🌱 Alternative Police Task Force To Present Findings + COVID-19 Update

Welcome to the weekend, Oak Park and River Forest! In today's Daily:

• Two cars were stolen from local streets earlier this week.
• A new substance abuse treatment center opens in Austin.
• Oak Park participates in "No Mow May."

But first, today's weather: Breezy with variable clouds. High: 76 Low: 63.

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Here are the top 3 stories in Oak Park-River Forest today:

1. At least 16 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Oak Park this week, according to the local health department. Weekly village reports do not include at-home test results. The COVID-19 emergency declaration ends May 11. (VOP)

2. Oak Park’s alternative police response taskforce will report its findings to trustees next month, the Wednesday Journal reports. The 30-person group studied mental health response models and gathered feedback from community members. (Wednesday Journal)

3. Two cars were stolen from local streets earlier this week. One was parked outside West Suburban Medical Center. (OPPD)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Celebrate Free Comic Book Day at One Stop Comics (10 a.m.) and Oak Park Public Library. (10 a.m.)
• Take broken items to Fox Center’s Repair Cafe. (10 a.m.)
• See “The Light in Spring: Dance & Music at Unity Temple.” (5:30 p.m.)
• Catch a production of “X-Men: Mad Avenue” at OPRF High School’s Little Theatre. (7 p.m.)

📷 Oak Park-River Forest Photo of the Day

Thanks to Jackie and Collin Bassett for sending in today's featured photo! If you'd like to send your photos in to the Patch Daily, please click here.

From my notebook:

• A Lyft driver was shot at last week while picking up a fare in Forest Park, the Review reports. (Review)
• The Village of Oak Park is participating in “No Mow May” to raise awareness for the sustainable practice of allowing grass to grow to provide food for bees and insects. (VOP)
• Beverly Bank & Trust is suing the Lake & Lathrop developer due to violations of “several provisions in its loan agreement,” according to real estate site The Real Deal. (TRD)
• A new substance abuse treatment center is now open in Austin. (Block Club)
• The HEPH Foundation is looking to raise $3 million to provide STEM programs to local schools. (Wednesday Journal)
• River Forest residents must sign up by May 31 to participate in this fall’s electronic waste recycling event. (VRF)

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Featured events:

• Free Comic Book Day 2023 (May 6)
• "Music to Dine By" with Doug Lalli at Tre Sorelle by Mancini (May 6)
• BOUNDLESS with Chicago Sinfonietta orchestra (May 8)
• 2023 Summer Wonders in Elmhurst (June 5)
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That's all for today! See you tomorrow for more local stories.

— Georgi Presecky

About me: Georgi is a Chicago-based newsletter writer and partner content curator. She spent five years on the entertainment beat for FF2 Media covering film festivals across the U.S. Her feature articles have been recognized with awards from the Illinois Women's Press Association and National Federation of Press Women. As editor-in-chief of the Lewis University newspaper, she and her staff earned honors from the Associated Collegiate Press and American Scholastic Press Associations. She began working for Patch in 2019.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Oak Park-River Forest Patch newsletter? Contact me at georgi.presecky@patch.com.