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FREE Vol. 39 No. 50
December 17, 2025 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com
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@austinweeklynews
Skyrocketing property taxes spark West Side community meeting
Austin resident represents Illinois at International Junior Miss Pageant
Rising bills drive residents to seek guidance; taxes have come due
Mariah Robinson, a nursing aide and respiratory care student, launched Breath of Hope this year as part of her pageant platform
By HECTOR CERVANTES Contributing Reporter
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
An Austin resident is in the running to be an International Junior Miss titleholder. Mariah Robinson, a 22-year-old who lives in Austin, is travelling to Orlando, Florida later this month to represent Illinois in the International Junior Miss pageant. There, Robinson will compete with dozens of women in her age group from other states and countries. The pageant awards multiple titleholders with money and prizes for the likes of modeling, See JUNIOR MISS on page 9
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PROVIDED
Mariah Robinson is competing in the International Junior Miss Pageant from Dec. 31 to Jan. 4
A community meeting at New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church on Dec.8 brought residents together for property tax information and on-site assistance. With Dec. 15 as the looming deadline to pay the second installment of the 2024 Cook County property taxes, the meeting was a way to share information on how to get help from tax assessors including obtaining further tax exemptions. According to the Chicago Tribune, this year’s median residential property tax bills reflect See PROPERTY TAXES on page 9
HappyHolidays!