CTU President: Contract Talks Haven't Broken Down
Karen Lewis says meetings with public school officials have been very cordial and teachers have even been willing to take a pay freeze.
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Karen Lewis says meetings with public school officials have been very cordial and teachers have even been willing to take a pay freeze.
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis on Friday painted a grim picture of ongoing contract talks with the Chicago Public Schools, calling the district's rejection of a possible one-year deal a "breach of trust."
The Chicago Public Schools and its teachers face two deadlines on Tuesday: their three-year contract expires at midnight, and a $634 million pension payment is due by the end of the day.
Teachers and their supporters held a rally at the Thompson Center before moving to the streets downtown.
Faced with a proposed pay cut it finds insulting, the Chicago Teachers' Union has filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the state of Illinois, reports WBBM's Bob Roberts.
The Chicago Teachers Union lashed out at the Emanuel administration Tuesday, accusing the mayor of "lying in wait" to raise property taxes, after demanding teachers and other union employees take a 7 percent pay cut next year.
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis joined mayoral candidate Jesus "Chuy" Garcia for a strategy session Thursday afternoon in Bronzeville, their first joint appearance in several weeks.
There were plenty of winners and losers after Tuesday's election, including many who weren't even on the ballot.
Not surprisingly, Little League International's decision to strip Jackie Robinson West of their national title, due to violations of residency rules, has stirred up a hornet's nest, prompting reaction from all corners.
Three months after surgery for a brain tumor forced her out of the race for mayor, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis spoke publicly for the first time about her disappointment that she won't be taking on Mayor Rahm Emanuel next month.
Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, who is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor, is seen in a video posted online Friday endorsing mayoral candidate Jesus Garcia.
A Chicago neurosurgeon says there are some warning signs to keep in mind, when trying to differentiate between a run-of-the-mill headache and something worse. CBS 2's Marissa Bailey reports.
Karen Lewis will not be challenging Rahm Emanuel in next year's mayoral election, according to a statement by Lewis' exploratory committee.
Lewis was hospitalized Sunday after feeling "discomfort," but the union had been tight-lipped about what is ailing the potential mayoral candidate.
Chicago Teachers Union President and potential mayoral contender Karen Lewis has spent the past two nights in the hospital after feeling discomfort and lightheaded. WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller reports CTU representatives were quick to shoot down rumors Lewis suffered a stroke.
CTU spokeswoman Stephanie Gadlin says Lewis, 61, is being evaluated at a local hospital "after experiencing discomfort Sunday evening." Gadlin says it is not due to a stroke, as rumors have suggested.
Sunday's Mexican Independence Day parade in Little Village could feature a preview of next year's race for mayor of Chicago.
On the first day of school for CPS, Karen Lewis praised new programs or policies which led to better test scores, graduation rates and especially student safety, but claimed they were started long before Mayor Emanuel took office.
At one Chicago public high school, there was no stampede when the bell rang today and no line at the door. In fact, there were only 12 students.
Potential mayoral candidates Alderman Bob Fioretti and CTU President Karen Lewis are holding events to assess interest in a potential run.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel is defending the Chicago Fire Department's hiring preference for Chicago Public School graduate, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
She's not filed any papers or formed any formal committees. But when pressed, Karen Lewis admits that behind the scenes, there's plenty going on. CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports.
The results of a new public opinion poll show Mayor Rahm Emanuel may not be in as much trouble with voters as some thought and that CTU President Karen Lewis' strength may have been overstated, though she disagrees.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has ruled out challenging Mayor Rahm Emanuel in next year's mayoral election.
For months, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis has said she's considering a run for mayor. Now she has taken another step toward jumping in the race.
The band announced Perry Bamonte's death on their official website on Friday.
Friday marks the beginning of Kwanzaa, and Malcolm X College in Chicago is holding a free, public celebration and marketplace from now until Jan. 1.
Three women were wounded in a shooting on Christmas night on Thursday in west suburban Aurora.
A person threw a "flammable object" into a home in Chicago's Kenwood neighborhood early Christmas morning, police said.
The Brookfield zoo is offering free admission from January 5 through February 28
The Veterans Affairs Department is reimposing a near total ban on abortions for veterans and their families that was modified in 2022.
Strikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria come after President Trump spent weeks accusing the West African country's government of failing to rein in the persecution of Christians.
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of President Trump's second term in office thus far.
Pope Leo XIV has revealed he privately urged Gov. JB Pritzker not to sign a bill legalizing medical assistance in dying in Illinois.
President Trump invoked a law called Title 10 to bring members of the Illinois National Guard under federal service over the objections of state and local leaders.
A new report shines a light on electricity shortages that Illinois could face in less than 10 years.
With less than two weeks until Christmas, if you're sending gifts to people far from home, the deadlines to get them there on time are fast approaching.
