O'Hare cemetery appeal rejected

Opponents of expansion at O'Hare International Airport were rebuffed yet again Wednesday in their attempts to stop Chicago officials from gutting a cemetery for a new runway.

Bensenville, Elk Grove Village and St. John's United Church of Christ -- which owns the 158-year-old St. Johannes Cemetery -- lost a bid to have the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reconsider their argument that digging up the graves violates religious protection laws.

The lawsuit, ongoing now for nearly two years, has been successful in putting off Chicago's takeover of the graveyard, tying up plans for the project's second phase. Still, Chicago officials are not expected to take possession of the cemetery anytime soon as other legal battles persist. Opposition attorney Joseph Karaganis didn't return a phone call seeking comment.

O'Hare expansion opponents have vowed to fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if possible. Meanwhile, Chicago officials are more than a year behind schedule and more than $1 billion over budget, but a new runway is slated to open next fall. After $8 billion and another decade, the expansion is expected to reduce delays and boost capacity.