Richard Requena

Richard Requena is a former Pioneer Press reporter.

Matthew Holbrook, shown here cutting a ribbon for a park at Culver School in 2018 in his capacity as Niles School District 71 Board president, was suspended from his teaching job at Niles Township High School District 219 for three days for violating district policies on selling goods to the district, per district officials and proceedings. (Brian O'Mahoney/for Pioneer Press)

Niles D219 suspends teacher, D71 Board president, for selling sports apparel to district

December 18, 2025 at 3:53 p.m.

A Niles North High School teacher was suspended 3 days without pay; he failed to disclose selling $40,000 in merch to the district.

Skokie rejects plan for downtown 6-story building, citing financial concerns

December 16, 2025 at 9:45 a.m.

The Skokie Village Board of Trustees voted to reject a developer's proposal to build a six-story building with 58 apartments, a children's therapy office, and a restaurant at downtown Skokie's...

A woman walks past a Nativity scene outside Lake Street Church of Evanston on Dec. 4, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Lake Street Church of Evanston updates its Nativity scene: ‘Joseph didn’t make it’

December 9, 2025 at 3:43 p.m.

After an Evanston church's ICE-protest Nativity scene was vandalized, it replaced the Joseph figure with a memorial to victims.

The Rev. Michael Woolf in front of a Nativity scene outside Lake Street Church of Evanston on Dec. 4, 2025. The Nativity scene depicts masked centurions wearing federal immigration agent vests, surrounding baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph. Woolf said someone likely stole the zip ties binding Jesus' hands and the respirator worn by Mary. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Evanston church’s Nativity scene depicted baby Jesus zip-tied by ICE agents

December 4, 2025 at 5:04 p.m.

Lake Street Church of Evanston depicted baby Jesus' hands zip-tied, Mary with a gas mask and ICE as centurions in its Nativity scene.

Parents and community members from Evanston/Skokie School District 65 react to the Board of Education impasse vote resulting in no school closures at the end of the school year, after four closures were initially recommended to help balance the district's budget. (Richard Requena/Pioneer Press)

D65 School Board impasse blocks path to any school closures

December 2, 2025 at 5:27 p.m.

Acknowleding school closures are needed, the Evanston-Skokie D65 Board deadlocked 3-3 in voting on school closure scenarios.

Evanston police body camera footage shows officers attempt to separate angry residents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents on Oct. 31, 2025. (City of Evanston)

Federal prosecutors subpoena Evanston for video of Oct. 31 clash between agents and public

December 1, 2025 at 5:25 p.m.

A federal grand jury is investigating the Evanston clash between US Customs and Border Patrol agents and the public on Halloween.

Evanston police bodycams show chaos after Halloween clash between Border Patrol agents and community

November 28, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Evanston police records offer a new look at one of the more troubling clashes between U.S. Border Patrol and community members on Halloween.

The Niles Township High School District 219 Board of Education approved selling an unused property in the 6100 block of Howard Street in Niles for $2.6 million. This photo shows the property on Dec. 12, 2017. (Pioneer Press)

Niles Township D219 sells unused Howard Street property for $2.6 million

November 23, 2025 at 8:24 a.m.

Niles Township High School District 219 sold an unused Howard Street property for $2.6 million.

While Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Mall, pictured, provides significant sales tax revenue to the village of Skokie, the manager said increased costs for village services will necessitate the first property tax increase since 1990. (Youngrae Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Skokie may raise property taxes for first time since 1990

November 22, 2025 at 5:01 a.m.

After the village of Skokie was able to keep its property tax levy flat for 35 years, Village Manager John Lockerby announced at the Nov. 17 Board of Trustees meeting...

The Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Board of Education voted at its Nov. 20 meeting to reject plans to close Lincolnwood Elementary School at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. Lincolnwood School in the 2600 block of Colfax Street in Evanston is shown on Nov. 18, 2025 (Richard Requena/Pioneer Press)

Evanston/Skokie D65 Board will keep Lincolnwood open but reconsider closing other schools

November 21, 2025 at 12:33 p.m.

Evanston/Skokie School District 65 rejected the administration's proposals on which schools to close to balance the district's budget.

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