Village Could Impose Vaccine Mandate + Dominican Makes Top 10

Morning, neighbors! Here are the most important things happening today in Oak Park and River Forest.

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First, today's weather: Clear throughout the day. High: 81, low: 63.

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

1. Oak Park is in talks to impose a mandate requiring village staff to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Interim Village Manager Lisa Shelley said “we are working our way through the discussions with some of our labor unions.” EMTs, firefighters and health department employees are already required to get vaccinated under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s August order. (Wednesday Journal)

2. Dominican University was named the #1 Best Value college in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report this week. The River Forest Catholic school was also ranked #10 in the Midwest in the 2022 Best Colleges Publication. (Patch)

3. The Cook County Department of Public Health said this week that 93 percent of COVID-19 cases are among unvaccinated residents. Since Jan. 24, unvaccinated people accounted for 63,000 cases of the virus, compared to 4,672 breakthrough cases. (CCDPH)

4. The GAP Community Center is upping its efforts to encourage vaccination among Austin residents. A new outreach program is funded by the Chicagoland Vaccine Partnership and Health First Collaborative to promote the importance of vaccination in communities of color. (Block Club Chicago)

5. More than 10 local restaurants were featured at Barrie Fest in Barrie Park last weekend, which marked Takeout 25’s official launch as an Oak Park nonprofit. The OPRF chapter of Clean Up Give Back and the South East Oak Park Community Organization helped make the Sept. 11 event a success, with “a much higher turnout than expected.” (Wednesday Journal)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Already generating awards buzz for Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” opens at Lake Theatre tonight. (6 p.m.)
• Best-selling author Rev. James Martin virtually discusses his new book with Dominican University’s Siena Center. (7 p.m.)
• Watch “A Dog’s Way Home” in Scoville Park. (8 p.m.)

Oak Park-River Forest Patch Notebook

• Gov. J.B. Pritzker officially signed the Illinois energy package Wednesday, a bill signing Oak Park Senator Don Harmon said was “two years in the making.” (Paid source: Sun-Times)
• Elmwood Park police are investigating a carjacking in a driveway on the 1700 block of North 79th Avenue. (Paid source: Chicago Tribune)
• River Forest’s free leaf pick-up program begins today and runs through Dec. 3. (VRF)
• The Oak Park Public Library is offering resources and book suggestions in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. (OPPL)
• Oak Park historian and photographer Philander Barclay was born on this day in 1878. (OPRF Museum)

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You're all caught up on this Thursday, OPRF. See you tomorrow for the Sept. 17 edition of the Daily.

— Georgi Presecky

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