It’s Tuesday. Check out these stories from WTTW News about a tense mayoral election in Aurora, an interview with U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez and more DOE lawsuits hitting Chicago-area schools. 

CPS, Illinois State Board of Education Under Federal Investigation Over Title IX Violation Allegations

(WTTW News)

The U.S. Department of Education has launched investigations into Chicago Public Schools, the Illinois State Board of Education and Deerfield Public Schools alleging violations of sex discrimination. The department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) last week announced the investigations, which it said were spurred by allegations “that these entities violated Title IX by requiring girls in the school to share their locker room” with transgender students. These latest investigations take aim at policies enacted to ensure safe and welcoming school environments for transgender students.

Complaints filed by the Defense of Freedom Institute and Liberty Justice Center prompted the investigations, claiming that CPS has “ignored its obligations imposed by Title IX,” pointing to a Nov. 14, 2024, resolution approved by the Chicago Board of Education that reiterated the district’s nondiscrimination policy, which includes “access to intimate facilities on the basis of ‘gender identity.’”

The OCR’s statement announcing the investigations also referenced testimony from a Deerfield parent in February, who claimed female students at Shepard Middle School complained to school administrators “that there was a male present in their locker room while they were changing for gym class.” Deerfield district officials have reportedly denied this.

Some backstory: 

According to the OCR, Title IX violations can lead to a district losing federal funding.

The announcement comes as the Department of Education has already undergone massive cuts and layoffs as President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking to abolish the department entirely. Through its Office for Civil Rights, the Education Department conducts investigations and issues guidance on how civil rights laws should be applied, such as for LGBTQ+ students and students of color.  Trump also has pledged to exclude transgender students from Title IX protections, which affect school policies on students’ use of pronouns, bathrooms and locker rooms.

Critics Accuse Richard Irvin’s Supporters of Underhanded Campaign Tactics in Aurora Mayoral Election

The Paramount Theater in Aurora is pictured in a file photo. (EJ Rodriquez / iStock)

Ken Maurice was sitting down to watch TV when he saw someone across the street put up signs for Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin’s reelection bid on the lawn of his mother’s house. He stepped outside to ask what was going on and the conversation wasn’t quite what he expected.

“The guy said, ‘Stay out of this, this has nothing to do with you, this is none of your business, sir,’” Maurice told WTTW News. “I said, ‘It is my business … I own that property, (and) you’re not authorized to be on the property.’”

Maurice said he made clear he didn’t want the campaign signs on his property, but that the outreach team he encountered was belligerent and persistent. The interaction ultimately led to his arrest for battery after a campaign worker claimed to Aurora Police that Maurice was verbally abusive and spit on them — claims Maurice and his many supporters strenuously deny.

Many have taken issue with Irvin’s campaign workers and supporters. Numerous backers of Irvin’s opponent in the April 1 election, Alderman At-Large John Laesch, say they’ve had Laesch signs stolen or defaced. Other critics say Irvin’s campaign has obfuscated his political beliefs – both in this race and in previous elections. 

The Irvin campaign did not respond to requests for comment.

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How Congresswoman Delia Ramirez Is Fighting Trump's Immigration Policies

U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez is pictured in her Washinton office. (Norah D’Cruze / Medill School of Journalism)

U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez represents the 3rd Congressional District and is the first Latina elected to Congress in Illinois and the Midwest. In an interview from her Washington office, she discussed resistance to the president’s aggressive immigration policies and her belief that Democrats need to more aggressively push back against his agenda.

On defending underrepresented communities:

• “I refuse to allow our communities to be considered and treated as criminals, and that also means that I have talked to my own colleagues in the Democratic Party to remind them who they are and how their grandparents also were immigrants”

On the importance of immigrants to the economy:

• “Is the health of the economy important enough to actually establish some kind of immigration reform that provides them a legal pathway so that we have work permits and people can work, so that my milk isn't $35, so that my avocados are not $15?”

More From WTTW News 

• The agency charged with investigating Chicago Police Department misconduct has been without an interim leader for three weeks, and it is not clear who is in charge of investigating the latest fatal police shooting.

Back in the Day: March 25, 1967 - Martin Luther King Jr. Leads Chicago March Against the Vietnam War

On March 25, 1967 — 58 years ago today — civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. led 5,000 marchers down State Street in Chicago to protest the Vietnam War. The march marked King's first anti-war demonstration and demonstrators held signs that read, "War on Poverty, Not People" and "Would Napalm Convert You to Democracy?" As the marchers moved down State Street, they eventually congregated at the Chicago Coliseum where King would call the Vietnam War "a blasphemy against all that America stands for." He also said, "Let me say finally that I oppose the war in Vietnam because I love America. I speak out against it not in anger but with anxiety and sorrow in my heart, and above all with a passionate desire to see our beloved country stand as the moral example of the world." 

This Week’s Staff Recommendations

Every Tuesday, WTTW News staffers share the things the love about this city. 

Yes, it’s still cold out this week. No, it’s not too early to start thinking about how to get out and enjoy the spring weather once it arrives. This week, Dan Lambert, managing editor of digital news, brings you some picks for places in the suburbs to relax, unwind and enjoy a leisurely walk.

A Fox River Stroll

The Fabyan Forest Preserve along the Fox River in Geneva offers a scenic trip through time. Featuring a Japanese Garden (opens for the season May 3) and a circa 1870 Dutch windmill, the easy walk is best paired with a meal at a nearby downtown Geneva restaurant and a glass of wine.

Bahá’í House of Worship

The gardens around the stunningly intricate Bahá’í House of Worship, 100 Linden Ave., Wilmette, provide a perfect escape from the hustle of daily life. Wind your way through the grounds and look up at the architectural marvel that feels transportive in time and place.

Lake Katherine Nature Center

An oasis in the southwest suburbs, Lake Katherine Nature Center, 7402 W. Lake Katherine Drive, Palos Heights, offers a scenic lakeside walk around a wooded path. A soothing waterfall and chirping birds round out the experience.

Prairie Path

Embrace the Prairie State moniker and head out to the Illinois Prairie Path, a miles long trail made for walking or biking. Downtown Villa Park is a good place to start. If you want to complete the full western loop, be prepared for a 24-mile jaunt.

What's a must-visit place in the suburbs? Tell us why. 

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

• One-on-one with Sen. Tammy Duckworth on veteran layoffs, the local impact of federal funding cuts and much more. 

5:30 PM | 10:30 PM

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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry