Good morning, today WTTW News dives deep on the latest in the ongoing leadership battle at CPS. Plus, some news on the economy and local concert picks.

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What's Going On at CPS? 

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates and CPS CEO Pedro Martinez appear on “Chicago Tonight.” Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks to media. (WTTW News)

Tensions appear to be at an all-time high between CPS CEO Pedro Martinez and both Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Teachers Union. Here's a breakdown of the evolving situation with the background you need to know. Keep in mind this is all happening as the CTU and CPS are sitting down for contract negotiations.

Amid reports that Johnson told Martinez he wants him to leave his position, CTU President Stacy Davis Gates appeared on "Chicago Tonight" Monday with choice words for Martinez, claiming he’s “a sore thumb” on education issues in Chicago and that she has an encrypted list of schools CPS planned to close. 

Here's what she had to say: 

• “And if this list is no longer an active list, then, ‘Who made those decisions and why?’ I think the CEO owes us some explanations. He doesn’t deny the existence of the list.”

On Tuesday, following that interview, Martinez introduced a resolution that promised CPS’ school board would not close or consolidate any schools during his tenure as CEO. He also published a defiant Chicago Tribune op-ed with the headline: “I’m not resigning as CPS chief, and we’re not closing any schools.” 

Here’s what he said in a letter to parents: 

• “I’m reaching out to hopefully ease your concerns about continued rumors of school closings in CPS. Unfortunately, the misinformation campaign around this issue is still underway. So let me be 100% clear — there are absolutely no plans to close, consolidate or phase out any district-managed schools.”

What did the op-ed say? 

• "Mayor Brandon Johnson asked for my resignation. I declined. ... I have chosen not to resign because doing so would risk creating a leadership vacuum and instability that could disrupt the strategic progress we’ve made to date." 

More back and forth: 

• Adding to the confusion, yesterday afternoon the district sent a statement claiming the board would not consider a loan or CPS CEO Pedro Martinez's job at Thursday's meeting. Board of Ed President Jianan Shi says he was not informed of any CPS statement. "This is not a joint statement," he wrote on X. "As Board President, I am just seeing this now." 

• A CPS spokesperson told WTTW News reporter Heather Cherone it was an error to send the statement that used bolded letters to identify it as "a joint statement."

What's next? 

• State law prohibits any CPS schools from being closed before Jan. 15. On Thursday, Martinez's resolution is set to be considered by the school board. If passed, it would extend that moratorium for an additional two years, through the 2026-27 school year. 

Chicago Fed President Is Pretty Optimistic About the US Economy

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President and CEO Austan Goolsbee and Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs speak at the National Association of State Treasurers conference in Chicago on Sept. 23, 2024. (WTTW News)

This economy has been tough to predict, but Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President and CEO Austan Goolsbee has reason for hope. 

In an interview with Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs as part of the National Association of State Treasurers conference in Chicago, Goolsbee said the U.S. is currently on what he calls a “golden path.” Inflation has cooled from historic highs without the country going into a recession, and the unemployment rate is at what economists generally consider a sweet spot. Now the key is staying there. Goolsbee said that’s why the Fed’s half percentage point interest rate reduction last week “made sense.” He predicts more rate cuts are coming.

On inflation: 

• In the past two years, inflation has come “way down,” Goolsbee said. “It did so without there being a recession, which has never happened before in the U.S. and virtually anywhere in the world.”

On jobs: 

• "The hiring rate, the quit rate, each of these measures on the job market, they’re all saying the same thing, which is directionally we’re cooling.” But don’t panic, Goolsbee said. Because the unemployment rate is low, that shouldn’t be a warning sign.

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Also From WTTW News: 

• Two Illinois Supreme Court rulings tackle FOID seizures and hospital room privacy. Capitol News Illinois’ Peter Hancock and Hannah Meisel have the details.

• More than 200 men and women were sexually abused as children while in custody at juvenile detention centers in Illinois, according to lawsuits filed Monday.

Back in the Day: September 25, 1934 - Newlywed Gives Up Embezzler Husband 

Here at Daily Chicagoan, we like to read old newspapers to figure out what to include in our regular “Back in the Day” series. Sometimes these stories are so fascinating that they could be the plot of an excellent movie. Take what happened to Dorothy Rayne 90 years ago today. A New York-based beauty shop operator, she eloped to Chicago with an “heir” to a massive fortune only to come to this city and find out that not only was her husband a fraud who embezzled his money, he was also already married. On this day in 1934, Rayne visited Chicago to lead authorities to a safe deposit box containing $19,455 of the stolen money (that’s $452,102 in 2024). Her husband, Clifford T. Smith, claimed he received the money from an aunt, but he actually embezzled it from the Long Island Railroad and fled to Chicago with Rayne. Once Rayne figured out he was lying, he vanished with an additional stolen $25,000 and claimed that he’d jump in Niagara Falls.

