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Chicago City Wire

Thursday, July 31, 2025

W.J. Kennedy News

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College freshman taking on Madigan in 13th ward

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 23, 2018

A 19-year-old college freshman, David Krupa, could be on the verge of accomplishing what many older, more experienced politicians have failed at over decades: putting a chink in the armor of the Madigan political machine.

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Sanctuary provision included in new Acero teacher contract

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 10, 2018

A provision in a tentative contract reached between the Acero charter school network and the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) will prohibit the school from collecting and distributing information about the immigration status of students, teachers and families, and restricts access by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to schools except by court order, a CTU lawyer told the Associated Press. The contract, which ended a four-day strike, also includes raises for teachers and staff annually over the next four years and a shorter school year and school day.

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Chicago Police adding additional SWAT shift after CCW reports dangerously inadequate manpower

By W.J. Kennedy | Nov 17, 2018

The Chicago Police Department (CPD) says it’s adding an “additional shift” to its SWAT force, giving the city around-the-clock protection against acts of terrorism, hostage takings and other public-safety crises demanding a rapid police response.

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Dems way off-base scaring voters with pre-existing conditions talk, insurance expert says

By W.J. Kennedy | Nov 6, 2018

Democrats have no historic or political grounds to support their campaign rhetoric that Republicans will cast aside insurance coverage for those with pre-existing conditions if they remain in power in Washington, D.C.

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PCP drug played significant role in teen's actions before shooting, experts say

By W.J. Kennedy | Oct 5, 2018

The hallucinogenic drug phencyclidine, or PCP, in Laquan McDonald’s system was a significant factor in what eventually led to his 2014 shooting death by Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, drug recognition experts say.

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Expert: Teen 'whacked out' of his mind from PCP night of police shooting

By W.J. Kennedy | Oct 5, 2018

Jurors deciding the fate of Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke heard key testimony on the mental state of the teen, high on PCP, who refused commands to drop a knife.

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No on-call system for Chicago SWAT endangers officers and civilians, FOP complaint says

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 18, 2018

The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) recently filed a complaint that accuses Chicago’s SWAT team of having a shortage of manpower that endangers the public and police force.

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Influential union leader Jerry Morrison set to appear before Cook County judge on battery charge

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 13, 2018

Jerry Morrison, the politically well-connected and outspoken head of the SEIU, one of the state’s largest public sector unions, is scheduled to appear in the Misdemeanor Section of the Circuit Court of Cook County on October 2 on one charge of battery.

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'El Gallito' to back 'Chuy' Garcia for Chicago mayor

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 12, 2018

U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) is expected to announce today that he is backing Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia for Chicago mayor.

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Proft: 'Mayor Preckwinkle' would put Chicago in 'full de Blasio' mode

By W.J. Kennedy | Sep 6, 2018

In a recent Twitter post, conservative strategist Dan Proft said that “Chicago is poised to go full de Blasio” in reaction to news that Cook County board President Toni Preckwinkle is testing the waters for a run for mayor.

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Berrios spokesman: 'The race is over, Mr. Kaegi'

By W.J. Kennedy | Aug 28, 2018

Last week, Frederick “Fritz” Kaegi, who will almost certainly win the election for Cook County assessor in November, criticized outgoing Assessor Joe Berrios for not developing a residential assessment model fairer to lower-income homeowners.

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Manhattan Institute scholar: Fathers, not more programs, are what’s needed for Chicago schools

By W.J. Kennedy | Aug 14, 2018

The administration, not the kids, will be the big winner from a new $10 million pilot program aimed at Chicago’s most vulnerable public schools, according to Heather MacDonald, a Manhattan Institute scholar who has written extensively on the nation’s public schools.

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“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.

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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.

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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.

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'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.

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'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.

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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.

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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.

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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.