🌱 COVID Crisis In Schools + Local Author's Novel Optioned For TV

Good morning! Thanks for starting your day with the Oak Park-River Forest Daily.

First, today's weather: Mostly cloudy. High: 36 Low: 29.

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Here are the top 5 stories today in Oak Park-River Forest:

1. More than 50 employees were absent from Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 last week. Half of the absences were confirmed to be COVID-related, while the rest were not disclosed. Wednesday Journal reports “the challenges to stay open for in-person learning continue” in all village school districts. (Wednesday Journal)

2. The Village of Oak Park will host a virtual public forum with the final candidates for Village Manager on Jan. 25. Residents can submit questions to oakpark@govhrusa.com by Friday at 5 p.m. (VOP)

3. An Oak Park resident was assaulted by a group of juveniles on Jan. 8, according to the latest police department crime report. Three juveniles knocked the person to the ground in the 600 block of North Clarence. One was arrested and the other two were released without charges. (OPPD)

4. Oak Park native Jessamine Chan is making headlines for her new novel “The School for Good Mothers.” It was selected as Jenna Bush Hager’s book club pick for January, and Jessica Chastain’s production company has optioned the television rights. (Publishers Weekly)

5. Registration is now open for Dominican University’s upcoming white accountability groups. Small groups will meet for eight weeks beginning Jan. 31 to “explore how to recognize whiteness and white privilege and identify and interrupt our internalized dominance.” (VRF)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Students grades 5-8 can make infographics with a virtual TechGirlz Workshop. (5:30 p.m.)
• The Chris Greene Quartet performs at FitzGeralds. (7 p.m.)
• Trivia Night at Oak Park Brewing Company. (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Children’s Services Manager Amy Grossman is leaving River Forest Public Library after seven years in the children’s department. (RFPL)
• Beyond Hunger is seeking a Volunteer Inclusion Specialist to support the organization’s racial equity work. (Beyond Hunger)
• Oak Park native Kathy Griffin paid tribute to co-star and fellow comic actress Betty White this week on her YouTube channel. (Wednesday Journal)

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That's all for Wednesday! See you tomorrow for more local news.

— Georgi Presecky