Amendment 1 would give teachers unions more power over students’ health

08/01/2022

The number of students enrolling in Chicago Public Schools continues to fall as teachers’ unions impose COVID-19 policies and infringe on parents’ choices about their childrens’ health and safety. A ballot proposal would make that worse.

TAGS: Amendment 1, Chicago, COVID-19, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, government unions, mask mandate, parenting, public schools, teachers union

Biden extends transit mask mandate by 1 month

By Dylan Sharkey

03/11/2022

Travelers on planes, buses and other public transportation will have to stay masked until April 18. The federal mandate was to expire March 18.

TAGS: Amtrak, CTA: Chicago Transit Authority, Joe Biden, mask mandate, Metra

Chicago Public Schools to end mask mandate March 14

By Patrick Andriesen

03/08/2022

Chicago Public Schools will make masks optional for students and staff starting March 14, following CDC guidance. The Chicago Teacher’s Union said union leaders were working to block the decision and keep students masked.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, mask mandate

Chicago Public Schools tells parents mask-optional coming soon

By Dylan Sharkey

03/03/2022

Chicago Public Schools’ top administrator told parents a mask-optional model for students and staff is coming soon. A Chicago Teachers Union dictate has kept students in masks despite the statewide mandate being lifted.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, mask mandate

Courts could block Chicago Public Schools mask mandate

By Dylan Sharkey

03/02/2022

Despite revised statewide orders, Chicago Public Schools are still requiring universal masking in all schools and offices after the Chicago Teachers Union forced the change through a walkout. A judge was asked to let student faces go free.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, mask mandate

Pritzker mandates masks in health care clinics one day after mask mandate ends

By Dylan Sharkey

03/01/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has revised the indoor mask mandate issued in August, limiting indoor masking to health care and congregate facilities. Also, he said the Illinois Department of Public Health director is resigning.

TAGS: executive order, JB Pritzker, mask mandate

Illinois Supreme Court denies Pritzker’s appeal of school mask mandate decisions, schools move to mask optional Feb. 28

By Amy Korte, Mailee Smith

02/25/2022

After the Illinois Supreme Court determined the state’s appeal of decisions regarding the governor’s school mask rules was moot, the governor declared schools can move to mask optional policies on Feb. 28.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court, JB Pritzker, mask mandate, public schools

What you need to know about Pritzker’s legal fight to keep students masked

By Mailee Smith

02/24/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is asking the Illinois Supreme Court to let him keep his authority to force Illinoisans to mask. But his effort to keep his COVID-19 mandate power is ignoring relevant data.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, mask mandate, public schools

Chicago public schools keep masks in place as city, parochial schools end mandate

By Dylan Sharkey

02/24/2022

Chicago Public Schools’ Board of Education said vaccination rates have it keeping students and staff in masks Feb. 28 and beyond. Parents are asking what it will take to see classrooms without masks. More private schools are taking off masks.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, mask mandate

Chicago schools keep mask mandate despite end to city, state requirement

By Hannah Max

02/23/2022

Teachers union agreements may dictate enforcement of school mask policies – even if Illinois lifts its statewide school mask mandate, a judge noted.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, mask mandate

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

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Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

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Susie Warden

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students