Michael Navarrete News Today

Accusations flew and tempers were raised Thursday night between Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones and City Council members. Second Ward Ald. Monet Wilson sent a message to the news media March 18 accusing Jones of having “disabled” her city email account. Wilson, the only woman on council, restated that belief multiple times Thursday during her opportunity to speak as chair of the Health, ...

The wife and son of Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones combined to earn more than $120,000 in 2023 while working for or on behalf of the city, public records show. Saprina Jones made $92,538 for her roles while Thaddeus Jones Jr. made $32,250, according to records showing the money they made from the city from Jan. 1 to Dec. 4 of last year. Saprina Jones apparently was chosen by city officials ...

Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones prevents aldermen from meeting with city employees and attempted to override a program the City Council already agreed to fund, three separate email chains obtained by the Daily Southtown show. First Ward Ald. Michael Navarrete sent an email Sept. 12 to set up a time to meet with Calumet City’s economic development director Donald Alesky and Valencia Williams, ...

Farnsworth Group, the engineering and architecture firm appointed by Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones to be the city engineer, plays an integral role in helping the city select what firms should win publicly funded construction contracts. But a monthslong investigation into Calumet City’s spending habits shows the firm also wins a large portion of engineering and architecture contracts, ...

Calumet City officials were informed the town’s stormwater facilities were in poor condition one year before historic rains in September caused significant flood damage to homes. A report obtained by the Daily Southtown dated Sept. 23, 2022, includes a list of findings and recommendations made by three individuals who visited five stormwater facilities and pump stations Aug. 30, 2022. Repairs ...

A daily 92-degree-plus heat wave is expected to roast the Big Apple for most of this week -- beginning on Labor Day, with the city potentially hitting record temps, forecasters say.

Calumet City officials planned Thursday to officially rebuke their City Council colleague, but her unqualified apology resulted instead in reconciliation.

Driving forward: Tight tractor, supply markets show improvement on horizon. Some tractor deliveries still a year out. Fertilizer availability improves.

Our feisty daily links: subway dog, orcas on the run, rethinking green tea, sanctions worsen Covid, fluvoxamine? US 4th shot, COP26, China hypersonic freakout, Russia's Iraq win? Assange, shrinking Biden bill, VA nailbiter, lingering cargo, Holmes, Al v. strikers

A Calumet City letter to the editor: On a frigid February afternoon in 2019, a man in Aurora returned to his former place of employment and murdered five of his former co-workers, injuring six more civilians during a shootout that ultimately resulted in his death.