Good morning, Chicago.
A group of Chicago Public Schools parents fed up with a lack of busing for students at magnet and selective enrollment schools took their cause to City Hall yesterday calling for busing for all students across Chicago.
More than a hundred people gathered at the Daley Plaza downtown, using the symbolism of the traditional yellow bus to drive home their message. Wearing school bus-yellow shirts and holding signs shaped like school buses, they demanded busing for the 5,500 students who had been promised transportation when enrolling in district magnet and selective enrollment schools.
The protest was organized by CPS Parents for Buses, a volunteer group of parents across the city who found themselves scrambling to get their children to school after the district announced three weeks before the school year began that general education students would not have busing.
Without school buses, parents and children undergo daily commutes of up to four hours, either driving or transferring between buses and trains to attend school.
And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.
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The ‘none of these candidates’ option wins Nevada GOP primary, a symbolic rejection of Nikki Haley
The “none of these candidates” option has won in Nevada’s symbolic Republican presidential primary contest, an embarrassing result for Nikki Haley, who was the only major candidate on the ballot.
Automated ticketing of drivers parked in bike and bus lanes downtown could begin this summer, more than a year after pilot program was approved
City officials have highlighted the program, called Smart Streets, as a way to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians downtown and speed up bus service. Officials also at one point highlighted the pilot as a new tool to fill gaps in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2024 budget.
After win in Chicago, backers of ending subminimum wage for tipped workers take fight to Springfield
At the Springfield news conference announcing the legislation, Deputy House Majority Leader Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, of Cicero, said eliminating the subminimum wage is the right thing to do for the state’s economy, especially as businesses look to retain workers.
“Soon we will face a situation where workers in the restaurant industry can drive a few blocks into the city of Chicago and receive not only higher wages but also guarantee wages on their paycheck,” Hernandez, who also chairs the Illinois Democratic Party, said. “They won’t have to worry about tip credits or other uncertainties with their checks. That puts suburban businesses at a huge disadvantage.”
Feds say former state legislator Annazette Collins avoided nearly $100,000 in taxes
When longtime state legislator Annazette Collins left office a decade ago, she went through a revolving door that’s practically a tradition in Illinois, forming a lobbying and consulting firm that helped major companies such as AT&T and ComEd gain traction with her former colleagues in the General Assembly. Like many politicians who traveled the same well-worn path, Collins did very well.
In addition to paying herself a salary, Collins used her firm’s funds to pay for personal expenses like her mortgage, gym membership, day care and private school tuition for her daughter, according to prosecutors. But when it came time to file her federal income taxes, Collins’ company, Kourtnie Nicole Corp., suddenly looked far less lucrative, prosecutors said in opening statements in Collins’ tax fraud case Tuesday.
Illinois man sentenced to 5 years in prison for trying to burn down Danville abortion clinic
Philip Buyno, 73, of Prophetstown was also ordered to pay more than $300,000 restitution, the Justice Department said in a statement. Authorities said Buyno intended to destroy the building before the clinic could open, citing his long history of abortion opposition.
Assessor contributes $100K to Super PAC in fight with tax appeal commissioner
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi has supercharged a new super PAC with a $100,000 infusion, an apparent escalation in his fight against an adversary on the county’s Board of Review.
3 things we learned at Chicago Blackhawks practice: Winter Classic coming to Wrigley Field, and Tyler Johnson needs to get ‘grimy’
The Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field will host the 2025 Winter Classic between the Hawks and St. Louis Blues, a source confirmed to the Tribune.
The last time the Hawks played in a Winter Classic — or any outdoor game — was against the Boston Bruins on Jan. 1, 2019, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind. The Hawks are 0-4 in Winter Classic events, and previously hosted at Wrigley Field on Jan. 1, 2009.
Chicago Fire acquire Belgian striker Hugo Cuypers for a club-record transfer fee reported at $12 million
The Fire announced the acquisition Tuesday of Belgian striker Hugo Cuypers as a designated player. The reported $12 million transfer fee paid to Belgian first-division club K.A.A. Gent is the largest in Fire history.
Beyond Wonderland Chicago announces lineup for EDM festival
The “Alice in Wonderland”-themed electronic music festival Beyond Wonderland will debut on Northerly Island this summer, the first time for the festival in Chicago.
Performers include Grammy Award-winning artists Tiësto, Diplo and Benny Benassi, as well as Swedish DJ and producer Alesso, Kaskade, trap music artist RL Grime and UK dance powerhouse Eli Brown. A Caterpillar’s Garden stage will honor Chicago’s house music roots, with sets by Chris Lorenzo, Eli Brown and Chicago’s own Felix Da Housecat.
Backcountry skiing is booming in the Northeast. But can the pastime survive climate change?
Winters are getting shorter and seeing more “weather whiplash” events, where rapid swings in temperature cause snow to thaw and refreeze.
Lunar New Year 2024: 11 Chicago restaurant events and specials to roar in the Year of the Dragon
Chicago restaurants are welcoming the Year of the Dragon all month long, with luxurious shrimp and sea bass, a dragon fruit-flavored ale, a family-friendly dumpling-making class and more.