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Via Chicago (Josh Terry’s Concert Recommendations) 

Dos Santos (Victor Duarte) 

Each Wednesday, Via Chicago presents select shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more. 

Wednesday, Sept. 25: 
GIFT, Sharp Pins, Chaepter at Schubas. Tickets.
The Brooklyn psych-rockers headline a night featuring two excellent Chicago songwriters opening. 

Julien Baker, McKinley Dixon, Katie Malco at Thalia Hall. Sold out. 
The critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and Boygenius member is joined by a multi-talented Chicago rapper and a British indie rocker. 

Thursday, Sept. 26: 
Fog Lake, Foxes In Fiction at Beat Kitchen. Tickets. 
Two bedroom-pop mainstays share the bill for a night of introspection and thoughtful music. 

Astrid Sonne, Ariel Zetina at Co-Prosperity Sphere. Tickets. 
The Danish pop experimentalist has one of the most beguiling and fascinating albums of 2024 with “Great Doubt.” A prominent and innovative Chicago DJ opens. 

Mali Velasquez, Bloomsday, V.V. Lightbody at Empty Bottle. Tickets. 
There’s understated but excellent folk and indie rock happening in Ukrainian Village. 

Ibibio Sound Machine, BSA Gold, Finding Ijeoma at Outset. Tickets.
The English electronic afro-funk band hits the new Bucktown venue.  

Friday, Sept. 27: 
Sean Thompson's Weird Ears, Lucky Cloud at Judson and Moore. Tickets. 
A virtuosic guitarist from Nashville visits Avondale for a night of cosmic riffs, twangy tunes and Grateful Dead-inspired jams. 

Tasha, McKinley Dixon at Lincoln Hall. Tickets. 
Two Chicago artists grace the Lincoln Park venue. Revisit Tasha’s interview with Daily Chicagoan here. 

American Football, Bnny at Thalia Hall. Sold out. 
Emo icons and an exciting Chicago indie rock band play in Pilsen. 

Saturday, Sept. 28: 
Indie Park Fest at Independence Park. Free. 
A free, all-day music festival of indie, jam and outre rock music that runs from noon to 9:30 p.m. in Irving Park. 

Spirit of the Beehive, Winter at Outset. Tickets.
The noisy and experimental Philly punk band is debuting songs from a great new album in Bucktown. 

Dos Santos at Old Town School of Folk. Tickets. 
This Chicago quintet combines Latinx rhythms and melodies with jazz, rock and funk into an incredible live performance. 

American Football, Wishy at Thalia Hall. Sold out. 
The emo legends are joined by a rising Indianapolis rock band. 

Sunday, Sept. 29:  
Warm Cool Love Dreams at Salt Shed Fairgrounds. Tickets.
Night 2 of the festival boasts jazzy and adventurous dance acts like Kelela, Floating Points, Shabaka and SML. 

Monday, Sept. 30:
Marcos Valle at Metro. Tickets. 
An icon of Brazilian pop since the ‘60s returns to Chicago for a club show. 

Tuesday, Oct. 1:
Sturgill Simpson at Salt Shed Fairgrounds. Sold out. 
The acclaimed country singer begins a two-night stand at Salt Shed with jammy sets and no openers. 

The Cubs lost last night. With their playoff hopes fading, the defeat hands the NL Central title to the Milwaukee Brewers. 

Other News From Around Town:

• The Chicago Tribune looked at Angel Reese's rookie WNBA season and previewed what's to come for the Chicago Sky star. 

• The White Sox and their fans have been handling their historically bad season with jokes and memes, writes the Chicago Sun-Times.

•  Heavy rain and flooding hit the south suburbs yesterday.

The Cubs lost last night. With their playoff hopes fading, the defeat hands the NL Central title to the Milwaukee Brewers. 

How do you feel about the new stadium proposals from the White Sox and the Bears? Tell us what you think.

Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. 

• A wrongful conviction and 10 years in prison lead to a record jury award. Marcel Brown shares his story.

• A Chicago artist honors house music in a new mural outside a local library.

  
  

  
  

  
  

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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry