Il. House Speaker Chris Welch

The Chicago Teachers Union is demanding an annual pay raise of 9% or the consumer price index-whichever is less—and won't rule out a strike, even with one of their own in the mayor's office, union president Stacy Davis Gates said Thursday."We're a labor union. We're not a political party Leven though] people...want to redefine the Chicago Teachers Union in all types of ways," Davis Gates told the Sun-Times.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gin Kilgore, acting executive director of Friends of the Parks, is not about to go along with, what she called Bears President Kevin Warren’s “Buy now. This deal won’t last” sales pitch.“We need to slow down...Involve a lot of stakeholders…We need a lot of scrutiny because this isn’t just about the lakefront…It’s about public financing. It’s about community development...When I think about how long it takes to build a park or a school, it just boggles the mind. That just because you’re a billionaire or a power broker that, all of a sudden, you can snap your fingers and say, `This is the timeline….That the norms and the rules don’t quite apply to us as they do with other people.’ That’s the part that has, just really honestly, stunned me…It seems like we have to, `Buy now or you’ll lose this deal forever.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Education Committee chair Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th) to discuss her concerns and outlook on the transition of Chicago Public Schools to a hybrid elected school board, emphasizing the potential for chaos and political misuse.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by Ravinia Festival president and CEO Jeffrey Haydon to discuss the guests and musical performers expected in Highland Park this summer. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman welcomes colleagues Sun-Times political reporter Tina Sfondeles and WBEZ state and government reporter Dave McKinney to discuss the races to watch ahead of Tuesday's election. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A City Council subcommittee overseeing the search for new revenue will report back in 30 days with ideas that include video gaming, helicopter service to and from O’Hare and Midway Airports and turning vacant downtown retail space into a haven for digital advertising.Freshman Ald. William Hall (6th), Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handpicked chair, also warmed to the possibility of leveling the tax playing field between the have’s and have-nots, by seeking legislative approval for a city income tax on salaries over $100,000 earned in Chicago or a “wealth tax” on stock holdings and personal liquid assets of wealthy residents.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we spotlight the Oscars, with Jimmy Kimmel at the helm to host for a fourth time. Sun-Times film critic Richard Roeper shares exciting yet candid reflections on the ceremonies, the movie industry's pandemic recovery, and the waning suspense of Oscars night as he joins cinephile and City Hall reporter Fran Spielman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by the president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Rob Karr, to discuss the challenges faced by retailers in Chicago, including the decrease in foot traffic downtown and the impact of tax increases on businesses.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Eddie Johnson served as the city’s police superintendent when the ShotSpotter technology was integrated into the 12 district technology centers. He doesn’t blame ShotSpotter for declining the extension. Still, the former top cop told the Sun-Times he’s afraid about what will happen without the technology.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pretty pictures and rosy financial forecasts have piqued interest in building a new White Sox stadium in the South Loop, but it’s time to put some meat on the bone and talk about how to pay for it.That was the bottom line Thursday from Il. House Speaker Chris Welch, a key player in determining whether the dazzling renderings released by developer Related Midwest turn into reality or remain a pipe dream.“I would love to know how they’re planning to pay for it. I look forward to hearing that from the developers. I imagine they’re taking it step-by-step. They want to make sure there is an appetite for it,” Welch told the Sun-Times. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.