Lorraine Swanson is one of the original Patch editors, and the original editor of Oak Lawn Patch. In addition to Oak Lawn, Swanson is the editor of Palos, Evergreen Park, Alsip-Crestwood and Beverly-Mt. Greenwood Patch sites.
Before coming to Patch in 2010, Swanson was a community journalist covering local crime, politics and heartwarming features on Chicago’s Far North Side. She also had her own local news site, Lake Effect News, which was rated one of the top 25 blogs in Illinois.
Lately, she enjoys watching videos of tornados and baby eagles being hatched on Facebook. She can be reached at lorraine.swanson@patch.com.
An employee accused of killing a Crestwood trucking company owner had made past threats to “kill him with a knife,” prosecutors said.
Photo highlights of the 2025 South Side Irish Parade.
Mark Kelly is running with the 230 United party for the Consolidated High School Dist. 230 Board of Education in the April 1 election.
Nadine Scodro is running with the 230 United party for the CHSD 230 Board of Education in the April 1 election.
Challenger AJ Pasek is challenging long-time incumbent Gerald Bennett for mayor of Palos Hills in the upcoming April 1 election
A man who fled to Michigan after fatally stabbing the owner of ATG Truckload in Crestwood has been extradited and charged, police said.
Do you feel lucky? Patch has rounded up the week's Queen of Hearts raffles happening around the Southland. You can't win if you don't play.
See which streets to avoid and when to avoid them on Parade Day.
Early voting will take place from March 17 to March 31 in suburban Cook County for the upcoming Illinois Consolidated Election on April 1.
Early voting will take place from March 17 to March 31 in suburban Cook County for the upcoming Illinois Consolidated Election on April 1.
Early voting will take place from March 17 to March 31 in suburban Cook County for the upcoming Illinois Consolidated Election on April 1.
Early voting will take place from March 17 to March 31 in suburban Cook County for the upcoming Illinois Consolidated Election on April 1.
Incumbent Mark Brachmann is running for 2nd Ward alderman in the City of Palos Hills in the April 1 election.
Chris Kasmer is running with the 230 United party for his first full term on the CHSD 230 Board of Education in the April 1 election.
Susan Dalton is running with the 230 United party for her fourth term on the CHSD 230 Board of Education in the April 1 election.
Anas Khraiwish is running as a write-in candidate for the Oak Lawn Community High School Dist. 229 school board in the April 1 election.
Kelly Burke is running with the Good Government/United Homeowners party for her 2nd term as mayor of Evergreen Park in the April 1 election.
Bob Straz is running for his seventh term as mayor of Palos Heights in the April 1 election. Early voting starts on St. Patrick's Day.
Challenger William E. Lorenz is running with the EP Community Party for mayor of Evergreen Park in the April 1 election.
Challenger Terri Daley is running for the office of trustee on Evergreen Park Village Board in the upcoming April 1 election.
