Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson visits the Illinois Capitol in May 2024. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has raised alarm bells with some state lawmakers after the entire Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Board of Education resigned Friday amid apparent pressure from Johnson for the board to oust CPS CEO Pedro Martinez and approve a short-term high-interest loan to cover budget gaps in the district, which Martinez opposes.  

Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago), who led a Johnson- and Chicago Teachers Union (CTU)-supported plan through Springfield to layout the process for electing CPS’ board beginning this fall, issued a statement Saturday that sparked backlash from the mayor’s allies.