W E D N E S D A Y
August 12, 2026 Vol. 47, No. 7
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Enrichment Guide
local schools | early learning | tutoring programs
Education Guide Page 15
Israel boycott petitions submitted, then challenged
Johnson, Pritzker, Davis turn out to celebrate $25M investment By BILL DWYER Staff Reporter
See CTA GREEN LINE on page 24
and
of Oak Park and River Forest
Fully accessible Austin CTA Green Line station ‘reopens’ The newly renovated and fully accessible CTA Green Line station at Austin Boulevard was officially “re-opened” Friday morning with Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson among those celebrating. The $25 million renovation project includes a new elevator, an escalator, an accessible ramp, and other elements of the station reconstructed to comply with modern standards. The station’s boarding platform was also extended to the east and a second, non-handicapped accessible station entrance built a block away at Mason Avenue. Funding for the project came from the federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) and Illinois’ Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan. STP provided $20.3M in funding and Rebuild Illinois provided $5.3M for a total budget of $25.6M.
Summer 2026
Education
Oak Park electoral board will review signature challenge By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
BILL DWYER
Cong. Danny Davis speaks during the reopening of the Austin CTA Green Line station, as Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson look on.
Community canvassers representing Oak Parkers for Free Speech collected more than 3,500 signatures in support of a proposed November advisory referendum regarding whether Illinois should repeal laws that ban state investment in businesses that boycott Israel. The notarized signatures – far more than the minimum required number of about 2,000 – were collected over 12 weeks and the group met an Aug. 3 village of Oak Park deadline for submission. But one objection to the petition signatures was filed by the Monday, Aug. 10 deadline, which will prompt a three-member village electoral board to determine whether See ISRAEL BOYCOTT on page 25
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