Cam'ron Hardy

Cam’ron Hardy covers Oak Park for the Pioneer Press. An alum of Eastern Illinois University, he graduated with a B.A. in journalism and minored in film history and video production. He previously worked as an intern for the Chicago Tribune, Free Press Indiana and was a member of The New York Times Corps. Feel free to send in any story tips.

Daniel and Jennifer Coker gather in front of their Rogers Park home on Thursday, Aug. 20. The Cokers recently launched Seniors Helping Seniors Chicago West that serves families across Oak Park, River Forest and other west suburbs. (Cam'ron Hardy/Pioneer Press)

New Oak Park business hires older residents to help their peers

August 21, 2026 at 5:07 a.m.

Jennifer and Daniel launched Seniors Helping Seniors Chicago West that serves people in Oak Park, Bloomingdale and neighboring communities.

CORE owner Tony Russo, center, surveys the scene as workers and clients make sandwiches Thursday, Aug. 13 at the CORE facility in Forest Park. (Cam'ron Hardy/Pioneer Press)

New program for adults with developmental disabilities opens in Forest Park

August 20, 2026 at 11:08 a.m.

Tony Russo expands his LifeSpeed behavioral support services program by opening CORE, which focuses on adults who are wait-listed for years for medical support by the state.

Terri Bresnahan, Oak Park School District 97's new superintendent, stands outside of the district's administration building on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Cam'ron Hardy/Pioneer Press)

New Oak Park Elementary School District 97 superintendent ready for the first day of school

August 17, 2026 at 3:17 p.m.

Terri Bresnahan, Oak Park Elementary School District 97's new superintendent, is ready to bring decades of experience to the village.

Keaton Roberts, a senior at OPRF High School, speaks at the 49th annual NAACP ACT-SO competition where he earned first place and a gold medal for the biology/microbiology category. (Oak Park and River Forest High School)

OPRF senior takes gold in NAACP biology, microbiology competition

August 10, 2026 at 4:07 p.m.

Keaton Roberts, a senior at OPRF, earned a gold medal at the 49th annual NAACP ACT-SO competition for biology/microbiology.

Oak Park Village Hall (Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune)

Federal court upholds Oak Park ordinance requiring new buildings be all electric

August 7, 2026 at 2:56 p.m.

A federal court upheld Oak Park's ordinance requiring new buildings to be all-electric, rejecting a challenge from a coalition of natural gas industry.

Oak Park Fire Department partners with U of I Fire Institute for cancer study

August 6, 2026 at 5:03 a.m.

Oak Park joins the Illinois Firefighters Cancer Risk Study at the University of Illinois to evaluate firefighting's cancer risks.

Carolyn Elaine works on mosaic art in her studio in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood on Aug. 3, 2026. Elaine has led Oak Park's Off the Wall art program for 21 years but is stepping away after its latest installation. (Cam'ron Hardy/Pioneer Press)

Oak Park’s ‘master artist’ steps away from Off the Wall summer youth art program after 21 years

August 7, 2026 at 2:57 p.m.

Carolyn Elaine is stepping away from Oak Park's "Off the Wall" program after leading it for the past 21 years leaving a legacy of art.

Oak Park Fire Chief JT Terry, right, and consultant Nathan Melotte, of Cordogan Clark, discuss new fire station designs at a special meeting with Oak Park Village Board officials on Tuesday, July 28, in Oak Park. (Cam'ron Hardy/Pioneer Press)

Oak Park plans new, larger fire station to replace one on Augusta Street

August 3, 2026 at 2:41 p.m.

Oak Park Board officials decided between three new fire stations as one of the current stations is outdated and moved the discussion to the finance committee for further discussions.

Oak Park Board officials talk about zoning changes in the village during their Tuesday July 28, 2026 meeting. (Cam'ron Hardy/Pioneer Press)

Oak Park board advances possible changes to single-family zoning

July 30, 2026 at 4:29 p.m.

Oak Park Village Board advanced potential single-family zoning changes to the planning committee for further discussion.

Julie Mewhort Klein, a teacher at Fenwick High School, stands outside of the Oak Park Public Library on July 23, 2026. Earlier this month, Klein was one of 14 educators selected to participate in the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous' 2026 European study program in Poland to learn more about the Holocaust. (Cam'ron Hardy/Pioneer Press)

Fenwick teacher plans to use her ‘powerful experience’ in Poland to fight Holocaust misinformation

July 30, 2026 at 7:02 p.m.

Julie Mewhort Klein is more prepared to teach Fenwick High School students about the Holocaust after her educators visit to Poland.

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