In the wake of the Oak Park Board of Trustees' decision to not opt out of a minimum wage increase imposed by Cook County, the Oak Park Chamber of Commerce met with village trustees and business owners on June 27 at the Carleton Hotel to discuss the struggles mom and pops have in keeping their doors open.

Some local grocers are frustrated with the rollout of the new Cook County sweetened drink tax that goes into effect on July 1 and say it will likely hurt sales.

A controversial countywide tax on sugary drinks, which was supposed to take effect July1, could be delayed after a Cook County Circuit Court judge on Wednesday agreed to hear a request to impose a temporary restraining order. 

Oak Park River Forest High School has ended a soft lockdown placed on the school earlier today after several administrators at the school received threatening emails.

River Forest police have arrested a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman at a residence in the 400 block of Franklin Avenue during the early morning hours of June 22.

Dozens of River Forest residents, including business owners, faith leaders, elected officials and children, packed the village board's June 19 meeting in a show of support for the village's proposed welcoming resolution.

The River Forest Village Board, at its June 12 meeting, unanimously approved an $86,500 contract with Chicago-based consulting firm Houseal and Lavigne Associates LLC to develop a new comprehensive plan for the village. 

At its June 22 regular meeting, the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 Board of Education unanimously approved a revised strategic plan that builds on a five-year plan the school board approved in 2014. 

Gwendolyn Brooks — the famous Chicago poet and first African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize (for her 1949 volume, Annie Allen) — would have turned 100 this year. 

Every strategy needs a contract: Good for the school board at Oak Park and River Forest High School. Last week it unanimously passed an updated version of its strategic plan.