Two sources said Xavier Tate Jr. had been out of state at least twice but was finally arrested this afternoon in Glendale Heights.
SEIU Local 73 represents about 11,000 school support workers, including custodians, special education classroom assistants, bus aides, security officers, crossing guards, and parent-workers. The four-year deal would create a baseline salary of $40,000 for all full-time workers, a 4 percent pay increase the first two years and a 4 percent to 5 percent increase the last two years of the contract.
“For the last seven months — and longer — Jewish Northwestern students have been harassed and intimated by blatant antisemitism on campus, worsening since October 7,” said three organizations in a statement. “It is clear from President (Michael) Schill’s actions that he is unfit to lead Northwestern and must resign.”
The statistics, compiled by the Chicago Police Department, show response times over the past six years were more than two minutes quicker with a ShotSpotter alert than when the gunshot detection alert was accompanied by a 911 call.
Ald. Debra Silverstein said that the city has yet to take concrete action to protect the rights of the Jewish community as antisemitic speech festers on both university and school campuses. “I too strongly support the First Amendment and the right of free expression. Students have the right to protest, but Jewish students also have the right to feel safe on campus.”
“No one is stopping at stop signs now,” Ald. Derrick Curtis said. “People know there’s not real enforcement that will cost them money.” Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration has continued a Lightfoot-era program to erase traffic debt for some low-income drivers, saving Chicagoans $35 million so far.
The “workplace readiness week” would include information about local, state, and federal laws and how the labor movement played a role in winning protections and benefits for workers. Students would also receive information about state-approved apprenticeship programs and alternative career paths.
“It is the Democrats who are in power right now, and it is the Democrats who could stop this [war in Gaza],” said Hatem Abudayyeh, chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network. “This is going to be the largest protest for Palestinian rights in the history of Chicago.”
Organizers said about 100 students took part in the sit-in, but only about a dozen continued the protest outside of the school. “A sit-in which was expressly modeled on the encampments at many college campuses, including the violent encampment at Columbia University, these are activities that have no place at a public school,” said Inna Tsimerman, mother of a CPS student.
Citing a “dystopic cesspool of hate” present at the pro-Palestinian encampment on Deering Meadow, the lawsuit — brought by two graduate students and one first-year undergraduate student — alleges that NU breached a “modest core promise” to students when it opted to allow the encampment to continue throughout the weekend despite demonstration policies stating such encampments are prohibited.
“A, that depends on whether the legislature gives him all of the spending he asks for and B, if the legislature is willing to give him all of the $1 billion worth of additional revenues he’s asking for,” said state Sen. Donald DeWitte.
In DuPage County alone, cases of fleeing police have increased over the past three years by 151 percent.
Senate Bill 2412 was originally about placing children in adequate homes, but an amendment turned it into an election bill that seeks to eliminate the slating process state House and state Senate candidates take advantage of. House Republicans staged a walkout in protest of the change as the bill dropped at the last minute.
Some lawmakers argued schools should focus on getting proficiency rates up, but state Rep. Katie Stuart said such criticism is out of line. “I think it is really insulting and really diminishes our respect for the profession of those people that work in our buildings every day,” said Stuart. “This conversation has gotten ridiculous.”
With a plan to demolish the Logan County Correctional Center and the Stateville prison, a lawmaker is raising concerns about the economic losses multiple Illinois counties will see. State Rep. Bill Hauter said Logan, Macon, Sangamon, Dewitt and Tazwell counties are looking at over $600 million of economic impact.
Senate Bill 2644 would establish a statewide electronic registry that would contain Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment forms, which detail what type of medical treatment a critically ill patient does and does not want. Separately, the End of Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act would allow terminally ill adults the option to get prescription medication to end their life.
Republicans were particularly critical of a provision that prohibits political parties from appointing a candidate to a general election ballot if no member of that party filed nominating petitions for the primary.
The coalition was on the front lines of Illinois’ 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, CEJA. The new trio of bills include improving the state’s electric grid, requiring gas utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and establishing targets to reduce emissions from the transportation sector to be carbon-free by 2050.
Jim Dey: “Since taking office, (Gov. JB) Pritzker has focused on improving state finances, especially the state’s credit ratings. As he indicated in his budget speech, he’s serious about defending its past improvements. But organized labor — the AFL-CIO, AFSCME and the teachers unions — are serious, too. Their conflicting positions could lead to an explosive final few days in Springfield.”
An economic impact study found that in 2022, the Illinois wine industry manufactured 1.17 million gallons of wine and contributed more than $374 million to the state’s economy.
“With the summer crime offensive on the horizon and Chicago hosting the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in August, (Mayor Brandon) Johnson’s refusal to acknowledge the truth of CPD’s encounter with Reed — an armed man attacking police — and strengthen CPD legitimacy is creating the conditions for pandemonium to flourish in Chicago.”
