🌱 Expressway Shooter Arrested + Car Windows Smashed

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest. In today's newsletter:

• Chicago police are investigating after an Austin teen was sexually abused
• Forest Park makes infrastructure improvement plans
• Black History Month events continue

But first, today's weather: Sunshine mixing with clouds. High: 48 Low: 39.

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

1. A driver was arrested Sunday night after their vehicle crashed on the Eisenhower Expressway in Oak Park, WGN reports. Illinois State Police believe the person was involved in two expressway shootings earlier in the day. (WGN)

2. Chicago police issued a warning to Austin residents after a 13-year-old girl was sexually abused Friday in the 1100 block of South Menard Avenue. She was walking at 5:15 p.m. when an offender in a black mask approached and abused her, according to a CBS Chicago report. (CBS)

3. Several car owners reported vehicle damage to Oak Park police over the weekend, according to the department’s daily summary reports. Would-be burglars broke windows on four parked cars in separate incidents. Another car owner reported a smashed sunroof. No items were reported missing from the vehicles. (OPPD)

4. The Village of Forest Park plans to invest more than $6 million in upcoming infrastructure improvements, the Review reports. Projects include replacing lead service lines, resurfacing roads, painting water towers, installing bicycle parking at CTA stations and constructing the new Van Buren Multi-Use Path. (Review)

5. Triton College will conclude its Black History Month programming this morning with a “Black Leaders of Today” Symposium at the library. It is also the final day to visit the college’s Black history Story Walk. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Customers who mention St. Catherine-St. Lucy and St. Giles at Lou Malnati's Oak Park today can help raise funds for the Appalachia Service Project. (11 a.m.)
• Check out the Animal Olympics Trail at Miller Meadow South. (3 p.m.)
• The Oak Park Public Library continues its “Law at the Library” series with a session on buying and selling homes. (6 p.m.)
• OPALGA+ resumes its monthly restaurant outings, beginning at Victory Italian. (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• A driver was arrested Saturday after crashing into a building on Cicero Avenue in Austin. (FOX)
• In a recent village social media post, Oak Park’s Chief DEI Officer Dr. Danielle Walker “shares her thoughts on Black resistance and the importance of both celebrating and learning from history.” (VOP)
• Candidates running for local office in Forest Park will meet at an in-person forum tonight. (Review)
• Cannabis retailer MadMen Enterprises is considering selling its Oak Park dispensary. (Paid source: Sun-Times)
• The Village of River Forest issued a survey about local traffic patterns as part of a village-wide study. (VRF)
• Oak Park Temple held a celebration of women’s reproductive rights earlier this month. (Wednesday Journal)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Laura Ruiz, REALTOR® at REALTY OF CHICAGO — (Visit website)
• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In The Village — (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

Featured events:

• Black Opry Revue (March 4)
• Add your event

That's all for this last day of February. We'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with more local news.

— 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.