Police Committee Investigates Complaints + Juneteenth Plans

Hello Oak Park and River Forest readers, and welcome back to the Patch Daily.

In today’s Daily, learn about the Village’s intentions for its American Rescue Plan funds, Oak Park’s role in the state’s clean energy overhaul and the latest police oversight report.

First, today’s weather: Rain overnight, with temps reaching 89 with a low of 73.

Here are the top five stories today in Oak Park:

1. Oak Park has begun the process of allocating its American Rescue Plan funds, Village President Vicki Scaman told Wednesday Journal. The village will receive a total of $38.9 million from the historic stimulus bill signed by President Joe Biden in March. Funds will go toward addressing revenue lost due to the pandemic, along with public health costs. (Wednesday Journal)

2. The Oak Park citizen police oversight committee presented its latest report to the Village Board last week. The committee investigated 10 complaints against Oak Park police between September 2020 and April 2021; three were “unanimously upheld.” (Oak Leaves)

3. The Illinois State Senate adjourned Tuesday without reaching an agreement on a proposed energy deal. Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park said he is confident a bill will pass this summer, but “there are still some points of contention between labor and the environmental activists.” (Capitol News Illinois)

4. The U.S. Senate passed a bill this week to make Juneteenth a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. Oak Park made it an official holiday last year, and village buildings and library branches are closed June 19 in celebration of the historic date. (More in tomorrow's Daily on how the village plans to celebrate.) (Chicago Tribune)

5. The City of Chicago has unveiled plans to completely remodel the State and Lake CTA station. The project to renovate the 100-year-old “L” stop will take about three years and cost $180 million dollars. (NBC5)

Today in Oak Park:

• Toomey & Co. auctions American & European Art Pottery. (10 a.m.)
• Downtown Oak Park’s dine-around series Thursday Night Out is back. (5 p.m.)
• Variety band Hitched will perform at a free concert in River Forest’s Keystone Park. (6 p.m.)
• Maya del Sol celebrates “Margarita Mania” with tastings and samples at the Cheney Mansion Greenhouse. (7 p.m.)
• River Forest Public Library hosts a virtual tour of “Chicago’s Newest Murals.” (7 p.m.)
• The Historic Preservation Commission of River Forest meets. (7 p.m.)
• Have a laugh with Oak Park Brewing Company’s weekly comedy club. (8 p.m.)

Oak Park Patch Notebook

• The Oak Park Conservatory has kicked off its summer programming. (Wednesday Journal)
• Members of the Chicago District Golf Association face a squad of Illinois PGA professionals in the 59th Radix Cup today at Oak Park Country Club. (CDGA)
• The Forest Park Police Department participated in a fundraising run for Special Olympics.(Forest Park Review)
• Tomorrow is the deadline for local students to apply for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s summer program. (CMAP)
• Activist Maria Shriver is remembering her father, Sargent Shriver, by shining a light on Alzheimer’s research during Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. He founded Chicago's Shriver Center on Poverty Law, which has ties to Oak Park. (Today)

You’re all caught up on the latest news in Oak Park and River Forest! See you back in your inbox tomorrow.

Onward,
Georgi

About me: I am a lifelong Illinois resident with a passion for White Sox baseball, classic literature and local news. Email me at georgi.presecky@patch.com to say hello.