Olivia Stevens

Olivia Stevens is a reporter for the Daily Southtown. She was previously an intern for the Tribune‘s politics desk, responsible for covering the Illinois state legislature. She is a 2023 University of Minnesota graduate and interned for Minnesota Public Radio and the Salem Statesman Journal in Oregon before moving to Chicago.

Clerk Nyota Figgs and Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones react during a City Council meeting at City Hall in April 2023. (Daily Southtown staff)

Calumet City Clerk Nyota Figgs accuses Mayor Thaddeus Jones of malicious prosecution in new lawsuit

September 10, 2026 at 3:48 p.m.

Calumet City Clerk Nyota Figgs is seeking damages after the dismissal of a lawsuit accusing her of illegally destroying city documents.

Students walk out of Lincoln-Way East High School to protest recent racist incidents at sporting events, Sept. 9, 2026, in Frankfort. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Lincoln-Way East students walk out in protest of recent racist taunting

September 9, 2026 at 5:47 p.m.

About 50 Lincoln-Way East High School students walked out of class to protest racism following taunts against Homewood-Flossmoor.

The football stadium at Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort on Sept. 3, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / for the Daily Southtown)

Homewood-Flossmoor High School accuses Lincoln-Way East girls cross country team and coach of racist taunts

September 8, 2026 at 4:06 p.m.

Homewood-Flossmoor District 233 says Lincoln-Way East cross country students and a coach engaged in racist taunting during a meet Saturday.

The new chatbot on Orland Park's website was named and designed after the village's first mayor, John Humphrey. (Village of Orland Park)

Orland Park launches AI chatbot ‘Humphrey’ to provide village information

August 31, 2026 at 5:10 a.m.

An AI chatbot named Humphrey is accessible on the Orland Park's website to answer resident questions and direct service requests.

Mary Fischer, left, places a sticky note in response to a question asking which words come to mind when Orland Park residents think of Centennial Park West on Aug. 26, 2026. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

Orland Park residents discuss Centennial Park West, potential performing arts center

August 28, 2026 at 2:22 p.m.

Orland Park residents share thoughts on Centennial Park West and a potential performance center in the village.

Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones presides over a City Council meeting Nov. 9, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Calumet City aldermen to sue for Mayor Thaddeus Jones’ city credit card receipts

August 29, 2026 at 2:11 p.m.

All seven Calumet City aldermen voted Monday to take legal action to receive receipts for Mayor Thaddeus Jones' city expenses.

Oak Lawn police observe public comment from members of the Arab American community during the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting Aug. 25, 2026. Activists allege an Oak Lawn officer put a teen in a chokehold during an Aug. 5 public meeting. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Arab American activists rally outside Oak Lawn Village Hall, say police placed 14-year-old in chokehold

August 26, 2026 at 4:07 p.m.

Nearly 100 people rallied outside the Oak Lawn Village Hall before Tuesday's Village Board meeting, alleging police misconduct.

Costco real estate manager Larry Dziurdzik points at a plan to relocate the fuel facility at Orland Park's Costco during a Village Board meeting Sept. 15, 2025. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

Construction underway on Orland Park Costco roundabout, expanded gas station

August 25, 2026 at 2:13 p.m.

Work begins on an roundabout at the Orland Park Costco and on the Amazon retail center southwest of 159th Street and LaGrange Road.

In a display of how its system works, a jewelry store fills with Density USA fog. (Density USA)

Oak Lawn and Alsip legalize security foggers to fight video gaming terminal burglaries

August 26, 2026 at 10:02 a.m.

Oak Lawn Mayor Terry Vorderer and Alsip fire Chief Tom Styczynski support security foggers to prevent gaming terminal burglaries.

Erik Blome's "Heralds of 9/11" sculpture stands 22-feet-tall. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

Sculptor Erik Blome reflects on creation of Oak Lawn’s 9/11 memorial

August 22, 2026 at 5:17 a.m.

As the 25th anniversary of 9/11 nears, Erik Blome, sculptor of the Oak Lawn memorial, shared his creative process at the library.

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