Triton Staff Speaks Out + Masks Required Statewide

First, today's weather: Humid and partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 91, low: 75.

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

1. Masks are now required at all Illinois schools for students K-12, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday, along with a general statewide indoor mask mandate. Children between 10 and 19 years old made up 23 percent of COVID-19 cases in Illinois last month. (Chalkbeat)

2. Vaccines are now mandatory for all healthcare workers, teachers and college students in Illinois, the governor announced Wednesday. Those who do not get vaccinated will be required to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. The news comes after two Oak Park and River Forest school districts announced they were considering mandatory vaccinations for staff. (Patch)

3. An Oak Park woman in her 60s died of COVID-19 complications this week, the health department reported. Since the pandemic began, 53 Oak Park residents have died after contracting the coronavirus. (VOP)

4. Faculty and staff at Triton College spoke out this week about diversity and inclusion at the community college, after comments made by Trustee Mark Stephens were deemed harmful and insensitive to the school’s equity efforts. (Paid source: Elm Leaves)

5. The Village of Oak Park has officially chosen recruitment firm GovHR to manage the process of hiring a new village manager. (Wednesday Journal)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest

• Talk a 90-minute walking tour of young Hemingway’s Oak Park with “In Ernie’s Footsteps.” (10 a.m.)
  
• Learn about genealogical research with Oak Park Public Library. (2 p.m.)
• Rick King performs at Anfora Wine Merchants. (5 p.m.)
• “Taste of Uncorked” at the Oak Park Conservatory. (6 p.m.)
• “Candyman” opens at Lake Theatre. (7 p.m.)
• A Jazz Supper Club is planned at Eastgate. (7 p.m.)
• The Dennis O’Brien Band performs at the St. Giles Parish courtyard. (7:30 p.m.)
• NadNavillus performs at Compound Yellow. (7:30 p.m.)
• The Oak Park River Forest High School Huskies football team takes on Warrenville South. (7:30 p.m.)
• Watch “Luca” at Unity of Oak Park Church’s movie night. (7:30 p.m.)

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That's all for this busy Friday in Oak Park and River Forest! If you're new here, I hope you're enjoying Patch's Daily Digest. You can email me any time at georgi.presecky@patch.com with news, events or thoughts on the Daily. And if you'd like to share the newsletter with friends, send them this link to subscribe.

Stay safe this weekend,

Georgi