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.

A ramp leading into the deep tunnel water reservoir north of the Thornton Quarry is partially submersed Monday following a rainy June and early July. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

‘The stench is putrid’: Nearly full Thornton reservoir brings sewage stink and increased flood risk

July 7, 2026 at 3:54 p.m.

Thornton Village Clerk Nikki Kitakis said odors from the quarry reservoir are putrid after it fills with floodwater.

Interstate 294 passes between the Thornton Quarry, top, and the Deep Tunnel water reservoir on July 6, 2026, in Thornton. The reservoir is nearly full following a very rainy June and early July period. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Thornton Reservoir nearly full after heavy storms over weekend

July 7, 2026 at 11:05 a.m.

The Thornton Quarry reservoir is the fullest it has been since becoming operational in 2015, at 94% capacity, the MWRD reports.

Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant speaks during a Will County Board meeting April 16, 2026. (Troy Stolt/for the Chicago Tribune)

Will County Board of Review members serve 2 to 3 years beyond set terms

July 6, 2026 at 1:35 p.m.

Will County Board member Jacqueline Traynere saiid Board of Review members overstay their set terms, appointments removed from agenda.

Resident Nicole Scott-Johnson outside her apartment building at the Autumn Ridge Apartments in Park Forest, July 2, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

Park Forest mayor says managers doing ‘not enough’ for residents of Autumn Ridge Apartments

July 6, 2026 at 12:15 p.m.

Park Forest Mayor Joe Woods says Autumn Ridge Apartments managers aren't doing enough as residents endure broken air conditioning and elevators.

A building at the Autumn Ridge Apartments in Park Forest June 23, 2025. (Daily Southtown staff)

‘Temporary cooling systems’ deployed to Park Forest apartment building amid heat emergency

July 1, 2026 at 4:12 p.m.

Park Forest officials expected air conditioning at Autumn Ridge to be restored through temporary chillers by the end of the day Wednesday.

The Calumet City Public Library is adding new interior features including a recording studio, but some patrons are concerned that politics are taking a toll on services there. (Daily Southtown)

Calumet City library undergoes renovations amid allegations of misuse, politics

July 3, 2026 at 12:43 p.m.

Critics of Mayor Thaddeus Jones say political tensions have affected the Calumet City library's management and atmosphere.

Jim O’Conner, executive director of Second Story Ranch, walks past the stalls in the stable April 28, 2025, during a tour of a former horse training facility in Crete. Second Story Ranch plans to convert it into a residential alcohol treatment facility. (John Smierciak/for the Daily Southtown)

Planned addiction recovery horse ranch in Crete receives $2 million from state

June 29, 2026 at 5:15 a.m.

The state funding will help Second Story Ranch founder Jim O'Connor meet his goal to begin construction of a recovery campus.

Oak Lawn Village Hall (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

Oak Lawn welcomes board member Benjamin Warren, changes meeting times

June 25, 2026 at 3:04 p.m.

Benjamin Warren will replace Timothy Desmond on the Oak Lawn Village Board. Desmond resigned to assist the village in development.

Homeowner Delean Fuller at her property on South Claire Boulevard in Robbins on June 9, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

‘I was invisible’: Robbins property owner at risk of losing property amid tax and eviction struggles

June 26, 2026 at 10:38 a.m.

Robbins resident Delean Fuller is in the process of losing a house after struggling to pay a backlog of Cook County property taxes.

Former Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard enters the Richard J. Daley Center for a court appearance on June 6, 2025, in Chicago. (Audrey Richardson/Chicago Tribune)

Former Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard to receive $1,500 in landlord dispute

June 22, 2026 at 3:04 p.m.

Genetta Hull filed to evict former Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard and former Thornton Township employee Kamal Woods in September 2024.

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