Established 1948

Last weekend’s brazen incidents of violence and destruction left two people shot, 100 people arrested, and 13 Chicago Police Officers injured as crowds committed large scale acts of senseless destruction in the downtown and near north areas. These incidents come on top of an incident earlier in the day in which Police Officers returned fire after being shot at on the City’s south side. Such nonsensical acts of violence cannot be tolerated.

To the brave men and women of the Chicago Police Department, thank you for your service to our city throughout this difficult time. Our community sees the sacrifices you make each day and we appreciate them. I’m proud to support the Chicago Police Department and recognize its many important contributions to not only our city but also our communities. 

Superintendent David Brown announced that the shooter in the first incident was a 20-year-old man with four previous arrests for burglary, child endangerment and domestic battery. This situation exemplifies our broken system of criminal justice. It’s been reported that many of the looters acted brazenly and free of concern of consequences. This must change.

I support social programs and community outreach efforts that address the root causes of the poverty that leads to much of this violence. However, when individuals commit acts of violence, especially gun violence, those individuals should face significant consequences. It’s my hope that all stakeholders in the criminal justice system can work together to prosecute the offenders involved in the recent violence to the fullest extent of the law. 

To that end, I have contacted the Police Department to see if there is a way I can help in that process.

In closing, I’d like to again thank the Chicago Police Officers who protected our City last weekend. I’d also like to renew my invitation for any Chicago elected official to participate in a ride along with the Chicago Police Department to gain a better understanding of the work they do and the challenges faced by our City.

Matthew J. O’Shea

Alderman, 19th Ward

Full story available in the Beverly News

U.S. News & World Report has included four OSF HealthCare hospitals in its new 2020-2021 Best Hospitals rankings for a number of specialties and services.

OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria was ranked #12 in Illinois and achieved designations as high performing in colon cancer surgery and lung cancer surgery. OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford was ranked #23 in Illinois and achieved status as high performing in three separate areas: caring for persons with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); cardiovascular care for persons with Heart Failure; and knee replacements within the orthopedics category.

OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary in Evergreen Park and OSF HealthCare Sacred Heart Medical Center in Danville each achieved high performing status in caring for persons with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Additionally, OSF Little Company of Mary was designated high performing in providing cardiovascular care for persons with Heart Failure.

Full story available in the Beverly News

Matt O’Shea, 19th Ward Alderman, expects to have 11 Divvy stations in place throughout Beverly, Mount Greenwood and Morgan Park, as part of a $50 million expansion Lyft is donating to bring Divvy to more underserved neighborhoods.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Lyft is providing $77 million for transportation improvements, including bike lanes, signage and sidewalk improvements over the next nine years. In addition, the Department of Transportation indicated that financial investments by Lyft will help to fund 16 ½ miles of bike lanes on the Far South Side.

Docking stations will be located at the Metra stops at 91st, 99th, 107th, and 115th Streets; the intersections of 103rd and Western, 111th and Western (Beverly Arts Center), near 103rd and Kedzie, 111th and Kedzie, near 111th and Lawndale (Mt. Greenwood Park); and 2 E-Bike stations at Saint Xavier University (103rd and Lawndale) and in North Beverly at 92nd and Hamilton Ave.

Full story available in the Beverly News

OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Evergreen Park has a new, interventional radiology suite, becoming one of only a handful of centers in the nation to offer the state-of-the-art imaging system which combines two types of imaging technology, CT and fluoroscopy, in one single machine, which shortens procedure times and requires fewer trips to the hospital for patients.

For many years, surgery was the only treatment available for many conditions. Today, many conditions can be treated less invasively by interventional radiologists who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments, combining diagnostic and clinical experience across all specialties. They use X-rays, CT and/or ultrasound, and other imaging to advance a catheter in the body, usually in an artery, to treat at the source of the disease internally.

Full story available in the Beverly News