“Even in worker-friendly Illinois, employers have tremendous power and can discipline employees for declining to participate in non-work-related meetings that discuss politics or religion.”
“When the city turned the former Wadsworth Elementary School into a migrant shelter — instead of a job training center — without community input, it stung. Community members felt overlooked and disrespected again when local businesses and organizations did not get the opportunity to bid for contracts tied to the response. “
U.S. Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, whose district in Illinois largely represents immigrants, and other U.S. representatives called on President Biden to expand work authorizations and establish additional permits for undocumented spouses, Dreamers and long-term workers who have paid taxes.
In each of three incidents, offenders drove up to a vehicle in a dark colored SUV, broke the window, and took items from the glove compartment and trunk. It’s unknown what the thieves took from the law enforcement’s units.
The Chicago Teachers Union’s 142-page list of demands includes codifying their most recent political rally. They took students out of class, hit them with propaganda and then marched them to the polls to vote.
“Northwestern has always chosen the path of least resistance when it comes to protesters, including at times surrendering core academic functions. … Student Zachery Novicoff embodied the rising intolerance to free speech on campus. He is quoted as saying ‘There’s a limitation to free speech. That ends at overtly racist old white dudes.'”
“While the OPRF incident did not involve an active shooter — the student did not have a gun — it was initially reported that there was a student with a gun on campus and an imminent threat of a school shooting. Oak Park police responded differently (the first time) than any other police agency, not following any of the response protocols that would generally be in place. Instead, they followed the school’s bizarre procedures that prevented police from setting foot on their campus.”
Said Mike Gray, of Walmart, “As part of these investments, the Minooka facility will provide even more opportunities for small to medium sized suppliers in the region who do not ship nationwide, the ability to provide product to all 4,700 Walmart stores.”
“A question remains, though: What’s the plan for funding these initiatives once the pandemic money runs out?”
“Recently, nine land trusts that formed or are in the process of forming joined together as a federation called Chicagoland Owners Land Trust. Convened by the Chicago Community Loan Fund, which helps identify resources and disburses financial support, it consists of land trusts in areas as diverse as Uptown and Englewood. Each area has its own needs that collective ownership can help solve.”
Teachers’ unions are the leading purveyors of this approach. Two years ago, the United Educators of San Francisco adopted a resolution calling for a boycott of Israel. The Chicago Teachers Union instigated pro-Hamas demonstrations in the Windy City after October 7. The union persuaded Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson (a former CTU lobbyist) to condemn Israel in the city council, and it organized a student and faculty “walkout” to show solidarity with Hamas—a city-authorized event that left Jewish students and teachers feeling intimidated.
The owner of a 57-story Loop office tower at 70 West Madison is facing a $276 million foreclosure lawsuit, one of the most extreme cases of distress infecting a downtown office market awash in vacant space.
While state lawmakers have held committee hearings this session examining issues with Tier 2 benefits, they’re not likely to vote on any legislation before the session ends in May.
Investors looking to pick up downtown Chicago office buildings at a discount have two prominent new options, 444 N. Michigan Ave. and 30 W. Monroe St.
When you hear the complaints from Illinois politicians, remember the hypocrisy: 40,000 bused to Chicago, but 161,562 allowed to fly directly to Florida.
Nearly one year ago, Chicagoans cheered Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s removal from office. In her place was Brandon Johnson, who promised a more inclusive approach to building a “better, stronger, safer Chicago.” It hasn’t turned out that way. Today, there’s little disagreement that Mayor Johnson has disappointed on most key issues. On crime. On policing. On migrants. On education. On governance. Even on foreign affairs.
Ted joined Dan and Amy to talk about the problems and costs of the Chicago Bears’ proposed new stadium, why its unlikely to happen in its current form, why the ongoing wave of violent crimes makes residents scared of the city, and why the funeral of slain police officer Luis Huesca matters to Mayor Johnson’s reputation.
Tents were cleared at Northwestern University Tuesday after protesters came to an agreement with the university administration; Northwestern students donated and delivered some tarps and supplies to UChicago and to a new encampment at DePaul University. The Rev. Jesse Jackson came out Tuesday to support a growing pro-Palestinian tent encampment at the University of Chicago.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling expressed little concern regarding the protests, emphasizing that they have not posed a threat to public safety thus far.
“For the most part, there are a lot of points on the agreement that I support, that the Hillel community supports as a whole,” said student Sari Eisen, president of Northwestern Hillel. “… We were also pretty disappointed to see that acts of blatant antisemitism, the chants, the signs, all of that, was not specifically addressed in the agreement. We have been voicing our concerns about antisemitism on campus since Oct. 7.”
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