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.

The Orland Park Public Library, located at 14921 South Ravinia Ave. (Orland Park Public Library)

Orland Park, Tinley Park libraries decry book banning, want people to ‘read what they want’

September 29, 2026 at 12:44 p.m.

As part of an annual push against book bans, librarians from Orland Park, Tinley Park and other area libraries will highlight materials in their collections that have been censored elsewhere....

The Dolton police station on Park Avenue, on Aug. 3. 2026. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

Dolton police officer on administrative leave amid misconduct investigation

September 28, 2026 at 12:23 p.m.

Dolton officials have placed a police officer on administrative leave as they investigate potential misconduct recorded on video.

Former Ford Heights Mayor Annie Coulter, second from right, presides over a Village Board meeting Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019, at the Ford Heights municipal center. She was among 11 current and former village officials charged Friday in a case brought by the Illinois Attorney General's Office. (Ted Slowik/Daily Southtown)

Ford Heights officials charged with 79 felonies alleging theft and misconduct

September 25, 2026 at 5:48 p.m.

Eleven current and former Ford Heights officials are facing 79 felony charges after investigators raided the Village Hall on Thursday to execute a search warrant. The Illinois Attorney General's Office...

More than 100 people pack into a Cook County District 130 meeting on Sept. 15, 2026, many expressing concerns about school maintenance after 31 custodians were laid off. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

Union: Mold found in Blue Island area schools poses risk to students, staff

September 24, 2026 at 3:34 p.m.

The union representing custodial staff who were laid off by Cook County District 130 filed a grievance over mold found in schools.

Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge speaks during a Village Board meeting on Sept. 21, 2026. The board discussed adding new automated road enforcement to reduce speeding. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

Orland Park considering new speed enforcement cameras, fines for parents in ‘teen takeovers’

September 22, 2026 at 4:24 p.m.

New traffic enforcement measures may soon come to Orland Park, with village officials on Monday discussing technology meant to deter speeding among drivers.

Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing. (Brett Johnson / Daily Southtown)

Plea deal expected for former Thornton Fractional High School teacher charged with sexual assault

September 21, 2026 at 2:19 p.m.

Andre Richmond was charged with criminal sexual assault and child pornography involving two Thornton Fractional South students.

Superintendent Scott Tingley, center, attends the Lincoln-Way High School District 210 board meeting Thursday in New Lenox. School board members voted unanimously to allow six students who engaged in racist taunting of Homewood-Flossmoor High School community members during a football game Sept. 4 to voluntarily withdraw from the district. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Students involved in racist taunting voluntarily withdraw from Lincoln-Way District 210

September 18, 2026 at 3:26 p.m.

Lincoln-Way District 210 board members will allow students who engaged in racist taunting Sept. 4 to withdraw from the district.

Orland Park Mayor Jim Dodge speaks during a Village Board meeting Aug. 17, 2026. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

Orland Park officials spar over tax break for Amazon retail development

September 18, 2026 at 4:08 p.m.

With construction already underway on a retail center at 159th Street and LaGrange Road, Orland Park Village Board members voted to provide Amazon with a nearly $1.5 million property tax...

Orland Park police vehicle on Oct. 20, 2025. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

20-year-old shot in Orland Park charged with attemped armed robbery

September 17, 2026 at 11:04 a.m.

Christopher Brown, 20, was charged after police say he attempted an armed holdup at an Orland Park gas station Tuesday.

Sherri Roozee Sera, a Cook County District 130 physical education teacher and president of the Blue Island Educational Association, addresses worsening school conditions during a Sept. 15 District 130 School Board meeting after the board laid off more than 30 custodians last month. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

Teachers, Blue Island community members show support for laid off custodians as District 130 school conditions worsen

September 16, 2026 at 3:27 p.m.

Blue Island District 130 teachers and students say conditions have worsened since 31 custodians were laid off last month.

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