🌱 Elmwood Park Student Arrested + More Steering Wheel Locks Available

Hello, Oak Park and River Forest! In today's Daily:

• Elmwood Park High School returns to in-person learning after last week's threat.
• Oak Park officials consider reducing parking permit fees.
• Alley improvement projects resume in River Forest.

But first, today's weather: Mostly sunny and chilly. High: 37 Low: 24.

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Here are the 4 top stories in Oak Park-River Forest today:

1. An Elmwood Park High School student was arrested last week for possession of a gun, River Grove Police Chief Michael Konwinkski told Elm Leaves. School is back in session this week after classes were held remotely Friday due to an alleged internet threat. The paper reports it “remained unclear” if the threat “was related to the one involving the gun incident.” Students had planned a walkout Friday morning over safety concerns. (Paid source: Elm Leaves)

2. Oak Park officials are considering a reduced parking permit fee as part of what the Wednesday Journal calls “efforts to boost the affordability of the village.” (Wednesday Journal)

3. River Forest residents can now register for steering wheel locks as the number of vehicle thefts rise across the region. A limited supply of free locks is available for owners of Hyundai or Kia cars built between 2010 and 2021. (VRF)

4. OPALGA+ and PFLAG are hosting a “Beyond the Binary” workshop today to help attendees better understand gender identity and “best practices for creating affirming spaces for trans and gender non-conforming individuals.” The event is being held at Brewpoint Craft. (Library)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Labor activist Dolores Huerta speaks at Dominican University. (2:30 p.m.)
• Dole Center offers a magic class. (5 p.m.)
• Oak Park Public Library hosts a Latinx Author Book Cafe. (6 p.m.)
• Oak Park author Harriette Gillem Robinet is honored by the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame at Dominican University. (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Three cars and a catalytic converter were stolen in Oak Park over the weekend. The police department posts daily crime summary reports online. (OPPD)
• Brandon Johnson, who represents Oak Park and Forest Park as a Cook County Commissioner, received additional endorsements Monday in the Chicago mayoral race. (NBC)
• Alley construction resumes in River Forest this week. (VRF)
• District 90 school board candidates spoke at a virtual forum last week. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

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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.