* Cook Co. hospitals may charge $3 for prescriptions

While Stroger himself would not say how much he pays for prescriptions under the county health insurance plan, most of the county’s highest-paid employees pay only $5 for theirs.

“He’s sticking it to the people who can least afford it,” said Ed Shurna of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. “To make the county’s poorest people pay almost as much as someone making six figures is completely unfair.”

* Tribune Editorial: A costly peace for the Chicago public school system

The Chicago system has seen some inroads with innovative education and management strategies. The schools have improved.

But they have so far to go. And the overriding message of this teachers contract is that the status quo is just fine, thank you.

Excuse us. The status quo plus 4 percent a year. And virtually no structural reforms.

The Illinois legislature did little this year to demand change in public schools. And Chicago school management has demanded even less.

* Teamsters reject 10-year city pact; more here

* Department of Administrative Hearings chief stepping down

* Sheriff Dart to talk to Shakman about hiring