Category: Chicago

8-Year-Old Girl Fatally Struck by Stray Bullet in Chicago Identified

By Tatyana Turner From Chicago Tribune CHICAGO—One minute 8-year-old Melissa Ortega was walking with her mother through their Little Village community Saturday afternoon. The next, gunshots rang out, and mother and daughter broke into a sprint, trying to run to safety in a nearby bank. But it was too late. One of those bullets had…


Two 14-Year-Old Boys Killed in Separate Shootings in Chicago

CHICAGO—A 14-year-old boy was fatally shot on Chicago’s South Side just hours after another boy the same age was shot and killed on the city’s near West Side, police said Thursday. No arrests had been made in the shootings Wednesday, police said. The first shooting happened just before 4 p.m. Police said a boy, identified…


Chicago Officials Reach Deal With Teachers’ Union to Return to Classrooms

Chicago officials and leaders of the city’s teachers’ union have reached a deal that will see teachers return to classrooms on Tuesday. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) hammered out a pact after nearly a week of negotiations. CTU members voted last week to stop teaching in-person. CPS rejected an attempt…


Chicago Cancels Classes for Fourth Day as City, Teachers Union Fail to Reach New Deal

Chicago officials canceled classes citywide on Monday as they failed to reach a new agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). Union members voted last week to abruptly shift to virtual teaching, a move rejected by Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and Mayor Lori Lightfoot. City officials instead canceled classes and have been seeking to convince…


Chicago Cancels Classes for 4th Day as City, Teachers Union Fail to Reach New Deal

Chicago officials canceled classes citywide on Jan. 10 as they failed to reach a new agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). Union members voted last week to abruptly shift to virtual teaching, a move rejected by Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. City officials instead canceled classes and have been seeking…


Chicago Rejects Teachers Union Proposal to Make Classes Virtual

Chicago leaders on Saturday forcefully rejected a teachers union proposal that would make classes virtual for at least four days. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a Democrat, said in a statement that leadership of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) are not listening. “The best, safest place for kids to be is in school. Students need to…


Chicago Parents Sue Teachers Union Over Refusal to Teach In-person

A group of Chicago parents this week sued the city’s teachers union over its refusal to teach classes in person. The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) voted on Tuesday night to only teach classes remotely, arguing the rise in COVID-19 cases and an alleged lack of protective measures made it too dangerous to instruct students inside…


Chicago Cancels School for Third Straight Day Amid Standoff With Teachers Union

Chicago canceled classes on Friday amid a standoff with the city’s teachers union (CTU), which is refusing to teach in-person. Parents were told late Thursday that classes were axed for the third straight day as “we continue working to get CTU staff back in our buildings.” A small number of schools may be able to…


Chicago Cancels Classes for 2nd Day as Teachers Refuse to Teach In-Person

Chicago officials have canceled classes for the second consecutive day after the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) refused to teach in-person. Chicago Public Schools (CPS) announced late Wednesday that classes would not take place either in-person or remotely on Thursday. “We apologize for the disruption that the union’s illegal work stoppage is causing for your family,”…


Chicago Cancels Classes After Teachers Union Votes to Return to Virtual Learning

Chicago school officials canceled classes Wednesday following a teachers union vote to shift back to virtual learning due to a rise in COVID-19 cases. The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) voted 73 percent in favor of a resolution that called for a return to learning outside classrooms. The union says teachers won’t return to classrooms unless…