🌱 Rush To Develop Outpatient Center At Former Sears Site + Car Thefts

Hello! In today's Oak Park and River Forest news:

• Illinois approaches a grim COVID-19 milestone.
• Early voting is now available at Oak Park Village Hall.
• A group of teachers is suing the Proviso Township High School district.

But first, today's weather: Breezy in the afternoon. High: 53 Low: 39.

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

1. Four Kia and two Hyundai model cars were stolen from Oak Park streets over the weekend. Police also recovered seven cars that had previously been reported stolen. (OPPD)

2. More than three years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the death toll in Illinois is approaching 37,000. More than 4 million people in the state have tested positive since March 2020. “This past winter shows we may be getting to a point where we can make it through a year without crushing the health care system,” Illinois Department of Public Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Arti Barnes told the Sun-Times. “That’s one of the first optimistic signs that we’re reaching a point where we’re starting to heal.” (WBEZ)

3. Rush University System for Health announced plans to develop a new outpatient center on the border of Oak Park and Elmwood Park. The $70 million project is expected to replace the former Sears department building at North and Harlem avenues. Construction could begin as soon as this fall if approved by state officials, with a targeted opening for the facility in early 2025. “This is about reinvesting in this community and bringing state-of-the-art care,” Rush Oak Park CEO Dr. Dino Rumoro said. (Paid source: Tribune)

4. Wednesday Journal’s Election Guide is now online, featuring information about candidates running for local village boards and school boards. Election Day is April 4 and early voting is available at Oak Park Village Hall. (Wednesday Journal)

5. The Oak Park Public Library is featuring an interactive exhibit "Echoes: The Stories of Male Survivors Overcoming Sexual Trauma" through April 15 in its main gallery. An event featuring the artist Robert Marshall and the Survivors Circle will be held this weekend. (Library)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Soup & Bread Forest Park raises funds for Beyond Hunger at Exit Strategy Brewing. (6 p.m.)
• Folk musicians Ruth and Max Bloomquist perform at Oak Park Public Library. (7 p.m.)
• A wind symphonic band concert is held at OPRF High School. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Four teachers are suing Proviso Township High School District 209, claiming their First Amendment rights were violated. (Review)
• A $31 billion railroad merger is expected to cause more freight traffic to run through the Chicago area, the Tribune reports. (Paid source: Tribune)
• Brookfield Zoo announced plans to expand its living spaces for apes and monkeys. (CBS)
• River Forest is seeking applicants for its Sustainability Commission. (VRF)
• Submissions for the Hemingway Shorts literary journal are due April 15. (Hemingway Foundation)

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Thanks for following along! We'll be back tomorrow with another update.

— 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.