🌱 Shooting Suspects Released + Village Manager Search + Flu Shot

Hello, Oak Park and River Forest readers! Let's start this Thursday with the latest headlines.

First, today's weather: Some rain and a thunderstorm. High: 72, low: 66.

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

1. Only 42 percent of Concordia University students are vaccinated, according to the Wednesday Journal. The River Forest school did not require vaccinations for its students, and its vaccine rate is drastically lagging behind other area school districts. (Wednesday Journal)

2. An Oct. 1 shooting in Austin is at the center of a public battle between Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. The controversy surrounds the release of five suspects who were arrested in connection with the Friday gunfight, including a man who was apprehended after crashing his car in Oak Park. (Paid source: Sun-Times)

3. Heather Mack will return to the U.S. Oct. 29 after serving seven years in a Bali prison for murdering her mother and stuffing her body in a suitcase. The Oak Park woman was 18 years old when she was arrested for the crime in 2014. (AP)

4. Oak Park is seeking resident input on its search to replace former Village Manager Cara Pavlicek. An in-person forum will be held Oct. 9 at the Oak Park Public Library, with a virtual option on Oct. 12. (Wednesday Journal)

5. The CDC and Oak Park officials are reminding residents to get the flu shot this fall. The flu vaccine is available at several pharmacies and grocery stores in Oak Park; it is recommended for everyone over the age of six months old. (VOP)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Immersive fort-building exhibit BoxWorks takes over Wonder Works Children’s Museum. (10 a.m.)
• Combat Flip Flops CEO Matthew “Griff” Griffin speaks at Triton College. (11 a.m.)
• Oaktoberfest Afternoon Activities at Trailside Museum. (3 p.m.)
• Long-awaited James Bond film “No Time To Die” opens at Lake Theatre. (4 p.m.)
• Marketing agency D.M. Burton opens with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. (4:30 p.m.)

Oak Park-River Forest Patch Notebook

• Take part in the River Forest Tree Trails activity for a chance to win three months of free curbside composting service. (VRF)
• Local middle school students are helping lead community discussions about John Lewis’ graphic novel trilogy this fall. (OPPL)
• Oak Park River Forest High School is continuing its dialogue with students on observing certain religious holidays. (OPRFHS)
• Studio of Art is seeking qualified instructors. (Studio)
• River Forest officials are asking residents to “be considerate” of families who choose not to participate in trick-or-treating this Halloween due to the risks posed by COVID-19. (VRF)

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Announcements:

• 1st Unit Closes, New Photography for The Cheshire in Oak Park (Details)
• Studio of Art is now teaching classes! (Details)
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That's the news for this Thursday! See you tomorrow for the next edition of the Daily.

— Georgi Presecky

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