🌱 New Aquatic Center For Forest Park + Oak Park COVID Cases Tick Up

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest! Let's get to your weekend edition of the Daily.

First, today's weather: Clouds yielding to sun. High: 45 Low: 34.

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

1. A 27-year-old man died Wednesday after being found unconscious at the Forest Park Blue Line station, the Review reports. A cause of death has not been released. (Forest Park Review)

2. Oak Park cases of COVID-19 are up more than 60 percent from last week’s numbers. According to the health department, 92 people tested positive for the virus in the first week of April - not including people who took at-home tests. (VOP)

3. Illinois Democrats announced a $45 billion spending plan from Springfield this week. Gov. J.B. Pritzker called the budget a “genuine compromise” and Senator Don Harmon of Oak Park said “we’re working together and working very well.” (Paid source: Tribune)

4. More than 180 Oak Park residents have submitted questions and comments to the community safety assessment portal. Consulting firm BerryDunn is expected to issue its final report on the Oak Park Police Department in August. (Wednesday Journal)

5. The Park District of Forest Park will open its new aquatic center on May 28. Season passes are on sale now and will cost $88 for Forest Park residents and $149 for nonresidents. (Forest Park Review)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• “Find the frogs” hidden in the gardens around Trailside Museum. (9 a.m.)
• Check out River Forest’s bike exchange at Roosevelt Middle School. (10 a.m.)
• Learn about basket weaving at Dole Center. (10 a.m.)
• Stop by Unity Temple’s Vintage Home Show. (1 p.m.)
• Join the flashlight egg hunt at Barrie Center. (8:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Fenwick High School softball pitcher Talia Lorenzo has thrown two no-hitters so far this season. (Wednesday Journal)
• Oak Park Art League will host a free butterfly craft for families tomorrow. (OPAL)
• This weekend is your last chance to try the “Taste of New Orleans” menu at Two Sisters Catering and Restaurant for Chicago Restaurant Week. (Two Sisters)
• River Forest trustees will discuss the budget at Monday’s board meeting. (VRF)
• Concordia’s Chamber Orchestra performs a home concert tomorrow on campus. (Concordia)

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That's all for this weekend! See you Tuesday for a new week of Daily digests.

— 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.