In a first-ever election on Nov. 5 for control of the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education, candidates backed and funded by the Chicago Teachers Union were largely rejected at the polls. Out of 10 races, only four CTU-backed candidates won, and one of those was uncontested.

It was a sign Chicago has had enough of failing schools and voters were placing blame. During CTU’s militant reign over CPS, proficiency ratings for 3-8th graders have plummeted and less than 23% of 11th graders can read at grade level. Meanwhile, the CTU has spent over six months lobbying for a $50 billion contract that rather than advancing classroom instruction makes demands over things such as climate justice, green schools, and affordable housing.

The co-chair of the City Council’s Progressive Caucus scoffed Monday at Mayor Brandon Johnson’s claim that he has brokered a deal to cut his resoundingly rejected $300 million property tax increase in half.

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) characterized the negotiating session he participated in more than a week ago as the “great beginning of a conversation” and a healthy “exchange of ideas.” But there were no agreements made or commitments given.

A number of schools from Chicago and the suburbs were recognized as among the top elementary schools in Illinois, according to a new list.

The “2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools” list from U.S. News and World Report examined more than 79,000 public schools in all 50 states, a press release revealed. Editors used publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education to analyze mathematics and reading performance at the state and district levels — while accounting for student background and achievement in core subjects.

The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office is under investigation by the U. S. Department of Justice for civil rights violations, but the probe may go beyond the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s civil rights probe will investigate the sheriff’s department, but also Sangamon County Central Dispatch and the county itself.