Happy Friday! Read on for the latest on the CPS budget, transportation and a spring break travel forecast.
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The National Weather Service operates 160 of these doppler radar stations, which allow forecasters to "see" the formation of tornadoes and issue warnings. (Credit: Goodvibes Photo / iStock)
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Patty Wetli: When I first started covering the urban nature beat at WTTW News five years ago, I wouldn’t have guessed that reporting on weather would be such a big part of the job.
But severe weather — be it a derecho, blizzard, heat wave or flood — IS nature news.
Because I’m not a meteorologist, I’ve become well acquainted with the Chicago office of the National Weather Service, which has been an invaluable resource, from the media briefings they hold in advance of major weather events to the treasure trove of historical data they maintain.
For climate info, including drought outlooks, I’ve come to rely on NOAA often enough that I don’t have to think too hard about what the acronym stands for: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA, incredibly, runs a space weather prediction center, which is how I found out about the solar activity that led to the stunning auroras visible in Chicago last year.
Actual meteorologists depend on the Weather Service and NOAA, too, to an extent I hadn’t realized.
In a new web chat, Tom Skilling — even in retirement, still the grand poobah of Chicago meteorologists — explained how the Weather Service and NOAA are responsible for operating the systems and gathering the data that inform weather forecasts, track hurricanes, issue tornado alerts and analyze things like Great Lakes ice cover.
These agencies are now in the crosshairs of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, and Skilling is speaking out.
“It’s outrageous,” he said of job cuts at NOAA and the National Weather Service. Among those who’ve been let go: doppler radar technicians, who keep this “amazingly complex” equipment up and running.
The number of lives saved by the doppler system “is extraordinary,” Skilling said, noting that it provides people with the crucial handful of minutes they need to get to safety as a tornado approaches. “The implications of fiddling with our warning systems are scary,” he said.
The entire interview with Skilling, conducted by Howard Learner of the Environmental Law and Policy Center, can be viewed online.
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CTA train in downtown Chicago. (Rawf8 / iStock)
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In a move aimed at galvanizing lawmakers, riders and advocates, Chicago-area transit agencies on Friday released worst-case scenarios of the drastic cuts they say will be necessary if state lawmakers don’t plug an anticipated $770 million budget gap for CTA, Metra and Pace in 2026.
“We want to get people’s attention so they understand the very dire consequences that could happen,” said Leanne Redden, executive director of the Regional Transportation Authority.
A doomsday model?
The transit agencies came up with the doomsday models at the RTA’s behest, responding to calls from Springfield legislators who’ve demanded specifics about how bad it could get if transit goes over the fiscal cliff — as well as what public transportation could look like if lawmakers go beyond plugging the budget gap and drastically increase state funding.
“We’re facing a 20% shortfall in our operating budgets … but it’s not a one for one comparison,” Redden said. “To fill that gap and avoid that fiscal cliff of $770 (million), it translates to about a 40% cut in service.”
How it affects each agency:
The CTA is facing the largest budget gap. It warns that it could close or scale back service to more than 50 train stations, end service on all or some of four out of its eight lines and cut up to 74 out of its 127 bus routes.
Metra is warning it might have to slash weekday service to one train per hour and weekend service to one train every two hours, end early morning and late evening trains and shut down the Blue Island Branch.
Pace said it could end all weekend bus service, slash late-night service on 62 bus routes and dramatically scale back paratransit on weekends by as much as 66%.
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(WTTW News)
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Chicago Board of Education leaders called off a vote Thursday to cover a $175 million pension payment amid implacable opposition, dealing a significant blow to Mayor Brandon Johnson and threatening the city’s financial stability.
Why?
Board President Sean Harden said the measure that would allow the Chicago Public Schools to make that pension payment and pay for new contracts would come back to the board “at a later date.”
Harden linked the decision to call off the vote with what he called “considerable progress” in negotiating a new contract with the Chicago Teachers Union, which he said was “extremely close” to being resolved.
“I’m very pleased with the progress to steady the ship and we hope to be able to come back very soon with that result,” Harden said.
What the mayor said:
Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement that the vote to amend CPS’ budget would be postponed until an agreement on a new contract with CTU is reached.
“Board members have expressed a desire for clarity on the final cost of the contract before voting on the budget amendment,” Johnson said. “The board president is confident that the two sides are very close to coming to an agreement, and I share his confidence. A contract agreement is critical to the stability of our schools and communities.”
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Back in the Day: March 21, 2020 - Illinois COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Order Goes Into Effect
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Starting at 5 p.m. five years ago on this date, Illinois COVID-19 “stay-at-home” order went into effect. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the measure the day prior on March 20, 2020, which formalized his calls for Illinoisans to shelter in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Businesses like bars, theaters and restaurants closed and many offices began work-from-home policies. While there were carveouts for essential workers, businesses that sold groceries and health care supplies and
individual exemptions for outdoor activity, purchasing essentials and taking care of loved ones, citizens were to stay home until April 7. It was the biggest disruption so far of the pandemic. The measure was modified and extended to May 29.
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Nature Calls: Outdoor Events and Activities
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Every Friday, WTTW News nature reporter Patty Wetli highlights the best ways to get outside.
“Earth Hour” is happening Saturday, 8:30-9:30 p.m. Minimally people are encouraged to turn off all unessential lights for 60 minutes, but the movement has now grown to encompass an hour of positive action for the planet. What are your plans?
To coincide with Earth Hour, the stewards of Orland Grassland have organized a rare night hike at the 900-acre forest preserve, setting out at 7 p.m. Saturday. The group will trek along a footpath, listening for birds and enjoying dark sky stargazing in the tallgrass prairie. RSVP is required.
The earliest spring wildflowers are beginning to bloom in woodlands. Raccoon Grove and Messenger Woods, both in Will County, are two hot spots to go hunting for Dutchman’s breeches, trillium, anemone and more of these delicate beauties.
Starved Rock is a popular destination for hikers — maybe a little too popular for some people’s liking. Try a guided hike this weekend or next (or head out on your own), before the summer crowds descend.
Curious about native plants and how to incorporate them into your urban garden? Check out a free “informal crash course” on natives at Chicago’s North Park Village Nature Center, Sunday, 1:30-3 p.m. Registration encouraged.
If your hands are itching to get dirty, join a stewardship work day. Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves has a number of opportunities across the region. Or RSVP to join volunteers on Sunday at LaBagh Woods on Chicago’s North Side.
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What's your favorite fun fact or piece of trivia about Chicago?
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. Here's what you had to
say:
After a quick research I thought I would share this Fun Fact about Chicago: The First Black-Owned and Operated Bank in Chicago (1921) – Binga State Bank, founded by Jesse Binga in Bronzeville, was the first Black-owned bank in Chicago. It provided loans and financial services to the Black community when other banks refused to do so. Thanks for this fun Chicago activity! — Kay
That all the streets named after presidents downtown run east and west."— @ccosmicrelief
"We have streets [that] were once Native American trails." — @lasta6950
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