🌱 School Mask Rules Create Confusion + Museum Seeks Volunteers

Good morning, OPRF! Let's get to the news for Tuesday.

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First, today's weather: Not as cold. High: 37, low: 33.

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

1. Chicago is expanding its carjacking task force to include authorities from Oak Park and other suburbs, including Maywood and Cicero. The "highly collaborative, data-informed task force" announced a new overnight shift specifically to prevent carjackings and make car-related arrests. (CBS)

2. Masks are still required in Chicago Public Schools this week after a judge ruled Gov. J.B. Pritzker “abused his authority” in imposing a statewide school mandate. The temporary order is creating confusion across Chicagoland about masks in the classroom, and Attorney General Kwame Raoul is taking steps to stop it. (WBEZ)

3. Oak Park Catholics are sharing positive reactions to the Archdiocese plan to consolidate four parishes into two beginning July 1. Many parishioners tell Pioneer Press it’s a good move and an opportunity to come together, as in-person mass attendance is down more than 50 percent during the pandemic. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

4. Hometown speed skater Emery Lehman took to the ice early this morning in the men’s 1,500-meter event at the Beijing Olympics. A replay of the race can be streamed on Peacock. (NBC)

5. Oak Park mortgage consultant and former Major League Baseball player Jody Gerut is weighing in on the current conflict between MLB players and owners. Gerut said “the owners want to destroy free agency” and a delay of spring training is likely. (The Nation)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• River Forest Public Library hosts virtual baby time. (10 a.m.)
• Surf’s Up is participating in Chicago Black Restaurant Week. (11 a.m.)
• Take a virtual chair yoga class with Oak Park Public Library. (12:30 p.m.)
• Global Peel chef Tara Humphrey teaches food through art and culture at Cheney Mansion. (4:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• A job fair will be held Feb. 12 at the Oak Park Conservatory. (Park District)
• The OPRF Chamber of Commerce is launching a new Black, Indigenous, People of Color affinity group. (Chamber)
• Some appointments remain open for the Feb. 22 blood drive at Oak Park Temple. (Red Cross)
• The OPRF Museum is seeking volunteers to make Valentine’s Day craft window decorations. (OPRF Museum)
• St. Giles Parish is observing the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking. (St. Giles)

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• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (February 8)
• Social Security Seminar (February 10)
• Celebrate Valentine's with Baked Goods from Publican Quality Meats! Available 2/13, order by 2/10 (February 10)
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• Chicago Artisan Market (Love & Local) in Ravenswood — Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 12-13 (February 12)
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That's all for today! See you tomorrow for more local stories.

— 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.