Midwest
Illinois town moves to seize Pope Leo XIV's childhood home through eminent domain, convert to historic site
World, media react to election of Pope Leo XIV
OutKick writer Mary Katharine Ham and Democratic strategist Kevin Walling join ‘MediaBuzz’ to discuss the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in history, and the U.S. trade deal with the U.K.
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The Illinois town where Pope Leo XIV’s boyhood home stands is planning to acquire the residence through eminent domain laws despite it being currently up for sale.
The home’s current owner is reportedly trying to sell the home, but may have little choice over the matter. Under Illinois law, the village has first choice on the property through eminent domain, according to Attorney Burt Odelson who represents the Village of Dolton, Fox Chicago reported.
The city can acquire the home through eminent domain, the government’s ability to take private property for public purposes.
“The village of Dolton intends to purchase this home either through direct purchase or through their eminent domain powers,” Odelson told Misha Haghani, the CEO and founder of Paramount Realty USA, in a letter dated Tuesday that was provided to Fox News Digital.
PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLS FIRST AMERICAN POPE LEO XIV AN ‘HONOR’ FOR US, ‘VERY HAPPY’
A person takes a picture of the childhood home of the new Pope Leo XIV in Dolton, Illinois, on May 9, 2025. Robert Francis Prevost became the first pope from the United States on May 8, 2025, picking the papal name Leo XIV after cardinals from around the world elected him leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
The Village of Dolton has the right to purchase the three-bedroom, three-bathroom home even if another buyer is willing to pay a higher price, the letter states.
“We will do what the archdiocese thinks is best to preserve the home so that everybody, not just in Dolton or the South suburbs, but worldwide, can come to his home,” Odelson told Fox Chicago.
Village officials are working with the Chicago Archdiocese to turn the home into a historic site that can be visited by the public, Odelson said in his letter.
CARDINAL ROBERT PREVOST ANNOUNCED AS FIRST AMERICAN POPE, TAKING NAME LEO XIV
Pope Leo XIV speaking with members of the Diplomatic Corp on a number of topics, including family. (Vatican Media)
The house was built in 1949 and measures 1,050 square feet, while the lot on the property is just under 5,000 square feet. The current owner purchased the home for roughly $66,000 Odelson said. The home was renovated this year before going on the market.
“It was on the market for $199,000 and then Pope Leo was made pope, and he took it off the market. And then there was silence,” Odelson explained.
The reserve price is $250,000, according to the Paramount Realty USA auction website, where the home is listed for sale.
Pope Leo XIV holds Mass during the formal inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter’s Square. It was attended by heads of state, royalty and ordinary faithful, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Alessandra Tarantino)
“Born Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV made history as the first American pope upon his election in May 2025. His childhood home is being offered for sale via private auction,” the description of the home states. “Located in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, this modest brick home was owned by the Prevost family for nearly 50 years and served as the foundation of a life that would lead to the Vatican.”
Bids will be accepted through June 18, according to the listing. However, Odelson addressed a letter to Misha Haghani, the CEO and founder of Paramount Realty USA that said it could stall the sale before it ever hits the auction block.
“Please inform any prospective buyers that their ‘purchase’ may only be temporary since the Village intends to begin the eminent domain process very shortly,” he wrote.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to Paramount Realty USA.
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Southwest goes red, white and blue for America’s 250. See new plane.
Southwest unveils “Independence One,” a Boeing 737 with “1776” and “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” splashed on the sides of it.
The world’s largest steam train is passing through Illinois as part of its 10-state route across the United States this summer.
The locomotive, officially known as Big Boy No. 4014, is heading east across the Mississippi River starting in late May to help celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Here’s what we know about the train’s stops in Illinois.
What is Big Boy No. 4014?
Delivered to Union Pacific in 1941, the locomotive was among 25 built to haul wartime freight across the Continental Divide in Wyoming and Utah. Big Boy is the last one running, and in the 1960s was converted to burn oil instead of coal.
