I was born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. I attained both my bachelor and master degrees in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During my time in local news, I have learned invaluable lessons in journalism, as I teared up while covering the funeral of a beloved couple and chased a renegade miniature pony through a subdivision. I have seen firsthand what responsible, inspiring hyper-local journalism can do for a community.
I started with Patch in 2010, as a Local Editor covering the south suburbs. In 2017, I moved into the national role of Deputy Managing Editor and now Director of Editorial Recruitment and Training, in which I handle the recruiting, hiring, and training of journalists on our team, in addition to other editorial projects. I'm thrilled to contribute in such a way to a news organization I've grown to love so deeply over the past 12 years.
Questions? Concerns? Comments? You have my full attention at lauren.traut@patch.com, or 708-323-6173.
Darren Walton made more than 100 calls to FEMA in 2023. He threatened a mass shooting, and that he'd kill police if they intervened.
Offenders will be stopped and ticketed, especially on Flossmoor Road, Western Avenue and Vollmer Road, among others.
The ceremony is set for Monday, July 14 at 10 a.m. The public is invited to attend.
Management is hiring for all positions ahead of the store's opening, though an exact opening date is not yet set.
Police will enforce posted speed limits throughout the city, also focusing on the roads with the highest number of speed violations.
The incident happened July 9, according to police reports. The woman told police she didn't know what had caused the outburst.
Kailyn Schuster is making a name for herself with her KeKe's Donuts. She celebrates her start with the Young Entrepreneur Market.
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Slick City will open in the space formerly known as Gizmo's Fun Factory, both companies have confirmed.
The market features 30 vendors and makes its debut Saturday, July 12.
The man was involved in a three-vehicle crash on 159th Street near Park Center Drive in Tinley Park Wednesday afternoon.
The event now in its 22nd year is set for Aug. 1–3 at the Village Center. Food, live music, and fun planned for attendees.
The crash happened at 159th Street and Park Center Drive, near Home Depot in Tinley Park.
Tickets for select shows are $30 for Tinley Park residents. Limit of four per person.
Application period is open now. Deadline to apply is July 15.
The organization's biggest fundraiser is set for Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12. It's moved from Front Street, to Yunker Park.
The woman tried to flush the items as police closed in on her, according to reports.
The man, 51, reportedly fled the scene after hitting the cars, according to police.
The Park Forest men were stopped going 20 mph over the speed limit in Manhattan, according to police reports.
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