topics Media Group Flames burst from the windows of the second floor of an apartment building in the 8200 block of Dempster Street as alarms sounded at 2:35 a.m. Wednesday, making for a large fire and police presence in...

3 Niles police officers up for lifesaver awards after running into a burning apartment building to evacuate residents.

12.11.2025 22:24 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Glenview Man β€˜Recklessly Handling’ Shotgun Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter After Niles Man Shot - Journal & Topics Media Group A Glenview man faces one charge of involuntary manslaughter for Thursday’s (Oct. 16) shooting death of a Niles man. Police said the two were longtime friends.

A Glenview man was charged with involuntary manslaughter after shooting and killing his longtime friend while "Recklessly Handling" a shotgun in his friend's home in Niles.

20.10.2025 19:15 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Vehicle Crash Closes Roads, Knocks Out Power in Glenview - Journal & Topics Media Group A vehicle crash early Tuesday morning closed parts of Glenview Road and Lincoln Street after a driver first struck a ComEd utility pole and then a home in the 2000 block of Glenview Road. The accident...

Here's why Glenview Road and Thomas Street were closed in Glenview this morning. A traffic crash struck a ComEd utility pole and a house on Glenview Road. Suspects who fled the scene are still at large. The incident began at 2:34 a.m. this morning.

14.10.2025 17:39 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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3 Charged With Attempted Murder In November Elk Grove Village Shooting - Journal & Topics Media Group Two men and a juvenile were charged with attempted first-degree murder for a shooting that occurred on Nov. 10, 2024, in the 500 block of Dogwood Trail, Elk Grove Village police announced Monday, Oct....

Three charged with attempted murder for the November shooting on Dogwood in Elk Grove Village.

08.10.2025 14:05 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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β€˜I Lost My Right-Hand Man’: Pizzeria Worker Taken Into Custody By ICE - Journal & Topics Media Group A restaurant worker was taking the trash out in the alley behind a restaurant on Golf Road in Niles when federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents took him into custody two weekends ago...

ICE is not just in Broadview and Chicago. We have reports, along with some video, of ICE agents operating in Niles, Glenview, and Park Ridge.

06.10.2025 22:11 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 2
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Mayor Drops β€˜Rock Bottom’ On Xavier To Win First Ever 8-Man Tag Match At Rotary Fest - Journal & Topics Media Group A crowd of 800 to 900 gathered around the ring at Elk Grove Rotary Fest for the event’s first-ever professional wrestling meet Saturday -- including an eight-man tag team match featuring Mayor Craig J...

Elk Grove Village saw a new side to their mayor at Rotary Fest, the wrestler.

23.07.2025 21:09 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Simmons Joins Crowded Field Of Dems Looking To Fill 9th District Seat In Congress - Journal & Topics Media Group After U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-9th) announced she would not seek reelection in 2026, the field of those seeking her seat in Congress has become increasingly full. The latest to announce his candida...

State Rep. Mike Simmons (D-7th) of Chicago announces run for 9th Congressional District seat.

15.07.2025 20:46 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Frank Joins Niles Police Dept. As Second K9 - Journal & Topics Media Group Niles' new K9 cop Frank, a black German Shepherd, took to the streets with his handler, officer Jesse Bloomberg, earlier this month after the two completed eight weeks of training.

Can we be Frank, Niles has a new K9 cop on the beat,

20.06.2025 22:11 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Elk Grove Village Trustees Adopt E-Bike, Motorized Scooter, Skateboard Restrictions - Journal & Topics Media Group Elk Grove Village trustees adopted an ordinance Tuesday (June 17) setting restrictions on e-bicycles and motorized or electric scooters, or skateboards.

Do you ride e-bikes, electric, or motorized scooters or skateboards? New rules take effect on all of those in Elk Grove Village starting on July 1.

18.06.2025 19:11 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
More School Districts Look To Exit TrueNorth Special Ed Coop - Journal & Topics Media Group Just a few months ago, Glenview School Dist. 34 and Glenbrook High School Dist. 225 felt alone in their desire to exit the TrueNorth special education collective, but at a TrueNorth board meeting last Wednesday, 13 of 18 districts brought forward a resolution to dissolve the local group.

Just a few months ago, Glenview Dist. 34 and Glenbrook Dist. 225 felt alone in wanting to leave the TrueNorth Educational Cooperative. That is no longer the case.

18.06.2025 14:21 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Firefighters From 6 Communities Battle Elevator Shaft Fire In Vacant Leaning Tower YMCA - Journal & Topics Media Group About 45 firefighters responded to the former Leaning Tower YMCA residential building in Niles for a fire in an elevator shaft on the second floor of the building Saturday afternoon (June 14).

