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Published in Chicago's Northwest Side Press on June 25, 2025
by RUSS STEWART
"It ain't over 'til it's over," baseball sage Yogi Berra opined. For Mike Kaage, owner/operator of the Edison Park Kaage newsstand, it will be over on June 29.
That's the day he shutters the newspaper stand at Northwest Highway/Oliphant after 82 years. He's not selling it because nobody wants to buy a business that sells what nobody buys anymore — like newspapers.
Kaage said his late father Irv Kaage told him the stand, which is located on city parkway land and requires an annual permit like awnings and sidewalk cafe tables, was opened in 1919 after the end of WWI.
The elder Kaage purchased the newsstand in 1943 for $100.
In the post-WWII days and through the 1950s and 1960s, newspapers were the fount of news. There were four dailies, the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times published in the morning with yesterday's news and the Chicago Daily News and Chicago American (later renamed Chicago Today in the 1970s) published in the afternoon with overnight and AM news and a rehash of yesterday's news.
Kaage's newsstand was once open until 9 p.m., sold well more than a thousand copies a day (plus magazines) and was a very profitable enterprise. Television was very much in its infancy. None of that 24/7 cable news.
The major networks (CBS, NBC, ABC) had their daily national/world news at 5:30 p.m. and the local channels (9, 7, 5, 2) had their news at 10 p.m. I'm dating myself here obviously, but people primarily got their news by reading it on a piece of paper.
Not anymore, said Kaage, age 68, who began working in the family business at age 5, in 1961, picking up newspapers for the stand.
"It's just about extinct," he said of the newspaper sale business. He is right. Nobody wants to read today's news tomorrow or even tonight. They demand instant gratification/notification right now, which they can get from their iPhone or other devices or on social media.
I'm an old guy so watching FOX NEWS 24/7 is fine with me, but non-oldsters don't have that luxury and get their news in sporadic sound bites or Google headlines, or maybe from some 3-hour podcast run by a comedian/MMA announcer. Nobody young watches TV anymore and, said Kaage, and nobody under age 40 buys newspapers anymore.
Retiring from his newsstand was mostly an economic decision, and to spend time with his grandkids, said Kaage.
Throughout the past 40 years, en route to my Park Ridge law office, I would swing by Kaage's to buy a Chicago Sun-Times (for 35 cents until the early-2000s) and on Wednesday the Northwest Side PRESS (then and now 50 cents). But all changed around 2000, Kaage said. People began getting their news digitally. He was once selling 600 to 700 Tribunes and Times per day; now school graduate who was the paper's circulation manager. He bought the paper along with his wife Bette after Steinman died and son Brian Nadig became the co-publisher and feature writer of what seems like virtually everything today.
The editor gets some ink space once in a while when he's not busy putting this whole damn newspaper together twice a week.
I did not attend a journalism school, such as Medill at Northwestern. I started writing political articles when I was at DePaul (and, interestingly, my editor at the DePaulia during 1971-72 was the current celebrity bankruptcy guru Peter Francis Geraci. He's all over TV and he's older than me (and I'm 75).
After I graduated in June 1972 with a useless degree in economics I stumbled into a job as press secretary for Alderman John Hoellen (47th), the Republican candidate for Congress in the Northwest Side 11th District, being vacated by Roman Pucinski, who was running for U.S. senator.
I figured I was on my way to Washington. Hoellen's opponent was West Side congressman Frank Annunzio (D), who moved into the district. But Hoellen lost to Annunzio 54-46 percent in the year of Nixon's landslide. I moved on to manage a bunch of losing campaigns in the 1970s, ran for state senator myself but fortunately got my law degree.
But the Hoellen campaign gave me a journalistic lay of the land on the Northwest Sideband and I began submitting freelance political articles in June 1973 — and just never stopped. I was never an employee of Nadig. I was just a "contributor." There was immediate pushback from the local Democratic Establishment: He's a Republican, they whined. But the Nadigs stood behind me, even when they didn't agree with my opinion, and for that I am forever grateful.
While the paper used to be 30 broadsheet pages crammed with display ads and want ads, it has a strong social media presence and will survive.
THIS COLUMN: There are a whole lot of readers of this column who fervently wish I would just croak, retire or get devoured by some predator in my backyard. I intend to be around for at least another year, and this month marks the commencement of my 53rd year of writing this stuff. I should quit, but why quit now, when the Left and the Right top themselves daily in terms of ridiculousness.
According to my calculation, at 1,550 words per column times 50 columns per year over 52 years computes to 2,600 columns and close to 4,110,000 words. That's the equivalent of about 4 books. I have never tried to conceal my biases. I am not a Leftist. But I am not and never will be a propagandist like many of my colleagues.
