Chicago City Wire

“Sometimes there are so many they look like they’re having a union meeting"- Southwest Siders rally against prostitution

By W.J. Kennedy | Jul 31, 2018

The Chicago Police Department (CPD) has organized a “Take Back the Streets” rally at 7 p.m. today on 49th and Cicero, a corner in Archer Heights that has neighbors on a crusade to rid it, and the entire block, of prostitutes and drug dealers.

Ives calls for Chicago Public Schools to be 'broken up into smaller districts' following another sex assault report

By W.J. Kennedy | Jul 31, 2018

An investigative report into student-on-student sexual assaults in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) published recently in the Chicago Tribune is another heartbreaking symptom of a school district beyond repair, according to lawmakers and education experts asked for their reactions to the report.

Republican Party officials boycott Cook County meeting over proposed bylaw change

By W.J. Kennedy | Jul 27, 2018

A proposed change in the bylaws of the Cook County Republican Party that would have allowed Democrats to serve as Republican ward committeemen fizzled at a meeting of party officials July 25 and county Republicans lacked a quorum necessary for a vote after nearly 30 committeemen boycotted the meeting.

'Say goodbye' to Chicago GOP if Morrison amendment adopted

By W.J. Kennedy | Jul 23, 2018

A proposed initiative that would virtually destroy the Republican Party in Chicago and forfeit any chance of fair oversight of elections in Cook County is slated to go before county Republican committeemen on Wednesday night.

'If a call goes out, it’s a Hail Mary'; former officer says Chicago SWAT lacks training, manpower

By W.J. Kennedy | Jul 9, 2018

Chicago’s SWAT teams are ill-prepared to respond to terrorism, the taking of a hostage or any other crisis that demands a rapid, full-scale police presence, a former SWAT team member says.

CPS' facilities contractor, with poor track record, advertises jobs that require no drug tests

By W.J. Kennedy | Jun 28, 2018

In April, Aramark, a Philadelphia-based food service and facilities company, held a jobs fair at St. Sabina Church on the South Side, listing openings for food service workers, cooks, general utility workers and custodial service workers.

Still no arrests in mob assault on teenager near Lane Tech; Roscoe Village residents on edge

By W.J. Kennedy | Jun 12, 2018

Chicago Police (CPD) have yet to make any arrests stemming from a mob assault, caught on video, on a 15-year-old male near Lane Tech High School in Roscoe Village during a Memorial Day weekend carnival.

Do thin SWAT ranks put Chicago at risk?

By W.J. Kennedy | Jun 11, 2018

Chicago City Wire has learned that Chicago Police (CPD) routinely has only two members of its SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) unit on duty in the city overnight.

Armed member of 'Pfleger’s security' arrested outside his church

By W.J. Kennedy | Jun 1, 2018

An armed security guard associated with staunch anti-gun and nationally known social activist, Father Michael Pfleger, was arrested on May 27 outside St. Sabina’s Roman Catholic Church on the South Side where Pfleger is a senior pastor.

Some Cook County homeowners on the hook for additional property taxes

By W.J. Kennedy | May 15, 2018

Irving Myrick only recently discovered that the property taxes on the retirement home he bought in Markham in 2012 were double what he thought he'd owe at the time of purchase. Now he’s fighting just to be able to afford to keep the house.

Records show taxpayers paid $100K for CPS student trips to Costa Rica, South Africa, Ireland, Italy

By W.J. Kennedy | Apr 25, 2018

Records obtained by Chicago City Wire show that Chicago Public Schools (CPS) spent nearly $100,000 for student and teacher trips to the United Kingdom, Italy, South Africa and Costa Rica last year, as district leaders were asking Illinoisans to pay more in taxes to bail out the insolvent, debt-ridden district.

Edgebrook chamber behind plan to levy higher property taxes under special service area designation

By W.J. Kennedy | Apr 17, 2018

Tim Pomaville, a real estate developer and property owner in Edgebrook, said he was shocked when he received a notice just over a week ago that the Edgebrook Sauganash Chamber of Commerce was behind a proposal to raise property taxes as part of a special service area (SSA) designation.

Encouraged by primary success, Northwest Side GOP Club looks to November

By W.J. Kennedy | Apr 3, 2018

In the Republican primary election for governor, four wards in the Northwest Side bucked the voting trend of the nearby wards by favoring Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) over Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Chicago GOP threatens CPS with lawsuit over students' anti-gun protests

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 23, 2018

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) face the threat of a lawsuit from the Chicago Republican Party over recent student anti-gun protests, which were supported by school administrators.

From North Cook News

Silverstein re-election bid aided by 'ghost candidate' McAteer-Fournier

By W.J. Kennedy | 7 years ago

The primary campaign of embattled incumbent State Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago), who faced sexual harassment charges late last year, is being helped by a third candidate in the race, Caroline McAteer-Fournier, a source close to the race told North Cook News.

Chicago Public Schools paid for student trips to Costa Rica, expense records show

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 16, 2018

Expense records obtained by Chicago City Wire show that Chicago Public Schools spent nearly $100,000 on international student trips booked through a Chicago-based travel agency over the past year.

Silverstein re-election bid gets $55,400 boost from State Democratic Victory Fund

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 19, 2018

The State Democratic Victory Fund provided $55,400 in campaign funds to state Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago), according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Irish-American blog blasts Rauner politicking at slain officer's funeral, cites growing support for Ives

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 19, 2018

A Feb. 18 post on Citizens Report American Irish Culture's website said Gov. Bruce Rauner “takes the cake for having the nerve to turn a dead cop’s funeral into a campaign stop.”

From Prairie State Wire

Cook County GOP's endorsement of Rauner may not be what it seems

By W.J. Kennedy | 7 years ago

Republicans from at least one township in Cook County said that Tuesday's endorsement of Gov. Bruce Rauner was the outcome of a rigged process and not a reflection of grass-roots support within the party.

Rauner state schools' chief calls for $1,500 per household tax hike

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 23, 2018

Governor Bruce Rauner's handpicked state schools superintendent is calling for a massive, $7.2 billion tax hike to fund higher school administrator and staff salaries.