Park Ridge Herald-Advocate

14 hours ago | chicagotribune.com | Nell Salzman

Chicago Public Schools officials expressed the urgency of additional funding from the city and state as they prepare for the release of “school-level budgets,” with the assumption that they will have $300 million in extra money from stakeholders to fill a gaping budget gap. School-level budgets, or the funds each school gets to cover everyday needs like staff, supplies and programs, are part of the process for finalizing the budget for the 2026 fiscal year which begins July 1.

16 hours ago | chicagotribune.com | Talia Soglin |Jake Sheridan

Amid speculation that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson plans to appoint one of his top deputies to lead the Chicago Transit Authority, three CTA board members said they support a national search for a new president Wednesday, echoing calls made by transit advocates and signaling the mayor could face more opposition to his plans for the role. Three of the seven members, including one appointed by the mayor, said they back the nationwide search during a sometimes heated CTA board meeting.

1 day ago | chicagotribune.com | Nara Schoenberg

Good morning, Chicago. When Nedra Sims Fears was growing up in Chatham in the 1960s and ’70s, the basement of her family home flooded at least six times. Twice, the water rose so high that it triggered an electrical fire and her family had to move out during extensive renovations. Mementos from Fears’ early years — in a close-knit neighborhood that embraced hard work, education and block parties — were lost forever.

1 day ago | chicagotribune.com | Nara Schoenberg

When Nedra Sims Fears was growing up in Chatham in the 1960s and ’70s, the basement of her family home flooded at least six times. Twice, the water rose so high that it triggered an electrical fire and her family had to move out during extensive renovations. Mementos from Fears’ early years — in a close-knit neighborhood that embraced hard work, education and block parties — were lost forever. “We really just don’t have that many memories,” Fears said.

1 day ago | chicagotribune.com | Caroline Kubzansky

A Mather High School student was shot near the West Ridge school during Tuesday afternoon dismissal, according to Chicago police and the local alderman. The student, a 17-year-old boy, was sitting in a car near Mather Park on the 5900 block of North California Avenue when a person came up to him and shot him in the left arm around 3:20 p.m., police said. The boy was taken to Evanston Hospital and was expected to recover, police said. Ald.