Big Boy is 133 feet long and weighs 1.2 million pounds. It traveled more than 1 million miles during its working life hauling freight between Cheyenne and Ogden, Utah. The train typically draws large crowds of rail enthusiasts, and it’s common to see superfans with cameras in hand chasing it in cars.
“Union Pacific couldn’t be prouder to share this powerful piece of history with the nation and to be a part of America’s birthday celebration,” Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena said in a statement. “This tour celebrates our company’s rich 164-year history, our nation’s amazing story and the people who have helped build our great country and our railroad.”
When does Big Boy’s route begin? Where will it depart from?
The train will depart from Union Pacific’s headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 25.
This will be the first time it has crossed the Mississippi River since its westward delivery run in 1941, according to railroad officials.
Where is Big Boy stopping in Illinois? When will world’s biggest train be on display?
The train will stop at the Union Pacific Training Center in West Chicago on June 3. It will be on display south of the West Chicago Metra stop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. central time.
Admission is free, with no tickets required.
Where can residents watch Big Boy pass through Illinois?
Rail fans can also see the train in action at whistle-stops, generally lasting 15-30 minutes long.
The train will pass B Street Crossing in Sterling, Illinois, between 1:30 and 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2. It will then pass by Rochelle Railroad Park in Rochelle from 3-3:15 p.m.
After reaching its eastmost stop in Philadelphia, the train will then head back out west, passing by the Amtrak Depot in Springfield between 10:45-11:15 a.m. on Saturday, July 18. The last public view of the train in Illinois will be at Center St. Crossing in Girard between 1-1:30 p.m.
Full list of Big Boy stops
Big Boy will make the following stops on its journey out east:
- May 30 – Omaha, Nebraska
- June 3 – West Chicago, Illinois
- June 10 – Buffalo, New York
- June 15-16 – Scranton, Pennsylvania
- July 4-5 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- July 9-10 – Altoona, Pennsylvania
- July 14 – Fostoria, Ohio
- July 19 – St. Louis, Missouri
Track Big Boy as it travels across the US
Union Pacific will provide a real-time location tracker for Big Boy, allowing rail fanatics to follow the train on its coast-to-coast tour.
When do tickets for Big Boy go on sale?
Union Pacific Museum patrons will have early ticket access beginning May 1 at 9 a.m. central time. Tickets will go on sale for the general public on May 4.
FULTON COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — The Fulton County Area Plan Commission and Data Center Ordinance Review Committee are being sued by a resident who believes they are not complying with Indiana’s Open Door Law.
They’ve decided that transparency is not that important,” said Richard O’Neill, a Fulton County resident suing the Area Plan Commission.
Back in March, county commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a one-year data center moratorium, as talk of a possible data center in Akron picked up.
After that vote, the data center review committee was formed to review regulations and look at how other communities handle data centers.
But some residents said they’re concerned the public can’t attend or even listen in on those meetings.
I’m suing them to get an injunction to stop this committee until such time that they’re willing to have public meetings. So you don’t want the public there, fine, live stream it. They wouldn’t do that. So you have to ask yourself, what do they want to hide?” said O’Neill.
Other community members weighed in on the transparency issues.
When the committee was formed, the county attorney and Area Plan decided to place in the regulations that this committee would be closed to the public. Several people argued this decision and requested it not be closed so the community could feel involved. I stressed and stated at the Area Plan meeting on March 30th that currently the public trust with our local government is at an all time low and this committee not honoring the open door law would only make things worse,” said James Zimmerman, Fulton County resident.
Indiana’s Open Door Law states:
“Government agencies must hold official meetings of a majority of their governing body, such as council or board meetings, publicly. As a citizen, you have the right to attend and record these meetings.”
But the committee said it doesn’t have to follow that law because it’s not considered a “governing body.”
WSBT22 reached out to the committee’s executive director, but has not yet received a response.
The county attorney feels that they’re in the right and my attorney feels we’re in the right. So we’ll find out from the court,” said O’Neill.
O’Neill said that he’s currently waiting for a different judge to be appointed to his case to set a court date, which should be any day now.
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