A condo owner in Country Club Hills says he's forced to sell his home after his condo association failed to reimburse him for repairs to his leaking roof. Edward Hadnott's condo has sat empty since a major roof leak in 2022.
The U.S. stopped minting pennies this week, and some groups have issued a warning about the headaches that can create for some businesses and consumers.
Why is one school in the west Chicago suburb of Lisle paying a water bill three times higher than another? The answer has to do with a private utility company.
Millions of people with an Affordable Care Act health plan face a massive jump in premiums next year — this chart shows just how much.
It's the holiday season, which means it's the most common time of year for norovirus to spread. Here's what you need to know about this winter stomach bug.
A study conducted in part by Chicago's Northwestern Medicine found that tanning beds not only triple the risk of melanoma, but can also damage DNA across nearly the whole skin surface.
An investigation into the case of a Michigan man who contracted rabies after an organ transplant provided more details on the infection's origin.
The newest measles vaccination numbers released by Chicago Public Schools shows immunizations are finally moving in the right direction.
The Chicago Bears are expanding their search for a new stadium to Northwest Indiana, even though they already own land in Arlington Heights and have also proposed a new lakefront stadium in Chicago.
A Culver's is coming to Chicago's South Loop, a real estate broker has confirmed.
A new vision for passenger rail is on track in southeastern Wisconsin. The MARK Passenger Rail Commission held its inaugural meeting on December 5, 2025, at Racine City Hall.
U.S. Steel says it'll resume making steel slabs at its Granite City Works plant in Illinois amid strengthening demand.
Traffic at O'Hare International Airport is growing faster than expected, and this has Chicago city leaders wanting to make big changes to future construction plans at the airport.
The band announced Perry Bamonte's death on their official website on Friday.
The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Day, reflected on the impact of President Trump's second term in office thus far.
The singer said an MRI showed a cancerous spot on one of his lungs after he recovered from a lengthy bout of bronchitis.
James Ransone, the actor who played Ziggy Sobotka in the HBO series "The Wire" and appeared in many other TV shows and movies, has died.
Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre is hosting "The Phantom of the Opera," and staff offered a firsthand look at the iconic chandelier inside the theater this week.
Heating costs are up and temperatures are down, but there are things you can do to make sure you stay warm without breaking the bank this winter.
Showers are expected to move in on Friday morning in Chicago with highs in the upper 40s and low 50s.
Parts of the Northeast are preparing for winter weather this week.
We often make the wrong choices simply because we buy into myths about food. Here are some food truths.
Chicago police are investigating a sex assault that happened on Christmas Eve on the city’s West Side.
Chicago police are looking for a tow truck driver who they said shot at a woman after a minor crash overnight.
Three women were wounded in a shooting on Christmas night on Thursday in west suburban Aurora.
From gun safety to rogue towers, protection from squatters, medical assistance in dying and more, here are some of the most notable changes in the new year.
The band announced Perry Bamonte's death on their official website on Friday.
Friday marks the beginning of Kwanzaa, and Malcolm X College in Chicago is holding a free, public celebration and marketplace from now until Jan. 1.
Cameras not working, video evidence missed by police and a psychic that leads a hit and run victim's son to a clue that changes the case
Some Chicago area hospitals are at risk of significant flooding both in and around the buildings, according to new KFF Health News/Fathom models.
Lawmakers in Springfield are looking to address the high water bills being reported in some suburbs from customers of Illinois American Water.
Electric bills in the Chicago area could go up as much as $70 in the next three years because of data centers, according to the Citizens Utility Board.
Advocates and legislators are seeking solutions and and accountability for a pattern of Chicago police arresting Black gun owners on firearms charges despite valid FOID and CCL licenses.
One year ago, the Chicago Bears were fighting for draft positioning. Now they've clinched a playoff spot in the first year of a new coaching regime.
As the 11-4 Chicago Bears prepare for their Sunday night matchup with the 11-4 San Francisco 49ers, one player earned an extra Christmas present from the league thanks to his impressive performance against the Green Bay Packers.
Travis Konecny scored and added his 300th career assist, leading the Philadelphia Flyers past the Blackhawks 3-1 and handing depleted Chicago its sixth straight loss.
The Bulls trailed 117-107 but closed the game on a 19-6 run.
Three Chicago Bears players have been named to the 2026 NFC Pro Bowl roster: safety Kevin Byard III, center Drew Dalman, and left guard Joe Thuney.
Three women were wounded in a shooting on Christmas night on Thursday in west suburban Aurora.
A woman was released on electronic monitoring Wednesday after authorities said she drove drunk and caused a crash that injured a family of four in Lombard, Illinois.
Multiple cars were broken into this week in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.
Four women have been charged with leading police on a high-speed chase after stealing from a retail store in the west Chicago suburb of Villa Park.
A woman has been charged with attacking four people at a CTA bus stop in the Lawndale neighborhood, including a woman she allegedly slashed with a broken beer bottle after threatening that woman's mother.