Oak Park-River Forest Patch

09/04/2024

A witness tells Patch what it was like inside the 7-Eleven store during a brazen takeover robbery.

09/04/2024

A robbery crew suspected of numerous crimes and robberies in the southwest Chicago area and northwest Indiana, are believed to be responsible for a takeover armed robbery at a 7-Eleven store.

Five men burst into an Oak Lawn 7-Eleven store Friday, ordering customers and employees to the floor and stealing their cash, OLPD said.

09/03/2024

So far in 2024, Lake Michigan has claimed more than 40 lives, including adults and children, according to Dave Benjamin's calculations.

09/03/2024

The person who fatally shot four people while they were sleeping on a CTA train in Forest Park is a 30-year-old Chicago man, police said.

09/03/2024

“We failed you, we all failed you," his father, Jon Polin, told a crowd of tens of thousands of mourners. "Maybe your death is the stone, the fuel, that will bring home the 101 other hostages."

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, abducted and mutilated on Oct. 7, was among the six hostages found shot to death at close range in a Gaza tunnel.

09/03/2024

The former cheerleader informed the defendants that her laptop, which contained "critical pieces of evidence" in the case, had been destroyed, and she threw it away.

Court filings reveal the circumstances behind a recent attorney swap, discovery disputes and the destruction of a key piece of evidence.

09/03/2024

Surveillance video showed the victims were sleeping in various areas of the train when the shooter walked up to each person and fired, according to police. The attacker did not interact with any of the victims prior to the shooting, and authorities do not believe they knew each other.

The Blue Line shooter walked up to each of the four sleeping victims and fired, according to Forest Park Deputy Chief Christopher Chin.

09/03/2024

Plainfield native Kara Welsh, 21, was a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The 21-year-old, National Title-winning gymnast's death is being investigated as a homicide, Whitewater police said.

09/03/2024

Notice a leak in your air conditioning system? Acting quickly is crucial. Here’s what else you need to know. (Sponsored)

Don't let a puddle ruin your summer! Find out what you need to do to stop leaks, protect your home and restore cool comfort quickly.

09/03/2024

A repeat registered s*x offender was placed on home confinement following a pretrial hearing on child po*******hy charges.

09/03/2024

Are you ready for fall-like weather?

September marks the start of meteorological fall.

09/03/2024

Do you agree?

Illinois came in eighth on the list.

09/03/2024

A bystander recorded the burglary, which was unsuccessful, authorities said.

09/03/2024

Want your photo featured on Patch? Send pictures for our weekly photo roundup to Eric DeGrechie at [email protected]. Make sure the photo you send is one you have taken personally, and allow Patch to use on all platforms. Include your name for credit and a brief description of the photo, including where it was taken. (This photo courtesy of Julie Sisto)

09/02/2024

"For the first time in more than half a century, Illinois is getting a new state flag, and we're asking for your help," Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said in a video announcement. Residents have until Oct. 18 to submit their designs for a new Illinois flag, and then the public will vote on 10 finalists.

Would-be vexillographers have until Oct. 18 to run their ideas up the flagpole to the Illinois Flag Commission ahead of a public vote.

09/02/2024

Service on the Blue Line was suspended in the area while the fatal shooting is investigated, officials said.

09/02/2024

Illinois came in eighth on the list. Does that surprise you?

09/02/2024

Four Chicago suburbs made the top 30 list, including three in the top five.

09/02/2024

While working as a prosecutor, Swanson smoked m**h with different people, including some whose names he did not know, "about every other day." And on multiple times in 2021, 2022 and 2023, he drove a car with m**h in his system, he admitted.

Former Montgomery County Assistant State's Attorney Jacob Swanson smoked crystal m**h "every other day" while working as a prosecutor.

09/02/2024

The bright planets of Jupiter and Mars are still visible in the morning sky after their mid-August conjunction. Saturn, visible in the western sky, is nearly at its brightest as it reaches opposition — which occurs when Saturn appears opposite the sun when viewed from Earth — on Sept. 7.

Only Venus will be missing from the planetary lineup, according to EarthSky.

09/02/2024

When she was told she was not allowed to do that, police said she began screaming and yelling at others. Multiple officers responded to the call and were on the scene for about 45 minutes, according to officials.

A woman began screaming and yelling at others after she was told she couldn't make a U-turn in a crosswalk, according to police.

09/01/2024

"You enjoyed your hunting and fishing along with being an avid sports fan," his obituary, written by his wife, reads. "Mowing was your passion, much to my contention, as I was not allowed to touch a lawn mower. Yes, I will always remember the potholes I put in our yard. You were a fierce and loyal friend and we ended up having an amazing group of friends. You loved socializing with people, so your part-time bartending job was right up your lane. I think you spent more time talking than pouring drinks."

Rick Flowers, who retired in 2016, was an avid sports fan, passionate about mowing the lawn, and a "fierce and loyal friend."

09/01/2024

ICYMI:

The vaccines, which will be available soon, are designed to target recent COVID strains that have contributed to a summer surge nationwide

09/01/2024

Brighten your day with these stories of a new Bob Ross exhibit, some handmade cards to cheer up a K-9 and other happy little Illinois tales.

09/01/2024

A 29-year-old was gunned down on Nov. 6, 2023. Police have released surveillance images of a person of interest in the slaying.

Chicago police want to talk to a man about a November 2023 murder in which a 29-year-old man was gunned down in Washington Heights.

09/01/2024

The former assistant girls track coach, who pleaded guilty last month, resigned from his job the same day he was arrested. Prosecutors say he used Snapchat and Telegram to communicate with a 14-year-old girl online and instructed her to record explicit videos and send them to him in exchange for money.

The Darien resident is mandated to serve at least 15 years in prison, according to a plea agreement.

08/31/2024

"We typically shy away from being involved with anything political, (but) this wasn’t som**hing we were going to miss," she said. "I started my company in the basement of my house. To be a female-owned business in 2024, and to experience som**hing like decorating for a national event, was mind-blowing for me."

Stephanie Marquardt of LGM Balloon Decor was asked to be a part of the balloon drop at the DNC—it was a huge moment for her and her company

08/31/2024

Only Venus will be missing from the planetary lineup, according to EarthSky. Here's when to see it in Illinois.

08/31/2024

This week's photo roundup from across Illinois. Send your pics to [email protected].

08/31/2024

The boy, 15, shot a relative multiple times during a verbal dispute earlier this week, police said.