Springfield

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Education

What does Springfield's selective-enrollment bill mean for Chicago Public Schools?

The proposed legislation is the latest and most significant backlash to a declaration in December by Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Board of Education that it would no longer prioritize selective schools and would refocus resources to neighborhood schools that have faced years of cuts and underfunding.

By Nader Issa

Flowers, photos, balloons and words of condolence adorn a black iron-like fence.

Other Views

Pass Karina's Bill to seize guns from the most dangerous domestic abusers

My dad shot and killed my sister and mom and left me with a gunshot wound. Law enforcement hadn’t removed a gun from his possession, even though his FOID card had been suspended.

By Jesus Emmanuel “Manny” Alvarez

Mayor Brandon Johnson makes his inaugural address at Credit Union 1 Arena on Monday, May 15, 2023.

City Hall

Petition drive launched to give Chicago voters power to recall mayor

If Daniel Boland’s petition drive collects 56,464 valid signatures by Aug. 5, the question could go on the November ballot. But that would just give Chicago voters the power to remove a mayor via recall, which they don’t now have.

By Fran Spielman

Editorials

Lawmakers, pass a bill that protects Chicago's selective schools and programs

A proposed bill would prohibit the Board of Education from closing, changing admissions standards or drastically altering funding for selective schools at both the elementary and high school level.

By CST Editorial Board

Education

CTU makes most ‘ambitious’ demands ever in new contract, wants bargaining done in public

The teachers union’s contract expires this summer. On top of raises for staff, it wants help for unhoused students and more dual-language education.

By Sarah Karp | WBEZ

U.S. Supreme Court associate justices, from left, Ketanji Brown Jackson in 2022; Neil Gorsuch in 2021 and Brett Kavanaugh in 2022.

Chicago corruption trials

Supreme Court puzzles over corruption definition in bribery law at center of Madigan trial: 'Is it a sin?'

The case before the nation’s high court Monday was actually the corruption case against James Snyder, a former mayor of Portage, Indiana. The justices acknowledged their decision in the case will have implications for prosecutions across the country.

By Jon Seidel and Dave McKinney | WBEZ

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Religion

Antisemitic acts in Illinois and nation at worst levels ever, Anti-Defamation League says

“In the 45 years since ADL began tracking antisemitic incidents in 1979, it has never been this bad,” said ADL Midwest regional director David Goldenberg. According to a new report, Illinois saw a 74% increase in antisemitic incidents in 2023.

By David Struett

Obituaries

Robert Grossman, Hyde Park lawyer and writer, dies at 89

Mr. Grossman was the principal writer of the 1967 Illinois Housing Development Act, which established the Illinois Housing Development Authority to finance affordable housing across Illinois. He also hosted an early coffee at his Hyde Park home for Barack Obama when he was running for state Senate.

By Emmanuel Camarillo

Obituaries

Chris Crane, former Exelon CEO and nuclear energy proponent, dies at 65

The company said Chris Crane will be remembered for his “transformational milestones” on safety and equity, specifically related to his work in the nuclear energy field.

By Violet Miller

Politics

Pritzker creates new parole board post to ramp up domestic violence prevention training after killing of 11-year-old boy

The appointment of James Montgomery comes three weeks after chair Don Shelton and board member LeAnn Miller resigned. Miller oversaw the decision to release Crosetti Brand, who then allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend and killed her 11-year-old son Jayden Perkins.

By Tina Sfondeles

Politics

Pritzker pushes plan to erase $1 billion in medical debt for Illinoisans

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his proposal will provide nearly $1 billion in medical debt relief for an initial batch of 340,000 Illinois residents in the first year of a multi-year plan.

By Tina Sfondeles

Prisoners' rights advocates demonstrate at a press conference outside 77 W. Jackson Blvd on Monday, April 15, 2024. Advocates delivered a legal petition asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to address unsafe drinking water in Illinois prisons. | Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times

Environment

Rancid, unsafe water at Illinois prisons threatens health, violates human rights, groups allege

Advocates for the incarcerated filed a petition with the U.S. EPA, asking the environmental agency to step in and fix a crisis they say Gov. Pritzker is not addressing.

By Brett Chase

MEMORIAL-041524-26.jpgGov. J.B. Pritzker bows his head in prayer during a memorial service for Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel at the University of Chicago on the South Side, Sunday, April 14, 2024. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

News

Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough remembered as trailblazer at Hyde Park memorial service

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and other elected officials shared stories about Karen Yarbrough, who died April 7, and her impact as a fixture in local politics who cleared paths for others to follow.

By Emmanuel Camarillo

Other Views

Investing in Black maternal health is the right move for Illinois

From 2018 to 2020, Black women in Illinois were three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related medical conditions than white women. This initiative aims to make improvements.

By Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton

Columnists

Memo to Jerry Reinsdorf: There's 'next to no appetite' in Springfield to fund new stadium

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon clears up any confusion on stadium talk and a proposed biometric privacy law that has had businesses in a tizzy.

By Rich Miller

Starved Rock State Park’s southern entrance.

Politics

New name for Starved Rock State Park? State officials 'willing to open discussions'

Leaders at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said this week there are “no immediate plans” to rebrand Starved Rock State Park in La Salle County, but officials are open to discussing a potential name change if Native American groups push for it.

By Mitchell Armentrout

Crime

Berwyn woman charged with stealing $250,000 from state treasurer’s unclaimed property

Maria Michaud, 37, is accused of using four other people’s names to make claims for $247,760.29 from the treasurer’s office’s unclaimed property program in 2019 and 2020.

By Kade Heather

Bears

Bears make big additions to legal team in continued push for new lakefront stadium

The Bears have hired political veteran Andrea Zopp to serve as a senior adviser on their legal team.

By Sophie Sherry

Paycheck Protection Program

PPP fraud investigation by state watchdog finds $7.2 million in improper loans

The Illinois Office of Executive Inspector General found workers paid kickbacks to brokers who processed their fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans.

By Frank Main

Springfield

Pritzker pitches grants to open new stores in food deserts

The governor announced the second phase of the Illinois Grocery Initiative, which includes a round of grant funding for new grocers in food deserts.

By Mariah Rush

Columnists

Museum of Science and Industry closed for mysterious reasons last week; here's why

Beyond statement that “trained military personnel” were on hand, the museum offered no details. Thankfully, the Pentagon talked.

By Neil Steinberg

A server tends to a table of customers at Athena Restaurant in February 2022.

Other Views

Getting rid of tipped wages in Illinois would be the final blow to many restaurants

Any increase in restaurant costs can mean the difference between keeping the doors open or closing for good. And many tipped workers already make far more than minimum wage.

By George D. Alpogianis