Felix Ponce and Angel Gutierrez are pictured. [Ponce campaign social media/provided by Gutierrez campaign]

Angel Gutierrez and Felix Ponce are competing for a two-year term on the 8th District seat on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education next year. The district includes Clearing and West Lawn, parts of the South Loop, McKinley Park, Gage Park and Bridgeport, and it includes much of Back of the Yards, Chicago Lawn, Garfield Ridge, Ashburn.

The Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation hears from Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners appointee Sharon Bush on Oct. 25, 2024. [Livestream]

The City Council Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation voted Friday to confirm Sharon Bush to the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners. 

Her appointment now moves to the City Council for final consideration. If confirmed, Bush would serve out the unexpired term of former commissioner Myetie H. Hamilton, who resigned.

Ciera Whitaker is pictured. [Provided photo]

The City Council Committee on Police and Fire on Friday approved an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Police District Council in District 6. Chicago Police District 6 includes Auburn Gresham, Brainerd, Beverly View and parts of Beverly.

Yesenia Lopez, Eva Villalobos and Raquel Don are all running in the District 7 Chicago school board race. [Photos provided]

The race to represent District 7 on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education next year is a three-way bout between Yesenia Lopez, Eva Villalobos and Raquel Don, but the local teachers union and charter school interest groups are spending significantly on Lopez and Villalobos, respectively.

District 7 includes Pilsen, Chinatown, the Near West Side, parts of Armour Square, Bridgeport and McKinley Park and most of Little Village, Archer Heights, Gage Park and Brighton Park.

Alderpeople on various City Council committees will hear about a statewide ballot referendum aimed at doling out property tax relief and consider appointments to the park district board and a police district council on Friday.

From left to right, Anusha Thotakura, Jessica Biggs, Andre Smith and Danielle Wallace. [Photos either provided by campaign or taken from campaign materials. Wallace picture taken from Kingdom Avenue Inc. website]

Jessica Biggs, Anusha Thotakura and Andre Smith are all on the ballot in the race to represent District 6 on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education next year.

A fourth candidate, Danielle Wallace, is also running as a write-in candidate in the district, which includes the Near North Side and Near South Side, encompassing Streeterville, River North, Cabrini Green, parts of the Loop, parts of West Town and some of Wicker Park as well as Englewood, Grand Boulevard, Washington Park, much of Greater Grand Crossing and parts of Woodlawn, Hyde Park and Bronzeville.

Mayor Brandon Johnson presides over a City Council meeting on Oct. 9, 2024. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council voted 35-12 to approve a $1.5 billion bond refinancing plan at a special meeting Tuesday after the item was delayed by opponents earlier this month.

Jitu Brown and Jousef Shkoukani are pictured. A photo of Kernetha Jones was unable to be obtained. [Photos from campaign social media]

Just one candidate is officially on the ballot in the Chicago Board of Education race in District 5 — Aaron "Jitu" Brown, an activist for education and national director for the Journey for Justice Alliance. Brown was part of the hunger strikes in 2015 that helped thwart plans to close Walter Dyett High School in Bronzeville.

Ald. Daniel La Spata (1), chair of the pedestrian and traffic safety committee, is pictured. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety on Monday approved three measures that are part of a legislative package to reduce fatalities from traffic accidents and address illegal parking. The package’s main ordinance reduces Chicago’s default speed limit.

The proposals are in support of “Vision Zero,” the city’s commitment to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2026.

From left to right on each row: Karen Zaccor, Ellen Rosenfeld, Kimberly Brown, Thomas Day, Carmen Gioiosa and Andrew Davis. [Photos from campaign websites/social media]

A six-way race to represent District 4 on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education features Karen Zaccor, Ellen Rosenfeld, Kimberly Brown, Thomas Day, Carmen Gioiosa and Andrew Davis, but two candidates are far out-fundraising the other four.

The district includes Lincoln Park, Lake View, North Center and the majority of Uptown.

Jason Dónes and Carlos Rivas are running to represent District 3 on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education.

Jason Dónes and Carlos Rivas are running to represent District 3 on the partially elected Chicago Board of Education. District 3 is more than 60 percent Hispanic and includes parts of Humboldt Park, most of Hermosa and Avondale, Logan Square, Belmont Cragin, Irving Park East and Belmont Gardens. 

The Cook County assessor released the latest information about the triennial reassessment of Chicago Thursday, and alderpeople next week will consider a proposal to lower Chicago’s default speed limit. 

Mayor Brandon Johnson takes press questions on Oct. 9, 2024 after a City Council meeting. [Don Vincent/The Daily Line]

The Civic Federation issued a report Wednesday that includes suggestions for how the city can address its projected budget holes without raising property taxes, including a temporary suspension of a supplementary pension contribution, mandatory employee furloughs and the repurposing of outstanding federal pandemic relief funds.

The research organization said the city should pursue non-revenue options first before it considers raising or implementing new taxes and should avoid property tax hikes at all costs. 

The City Council's education committee hosts CPS CEO Pedro Martinez for a subject matter hearing on the district's budget on Oct. 16, 2024. [Michael McDevitt/The Daily Line]

The City Council Committee on Education and Child Development heard from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Pedro Martinez Wednesday amid weeks of uncertainty about his future leading the school district, as Mayor Brandon Johnson has reportedly tried to push him out, though the mayor has not confirmed that version of events. 

DOWNTOWN — Greyhound will continuing operating out of its Downtown terminal temporarily, a spokesperson confirmed Tuesday — just days before the bus line was expected to vacate the facility.

A spokesperson for Flix North America, which owns Greyhound, said in a statement the company is negotiating a “month-to-month” lease to stay at the site with station owner Twenty Lake Holdings, a subsidiary of the Alden Global Capital investment firm.

Greyhound’s lease at the terminal, 630 W. Harrison St., was expected to end on Sunday. A company vice president previously said bus lines would have to vacate the facility by Sept. 20, but they have continued operating there this month.

But with no clear plan for where buses would go instead, the company is staying put — for now.