Look up, conditions are favorable for Chicagoans to catch the Aurora Borealis again tonight. Plus, an interview with CPS CEO Pedro Martinez and an update on the Michael Madigan trial.
Let us know what you think about this newsletter by emailing us at DailyChicagoan@wttw.com.
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Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez appears on “Chicago Tonight” on Oct. 9, 2024. (WTTW News)
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With a flood of red ink threatening to consume the Chicago Public Schools, the debate over how to resolve the financial crisis threatening Chicago’s schools shifted Wednesday to a pool of funds designed to fight blight across the city.
CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said during an appearance on WTTW News’ “Chicago Tonight” he has repeatedly urged Mayor Brandon Johnson to use funds from the city’s TIF districts to make a required $175 million payment to one of its employee pension funds and pay for new contracts with the Chicago Teachers Union and the union that represents principals.
Wait, what does TIF mean again?
For years, both the city and CPS have relied on unspent funds in the city’s 124 tax-increment financing districts, known as TIFs, to balance their budgets, preventing deep service cuts and tax hikes.
What does Martinez say?
“We made a very specific request, we said we need another $462 million,” Martinez said, adding that Johnson agreed to give the district $160 million, which will both cover the $62 million cost of the recently ratified SEIU Local 73 contract and provide $97 million toward the district’s operations.
That left a $300 million gap that CPS and city officials asked state officials to fill, Martinez said.
What does the mayor say?
Johnson requested cuts to the district’s administrative operations, but then urged the district to take out a loan when those were not sufficient. Martinez opposed borrowing more money, calling the proposal backed by the mayor “exorbitant” and fiscally irresponsible.
But Johnson said Tuesday that he would not allow teachers to be laid off and cuts made to school programs.
CTU leaders dismissed Martinez’s proposal out of hand calling it a “day late and a billion dollars short.”
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Former House Speaker Michael Madigan exits the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago on Jan. 3. (Andrew Adams / Capitol News Illinois)
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Jury selection officially began Wednesday morning in the Dirksen Federal Building, where former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and his longtime confidant Michael McClain face charges of racketeering, bribery and wire fraud. Tuesday technically marked the start of the trial, as potential jurors arrived in court to fill out questionnaires and attorneys met for an afternoon hearing.
Madigan and McClain — who have been close friends and colleagues for decades — did not acknowledge each other when they entered the courtroom Wednesday morning.
Here's what else happened:
Before potential jurors were questioned at length individually, larger groups were asked simple show-of-hands questions about Illinois politics, Madigan’s name recognition and more.
They were also asked more simple questions like if they live in Chicago, know what ward they’re in, or if they like to play video games.
What's next?
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Aurora as seen by this reporter traveling in northern Ohio, May 2024. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
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A severe geomagnetic storm is heading toward Earth, likely to hit Thursday. What does that mean for Chicagoans? Well, conditions are ripe for another spectacular display of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) in our neck of the woods. The Space Weather Prediction Center is tracking a fast moving "coronal mass ejection," often described as a "solar burp" or gas bubble, that erupted from the sun Tuesday night.
On a geomagnetic storm watch scale of 1 to 5 — with 5 being the most severe — this latest has been ranked a 4. Also, if the prediction center's forecast holds, the Aurora might be seen as far south as Alabama.
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Learn more about advertising & sponsorship with WTTW.
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Also From WTTW News:
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Community safety leaders gathered for a Tuesday panel conversation hosted by philanthropic group The Joyce Foundation in collaboration with WTTW and the City Club of Chicago. Eunice Alpasan has the report.
The EPA set a 10-year deadline for replacing lead service lines. The rule applies to 99% of the nation’s water systems, with exceptions for cities like Chicago, whose 400,000 lead service lines are the most of any city in the U.S.
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Back in the Day: October 10, 1974 - Ald. Paul Wigoda Convicted
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There’s no denying a culture of political corruption exists in Chicago. Since 1972, nearly 40 alderpeople have pleaded guilty or been convicted of a crime related to their official duties, most recently with former Ald. Ed Burke, a City Council mainstay who served a record 54 years. On this day 50 years ago, Ald. Paul
Wigoda (49th Ward) was found guilty of taking a $50,000 bribe to influence a zoning decision in the nearby 50th Ward. It wasn’t even his own ward! A jury found him guilty of creating a false income tax return for 1969 by under-reporting his gross income and ignoring the bribe. At the time, Wigoda was the second person to be convicted in consecutive days after Aid. Thomas E. Keane (31st Ward) was convicted of mail fraud and conspiracy. Eventually, Wigoda, who faced three years in prison, was sentenced to one year. He was released after six months and died in 2006.
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On the Artbeat with Marc Vitali
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Steve Key and Wandachristine in “Misery” at American Blues Theater. (Michael Brosilow)
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Here’s a short list of hair-raising reasons to climb out of your casket and explore the necropolis. Note: we avoided anything that calls itself “spooktacular.” Also, no pub crawls. If you want to get frightfully drunk and spend the evening at 26th and California in your Wolverine costume, you’re on your own.
“House of the Exquisite Corpse” – At Chicago’s only immersive puppet haunted house, six teams of artists create horror experiences with performance, soundscape, illusion and puppetry. Prepare for an artful and creepy encounter. This year the theme is Superstitions, so step on a crack on your way to Rough House Theatre’s fourth annual return to Steppenwolf’s Merle Reskin Garage Space. Oct. 10 – Nov. 2.
“The Golden Girls Meet the Skooby Don’t Gang: The Mystery of the Haunted Bush” – This won’t be scary, unless you’re one of those unfortunates who are terrified of men in drag. In this campy parody, the mystery gang join the Golden Girls – yes, four guys all dolled up as Blanche, Dorothy, Rose and Sophia. Hell in a Handbag Productions promises “totally inappropriate content.” Chopin Theatre. Oct. 10 – Nov. 3
Graceland Cemetery – Going to Graceland is always a treat. Visit for fall colors and to see a new exhibition in the visitor center on Inez Clarke, the girl immortalized by an angelic statue on her grave. The exhibition is a joint effort between DePaul University and Graceland. While you’re there, don’t miss the grave of the aptly named Dexter Graves, memorialized by the haunting bronze figure titled “Eternal Silence” sculpted by Lorado Taft.
Dia de Muertos – The National Museum of Mexican Art’s annual “Day of the Dead” exhibition is the best in the area. They take it seriously and don’t just drag out the same stuff they dragged out last year. It’s thoughtfully curated – and they have a nice gift shop! This year’s themes is “Where the Past is Present” and is dedicated to Ray Patlán, a Chicago muralist who died this year. Now – Dec 8.
“Misery” – The Stephen King novel was adapted into a Rob Reiner movie in 1990 and then it became a Broadway show. It tells the tale of a famous author terrorized by his biggest fan, and this splendid production delivers thrills and a bit levity, too. The actor Wandachristine makes a fascinating “Annie Wilkes,” the twisted fan who will stop at nothing to revive her
favorite fictional character. American Blues Theatre - Through Oct. 26
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If you were to move to Chicago for the first time, what neighborhood would you
choose? Longtime locals and transplants, tell us why.
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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One-on-one with Cristina Pacione-Zayas, Mayor Brandon Johnson's chief of staff.
A new “Chicago Stories” documentary looks at the history of The Young Lords of Lincoln Park.
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5:30 PM | 10:00 PM
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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