Firefightrs battle blaze at residential Niles Leaning Tower building.

16.06.2025 19:42 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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β€˜Foxtail At Glen View House’ Gets Thumbs Up From Village Board - Journal & Topics Media Group Glenview trustees this week tentatively approved an ordinance outlining final site, zoning, preliminary architecture, landscaping, lighting, and signage plans for The Foxtail at the Glen View House re...

Last night, Glenview village trustees approved plans for the exterior of what was known in the late 1870s, and will again be called the "Glen View House" by Foxtail.
Demo has begun inside. Developers did not have an opening date.

04.06.2025 18:45 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Elderly Driver Careens Out Of Car Wash, Strikes Vehicles, Propane Tanks At Home Depot - Journal & Topics Media Group The Home Depot on Niles' Civic Center Drive was evacuated after two cars struck the wall of the store -- including a caged area holding propane tanks -- on Monday afternoon.

Yes, an out-of-control car struck 4 cars and the Home Depot in Niles. The store was evacuated, but the propane tanks did not explode.

03.06.2025 20:12 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Life Savers Honored By Village Board - Journal & Topics Media Group Acting Fire Chief Rich Scipione detailed two separate incidents, both involving cardiac incidents, at two different Niles Park District facilities in April and May, in which residents, park staff, 911...

When lives are saved, there are many links in that chain. Last week, Niles honored all of them.

02.06.2025 19:02 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Developers Discuss Plans For White Eagle Site; Residents Concerned About Traffic - Journal & Topics Media Group Developers from Noah Properties stood at the podium during an early informal consideration meeting by Niles trustees, attended by about 80 residents, discussing plans for luxury apartments and townhom...

Lots of talk last week about Noah Properties' plans for redeveloping White Eagle Banquets for residential use.

02.06.2025 18:45 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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63-Year-Old Woman Dies At Glenview Self-Storage - Journal & Topics Media Group Although the cause of death has still not been officially determined, it was learned that the woman who died at a self-storage facility in Glenview last week was a resident of Wilmette.

The Journal spoke with officials at the Cook County Medical Examiner's office, who identified the woman who died at the self-storage on Old Willow Road last week as Caroline More, of the 1200 block of Lake Avenue, Wilmette.

28.05.2025 14:24 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Apartments, Townhomes, Retail Proposed For White Eagle Site - Journal & Topics Media Group Plans for a major redevelopment of the White Eagle banquet property on Milwaukee Avenue in Niles call for multiple apartment buildings, townhomes, retail space, and green space.

Noah Properties has big plans to transform White Eagle Banquets into apartments and townhomes. Village trustees are expected to learn about preliminary plans at an informal consideration meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

23.05.2025 20:04 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Grippo Named New Elk Grove Village PW Director - Journal & Topics Media Group With Elk Grove Village Public Works Director Colby Basham retiring at the end of May, Mayor Craig Johnson named his replacement last week in Deputy Public Works Director Bryan Grippo.

Colby Basham will stay on through the end of May as Public Works chief, but when he retires, Bryan Grippo will become the new director.

21.05.2025 18:58 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Man With Knife Surrenders After Several Hours In Parking Lot - Journal & Topics Media Group Elk Grove Village Police A 911 call from a concerned ex-girlfriend sent Elk Grove Village police and other law enforcement to a parking lot in the 2200 block of Pratt Avenue, just east of Nicholas Bou...

A good outcome, it could have tuerned out much worse.

21.05.2025 17:33 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Cook County Commissioner To Run For Congress - Journal & Topics Media Group Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison (D-15th) announced his run for Congress in the 8th Congressional District on Monday.

Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison (D-15th) announces his run for Congress,

16.05.2025 22:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Mason Announces For 15th District Cook County Commissioner Seat - Journal & Topics Media Group Chief of staff for Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison (D-15th) and Elk Grove Township Democratic Committeeman Ted Mason. (photo submitted) Elk Grove Village resident Ted Mason, Elk Grove Township...

Ted Mason announces his run for the 15th Cook County Commissioner's seat as his boss Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison (D-15th) mounts a run for Congress in the 8th

16.05.2025 21:59 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Tariff Impacts In Elk Grove Village: An Exercise In Wait And See Without Complaint - Journal & Topics Media Group Inside Clingan Steel's processing plant floor in Elk Grove Village. (Tom Robb/Journal photo) The impacts of the announced Trump administration’s tariffsΒ remain unclear on the Elk Grove Business Park a...

What impact do tariffs have on Elk Grove Village? We're not really sure yet.

12.05.2025 14:33 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0