This column is opinionated but that opinion is based on facts, and I plan to continue that tradition. I can already hear the disappointed groans.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 25, 2026 Contact Information: Betsy McCloskey/Plaid Swan Inc. (563) 513-9499 betsy@plaidswan.com
Elgin, IL and Santa Rosa, CA — Corporate American Family Credit Union (CAFCU) and North Bay Credit Union (NBCU) announced today that their merger will become effective March 1, 2026. Together, the two organizations have formed a stronger, more versatile, and community-driven financial institution serving members across the Midwest and Northern California. The merger reflects a partnership built on shared values: exceptional member service, deep community commitment, and a mutual vision for long-term sustainable growth. “We are excited about the opportunity to bring our organizations together in a way that amplifies what both credit unions do best,” said Stefanie Rupert, president & CEO of CAFCU. “North Bay has built something special; our teams are aligned in mission and mindset. By combining our strengths, innovative technology, personalized service, and strong community presence, we believe we can deliver even greater value for all members.” Based on the most recent financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, North Bay Credit Union reported just over $114 million in assets. The combined organization benefits from greater scale, expanded product offerings, enhanced digital capabilities, and increased operational efficiencies. This transaction was completed as an assisted merger, following extensive collaboration, regulatory coordination, due diligence, and thoughtful planning by leadership teams. “North Bay Credit Union has always centered its work around the needs of our local communities, and the decision to pursue this merger was made intentionally to elevate that commitment with long-term stability, resilience, and growth,” said Darlene Brown, interim CEO of North Bay Credit Union. “Partnering with CAFCU allows us to strengthen our foundation, expand our reach, and enhance the services we can provide while staying rooted in our mission. Through Greenbax Marketplace, we also bring a unique and compliant line of business that complements CAFCU’s offerings. Both organizations are stronger together, and we look forward to what this new chapter will bring.” CAFCU’s continued expansion strengthens its presence in California while reinforcing its long-standing commitment to sustainable growth and community-focused service. Both institutions emphasized that the merger is the result of extensive collaboration and careful planning designed to ensure a seamless transition for members and employees. “This partnership reflects a shared belief in building a stronger future for our members, our teams, and the communities we proudly serve,” the organizations said in a joint statement. About Corporate American Family Credit Union (CAFCU) Corporate American Family Credit Union (CAFCU) is a long-standing, member-focused credit union headquartered in Elgin, IL. Built on decades of trust, service, and community commitment, CAFCU continues to expand its reach and capabilities through strategic growth initiatives. CAFCU remains dedicated to strengthening members’ financial well-being through accessible products, personalized service, and a people first philosophy. About North Bay Credit Union (NBCU) Founded in 1948, North Bay Credit Union has grown into a trusted community financial institution with just over $114 million in assets as of December 31, 2025. NBCU remains committed to empowering individuals, families, and local businesses with accessible, people-first financial solutions rooted in local common bonds and community values. NBCU offers compliant cannabis banking services and payment solutions through its subsidiary, Greenbax Marketplace.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 17, 2026 Contact Information: Katie Lewis (217) 525-8012 katie@ioaweb.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2026 Media Contact Information: Carrie Skogsberg carrie.skogsberg@countryfinancial.com
COUNTRY Financial and the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) are providing an opportunity for local high schools to win $5,000 to benefit their athletic department and student athletes through the “Sport Your School Giveaway.” Individuals can enter their school to win through May 30, 2026. This is the second time COUNTRY has held the Sport Your School Giveaway. Staunton High School was the winner of the first giveaway, which ran during the first half of the 2025-2026 school year. COUNTRY has been a sponsor of the IHSA for more than 50 years and is the presenting sponsor for 40 IHSA state championships for various high school sports throughout the 2025-2026 school year. “COUNTRY has a highly valued, longstanding relationship with the IHSA,” said Nikki Johnson, vice president of marketing at COUNTRY. “Schools are the lifeblood of our communities, and we are proud to be part of bringing championship opportunities to students and communities throughout the state.” Learn more and enter your school to win. Learn more about the partnership between COUNTRY and the IHSA.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 12, 2026 Media Contact Information: Bob Hubberts (847) 508-4995 bhubberts@firstillinoisrobotics.org
Chicago, Illinois – Creativity and science will come together this Saturday at the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge Illinois State Championship at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, Illinois, where 56 teams of 9- to 14-year-old students and coaches will demonstrate their problem-solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship, and sense of community. The tournament is open to the public. The robot table competition portion of the event starts at Noon on Saturday, February 14th. More than 650,000 students in over 75 countries will participate in the FIRST® UNEARTHED season. Teams will have to program robots, using LEGO Education technology, to solve a set of missions on an obstacle course set on a thematic playing surface. For the UNEARTHED challenge students will unearth hidden treasures and piece together the past as they embark on this thrilling journey of discovery. Students will identify and research a problem related to the season theme and then design and create a possible solution. They will also identify a mission strategy and design, create, and code a robot to complete missions during a 2.5-minute Robot Game. The competition is judged in three areas: innovation project; robot design, and core values, which embody aspects of teamwork and good sportsmanship. Top robot game scores are also honored. FIRST LEGO League is an international program for 9- to 14-year-olds (ages vary by country) created in a partnership between FIRST and the LEGO Group in 1998 to get students excited about science and technology – and teach them valuable career and life skills. Using LEGO® Education technologies and materials, students work alongside adult mentors to design, build, and program autonomous robots and create an innovative solution to a problem as part of their research project. After several intense weeks, the competition season culminates at high-energy, sports-like tournaments. Like any other organized “sport,” teams also fundraise, create a team identity, and go on field trips. The tournament is being run by FIRST Illinois Robotics, a 501 c3 organization focused on delivering FIRST programs in Illinois. Contact us for a list of the area schools and youth organizations with teams participating in the competition. About FIRST® FIRST® is a robotics community that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (PreK-12) that can be facilitated in school, in structured after-school programs or by other organizations or groups of parents. Boosted by a global support system of volunteers, educators, and sponsors that include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, teams operate under a signature set of FIRST Core Values to conduct research, fundraise, design, build, and showcase their achievements during annual challenges. An international not-for-profit organization founded in 1989, FIRST has a proven impact on STEM learning, interest, and skill-building well beyond high school. Participants and alumni of FIRST programs gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers, and a place in the FIRST community for life. Learn more at firstinspires.org.
### To learn more about FIRST programs in Illinois, go to www.firstillinoisrobotics.org.
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