🌱 New Emergency Shelter Opens + River Forest Murals Restored

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest! In today's Daily, find out about:

• Why the Maywood courthouse closed Thursday
• Changes to the Cook County homicide rate in 2022
• A new due date for property tax payments

But first, today's weather: Mostly cloudy. High: 35 Low: 24.

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

1. The Maywood Courthouse is expected to reopen today after a water main break caused it to close Thursday morning. In-person proceedings will be rescheduled. (Paid source: Tribune)

2. A new shelter is now open inside the former rectory at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church, the Oak Leaves reports. With the help of Housing Forward, the 15-bed shelter will be open every night through April 30. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

3. The homicide rate dropped 15 percent in Cook County last year, according to new data released this week by the medical examiner’s office. Eight people were killed in Maywood in 2022, the fifth-highest number in the county after Chicago, Harvey, Dolton and Riverdale. (Patch)

4. Restoration is now complete for a series of murals on Central Avenue, the Wednesday Journal reports. Firefighter Paul Zipperich and artist Julie Zipperich restored the 14 murals, featuring prominent residents of River Forest, including Trailside Museum curator Virginia Moe and broadcaster Paul Harvey. (Wednesday Journal)

5. The Village of Oak Park is making plans to redesign its website, according to an official social media post. The village is asking residents to take an online survey and provide feedback on how to make its site more user friendly. (VOP)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Dole Center hosts robotics classes for kids. (9 a.m. and 1 p.m.)
• River Forest Public Library hosts a movie screening for middle schoolers. (3:30 p.m.)
• Create a winter landscape at Dole Center. (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Today marks two years since a mob of Donald Trump supporters rioted at the U.S. Capitol. More than 30 people from Illinois have been arrested in connection with the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP)
• The next property tax due date has been bumped to April 3 in Cook County. (Patch)
• The Village of River Forest announced updates to its building codes. (VRF)
• Registration is open for youth softball and baseball this spring in Oak Park. (Wednesday Journal)
• The Cook County Sheriff’s Office is recognizing Human Trafficking Awareness Month with a social media campaign. (CCSO)

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Featured businesses:

• Laura Ruiz, REALTOR® at REALTY OF CHICAGO — (Visit website)
• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In the Village — (Visit Website)
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Events:

• The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association presents: Our Great Lakes and Clean Water (January 9)
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That's all for today! See you tomorrow for more local stories.

— Georgi