🌱 Most COVID-19 Cases Since 2020 + Rush Oak Park Investigation

Happy Friday! It's another busy day in Oak Park and River Forest.

First, today's weather: Periods of sun. High: 49 Low: 32.

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

1. The GoFundMe page for Polished Nail Salon and Day Spa has surpassed its fundraising goal of $12,000 for employees who were left jobless when the business was destroyed by a fire last week. Owner Nina McCaffrey hopes to reopen in a new location by February. (CBS)

2. Rush University System for Health is conducting an internal investigation into a report of financial misappropriation by a former executive at Rush Oak Park Hospital. CEO Dr. Dino Rumoro reportedly discovered the issue upon assuming his position in July. (Wednesday Journal)

3. Illinois set a record Thursday for the most COVID-19 tests conducted in a single day: 231,876. More than 11,500 new cases were confirmed Thursday by the Illinois Department of Public Health, the most of any single day since December 2020. (Shaw Media)

4. Cook County has topped 1,000 homicides in 2021, a number not seen in the region since 1994. The County Medical Examiner's Office reported 986 murders in 2020 and 675 in 2019. (Patch)

5. Oak Parker Karen Bronson is a cast member in “Home for the Holidays, A Christmas Cabaret.” The production takes the stage today through Dec. 19 at Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

Today's Oak Park-River Forest Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Oak Park-River Forest!

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Animal Care League's 36th Annual Holiday Bazaar begins and runs through Sunday. (3 p.m.)
• Learn about the European Christmas tradition of Krampus at Dole Center. (6 p.m.)
• Fenwick and Oak Park River Forest High School basketball teams play each other in the Chicago Elite Classic at UIC. (6 p.m.)
• Holiday Jazz Night at Eastgate Cafe. (6:30 p.m.)
• Candlelight Walk at the Oak Park Conservatory. (7 p.m.)

Oak Park-River Forest Patch Notebook

• Oak Park Library's Main and Dole branches will open at 2 p.m. today. (OPPL)
• River Forest will continue its waste hauling contract with Lakeshore Recycling Systems. (Wednesday Journal)
• Joe’s Saloon in Brookfield is hosting an “It’s A Wonderful Life” themed pop-up bar this weekend to raise funds for BEDS Plus Care. (Shaw Media)
• Chicago a cappella will perform a holiday concert at Pilgrim Congregational Church Dec. 12. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)
• Trinity High School and Fenwick High School will host their freshman entrance exams tomorrow. (THS/FHS)
• It’s the final day to order a Luminaria kit from Ascension Oak Park to “Light Up Oak Park” Dec. 18. (Ascension)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Emergency Family Food Assistance — Christmas FOOD DRIVE (December 3)
• Free Biz Owners/StartUps/SideGigs — Automate Website to Increase Profits Live Q&A Friday 1 pm (December 3)
• Obstacles and Intimacies: new art from Stephanie Brooks (December 3)
• WALK-IN HIRING EVENT: UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial (December 4)
• Chicago Artisan Market (Holiday Edition) in Fulton Market — Sunday, Dec. 12 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (December 12)
• Taxes In Retirement Webinar (December 14)
• Add your event

Free stuff:

• Best Learning App for Kids (Details)
• Add your free stuff

That's all for today, OPRF! See you tomorrow with more news. Have a safe and healthy weekend.

— Georgi Presecky

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