Mayor Emanuel's newly appointed Chicago School Board voted to rescind a 4 percent pay raise that was already written into the Board's contract with the union for 2012. more ›

A few weeks ago, when I first scheduled an interview with Ald. Waguespack, the notion was to get a bit of background about one of the leading candidates who was likely to step up and challenge Mayor Daley in next year's Mayoral Elections. But, just a few days before we were due to sit down, Daley turned the local political world on its ear with the announcement of his retirement. Suddenly, there's an abundance of candidates, some serious, others less so. With somewhere in the neighborhood of 35 people considering running, the field is more crowded and this, certainly, will have an effect on Ald. Waguespack's decision to run. Someone who's been outspoken against Daley in his term as alderman, Waugespack talked with me about his initial victory over the Machine in 2007 to win his ward, what he's done for the ward, and some of the challenges facing the City of Chicago as it heads into new territory under new leadership next spring. And, yes, about his mayoral aspirations. more ›

The Chicago Public Schools' new school year is just a few days old and already a pair of violent acts have shaken the system, leaving one student dead and a student and teacher wounded. DeAntonio Goss, a 16-year-old sophomore at Bowen High School, was shot and killed yesterday afternoon, the first CPS student killed this school year. The shooting happened around 2:45 p.m. and another student, an 18-year-old senior, was also wounded in the shooting. Police say the shooting may have stemmed from a fight at school earlier in the day. more ›

The Chicago Public Schools are alway a hot topic here, mainly for discouraging news. Now, there's a chance to make a positive impact and get involved. Chicago Public Schools, in conjunction with the Chicago Teachers Union, have a unique opportunity for you: become a teacher for a day. Whether you're looking to scratch that teaching itch you've always felt or just trying to become more involved in your community, it's a unique chance to lend a hand. The event is designed "to give business and community members a better understanding of and develop a deeper appreciation for the work Chicago Public Schools’ teachers provide each school day." more ›

Eight Chicago Public School students were shot this weekend, three of whom died. So far, 17 CPS students have died from gun violence this school year; last year, 27 students died as a result of gunshots. That was a tragic high, and this year is on pace for the same number of young people dying--Mayor Daley? How's that gun control stuff going? Mr. Governor? We know you want to build a new building at NIU, and that's great and everything, but children in Chicago are being murdered. Frequently. Maybe there's something we could do about that, too. more ›

A new study released today says that 44 percent of CPS freshman don't graduate, and 73 percent of those drop-outs were "over age" when they started high school. While there's no one reason students drop out, there are a lot of factors that indicate how at-risk a kid is. From the Sun-Times: more ›

Last October the Healthy Schools Campaign hosted its "Cooking Up Change Healthy Cooking Contest" on a stormy night at Salvage One. Today, the winning entrée from students at Chicago Vocational Career Academy will be served at all high schools in the Chicago Public School system. more ›

Chicago hosted some of the world's top marathoners last weekend and is awaiting the arrival of boxers from 120 countries to compete in the 2007 AIBA World Boxing Championship later this month. What you might have missed is that the world's top squash players are in town for MetroSquash with Sue at the Field Museum. Today and tomorrow, squashers (as we like to call them) from Egypt, Scotland and the UK will be competing in... more ›

As the week winds down, here are some things of note while we go out and find a fuck lion. Mayor Daley presses Springfield to approve a sales tax increase for the Chicago area to stave off the proposed Doomsday scenarios of CTA and Pace. Bank of America’s pending acquisition of LaSalle Bank could cost the metropolitan Chicago area over 10,000 jobs over the next two years when completed. Chicago Public School teachers voted... more ›

- As the CTA moves along with its Doomsday Scenario, Mayor Daley raised the possibility of dedicated bus lanes on Lake Shore Drive. - Dick Devine's current term as Cook County State's Attorney will be his last. - The city is placing the search for a new Police Superintendent in the hands of a highly respected D.C. think-tank. - Good news and bad news on the historic preservation front. - Four men are charged... more ›

- Our Litigious Society: Cook County resident Jose Trujillo files a lawsuit against Apple, claiming that the company and exclusive wireless carrier AT&T misled iPhone buyers by not clearly informing them that the iPhone battery was sealed, and could only be professionally replaced. - It's Called the Hippocratic Oath: Atheist and agnostic doctors are as likely to provide care for the poor as religious physicians. - A Chicago firefighter is accused of criminal sexual... more ›

He had to promise them one of his lovely TIFs, but Daley did manage to convince mapmakers Navteq to stay in Chicago rather than relocating back to the Silicon Valley in California. It's the City of Chicago vs. Harry's Hot Dogs and the Showmen's League of America and a Giordano's restaurant. And throw in a travel agency too. City Hall wants the buildings at 300-308 W. Randolph torn down to make a small park... more ›

Last Friday, 775 teachers in the Chicago Public School system were given the ol' heave-ho. All involved are Probationary Appointed Teachers, or PATs, those who have been in the system less than five years. Unlike last year, these firings are not budget-related; they were let go for "various reasons," with the emphasis on teachers that were not performing well. more ›

"thumb" by The Imperfect Parent more ›

So, today is Presidents' Day. All you lucky financiers, government employees, library workers and Chicago Public School kids have the day off. We're pretty sure when we were kids, we got both Lincoln and Washington's birthdays off as separate holidays! Sweet. Talk about a short month. We don't really get it so much anymore, though. What exactly are you supposed to do on Presidents' Day? Have someone recite the Gettysburg Address? Think about all presidents... more ›

It's October, which means Chicago’s arts community is once again collaborating with the City to promote its glorious self during Chicago Artists Month. Through Halloween, you may discover (or be reminded) how accessible and downright friendly that community is and, if they have their way, you'll spend the frigid months touring galleries instead of watching shameful TV. There's simply not enough time for us to visit every event in every corner of the city, but we'll try to make time for these: more ›

"an american dream" via D.James more ›

Chicago Public School teachers are about to be subject to tougher enforcement of residency requirements, despite the Chicago Teachers Union's request to eliminate or at least relax the rule that mandates teachers hired since 1996 to live within Chicago city limits. more ›

Yesterday more than 392,000 students attended the first day of school in Chicago - the highest first-day attendance in almost a decade. Educators say that it's because of last month's launch of a campaign designed to ensure as many students as possible start the academic year on time. Also, volunteers called parents to remind them that school was starting and in communities where truancy is high they made personal visits to talk with parents and their children. more ›

It’s the first day of school for Chicago Public School students, so sharpen your pencils and put on a new pair of shoes. We love the first day of school: everyone’s so enthusiastic and well rested, and you haven’t seen everyone all summer, and it’s so exciting to get back to school to start learning stuff, plus who doesn’t love writing on the first page of a new notebook? Yay! Learning! Aw, balls, we just got pelted with a spitball. more ›

The city's African-American students also posted solid gains in the three core subjects, but their improvements were far more modest in 5th grade--with reading scores rising 1.3 percentage points, compared with 9.2 percentage points for Latino students.

The new schools on the West and South Sides, most of which are to be housed in existing buildings, will be opened in connection with the Chicago Housing Authority's plan to transform those neighborhoods. more ›