🌱 Building Explosion + Former NU Athlete Files Lawsuit For Hazing

Hey, friends. It's Friday in Oak Park-River Forest and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on the most important things happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Hot; a strong p.m. t-storm. High: 99 Low: 70.

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

1. A suspected natural gas explosion occurred in an Oak Park residential building on Wednesday, resulting in one person being injured. The building, located on the 200 block of South Maple Street, suffered collapsed sections of the wall due to the explosion. All 12 residents of the six-unit building have been displaced, and the cause of the explosion is currently under investigation by the state fire marshal. (WLS-TV)
2. Jhavell G. Moore, a 37-year-old man from nearby Maywood, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Decarlos C. Armstrong, a 43-year-old man from Chicago. The incident occurred over the weekend in Maywood, and police responded to a call of a person shot at 17th Avenue and Maywood Drive, where they found Armstrong with a gunshot wound. Moore was apprehended after a short foot pursuit, and two guns were recovered. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the police. (Oak Park-River Forest Patch)
3. Lloyd Yates, a former Northwestern University football player and former Oak Park and River Forest High School quarterback, has filed a lawsuit against the nearby university in Evanston, alleging that he and others were victims of sexualized and degrading hazing by teammates. The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $50,000 and aims to hold Northwestern accountable for failing to protect students from the pervasive hazing culture within the football program. Yates, who graduated in 2015 and now lives in Miami, hopes to bring justice to the victims, protect future athletes, and raise awareness about the traumatic experiences he and others endured during their time at the university. (Wednesday Journal)

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Today in and around Oak Park-River Forest:

Friday, July 28

• Take 'N' Makes At River Forest Public Library (All Day)
• Windy City Grateful Bear Festival At The Cubby Bear, Chicago (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• NorthShore University HealthSystem is teaming up with local institutions to distribute free gun locks at pediatric units, aiming to promote safe gun storage. With guns being a leading cause of death for children and millions of children living in homes with accessible firearms, this program not only educates families on gun safety but also provides them with the necessary gun locks to keep children safe. (Cook County Sheriff's Office (Official) via Facebook)
• The Village of Oak Park is encouraging residents who notice fallen branches due to severe storms to contact Public Works at (708) 358-5700 or PublicWorks@oak-park.us. (Village of Oak Park, Illinois via Facebook)
• Kama Bistro, an Indian restaurant known for its exceptional food in suburban LaGrange, is opening its second location nearby in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood at 1560 N. Milwaukee Ave. The new restaurant will feature a smaller menu due to its tinier kitchen and will offer a full bar with creative cocktails incorporating ingredients like mango chutney and berry chutney. (Eater Chicago)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.