* ICYMI: Why I’m not resigning as CPS chief and we’re not closing any schools CPS CEO Pedro Martinez…

In late April, CPS and the Chicago Teachers Union began negotiating a new contract for our teachers — professionals we deeply value. Last month, we proposed 4% to 5% annual raises, and we are close to responding to more than 700 CTU requests, reflecting our commitment to good faith negotiations. We are making progress toward a fair agreement.

Amid these academic accomplishments and labor negotiations, my role has come under fire. Whispers of my pending removal returned last week, along with false rumors, such as the notion that I plan to close schools. To be clear: There is no plan to close or consolidate schools.

Furthermore, as a matter of policy, a CEO cannot unilaterally close schools, nor should or would anyone in a district still reeling from the 2013 school closures. To put that disinformation to rest, board President Jianan Shi and I are asking the board to adopt a resolution Thursday to not close any schools through July 1, 2026, when my contract with the board expires.

I’m not naive — this is Chicago, after all, and I know there is always politics. But it’s deeply disappointing to navigate a fusillade of outright lies, part of a concerted campaign to discredit me and my leadership team. Our focus should be on delivering for our kids.

* Related stories…

∙ Fran Spielman: Pushing out Martinez carries huge risks for Mayor Johnson
∙ WTTW: CPS CEO Martinez Asks School Board to Prohibit Closures Until 2027, Says He Refused Mayor’s Request to Resign

At 11:30 Governor Pritzker will announce new quantum business investments. Click here to watch.

*** Isabel’s Top Picks ***

* Tribune | Board of Elections objects to election workers’ union petition, saying union membership constitutes prohibited ‘political activity’: SEIU 73’s communication director, Eric Bailey, said the union was “dumbstruck” that the city had opposed the workers’ petition. “They’re working to ensure the freedom to vote for the people of Chicago,” he said. “All we want is for their freedom to form a union to be upheld in the city of Chicago.”

* Tribune | Hundreds of former detainees allege rampant sexual abuse in Illinois and Cook County youth detention centers: ‘Wouldn’t wish my situation on anybody’: “These abuses are horrific in nature,” said attorney Todd Matthews at a Tuesday news conference in the Loop. “This has to stop, it has to stop. It has to be dealt with.” The complaints, filed Monday in the Illinois Court of Claims and Cook County Circuit Court, detailed widespread abuse from 1996 to 2021. The more than 270 plaintiffs in the lawsuits — about 40 women and 230 men — join hundreds of others who have alleged similar abuse.

* Chicago Mag | The Man Leading Illinois’s Energy Transition: From an early age, JC Kibbey knew the impact a lack of clean air can have. Growing up in the shadow of coal plants in Lansing, Michigan, he often found himself dealing with respiratory illnesses, the result of exposure to pollution. And when one of those plants closed, he watched as people lost their jobs. That’s all been on Kibbey’s mind in his role as the state climate adviser for Illinois, a position he assumed last December after five years at the Natural Resources Defense Council. At the top of his agenda? Helping the state spend a $430 million federal grant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution — part of President Joe Biden’s signature climate legislation. The funds are expected to help Illinois cut an estimated 57 million tons of emissions by 2050, but Kibbey argues that the state’s energy transition has benefits far beyond curbing climate change.

*** Statehouse News ***

* Patch | Anti-Islamic Survey Alleged In Burr Ridge Area Race: Democrat Suzanne Akhras, who is running for District 82’s state representative, said Tuesday she has received multiple reports that a survey is falsely telling residents she belongs to Islamic terrorist groups. […] Based on her information, Akhras, who is Muslim, said the survey asks, “Would you vote for Suzanne Akhras if you knew she belonged to Islamic terrorist groups?” The survey comes through a text, stating, “Dan here with Political Opinion Research with a poll about the upcoming general election.” A link is given to Survey Monkey.

* Sun-Times | Court records show two Springfield insiders profited from a controversial state government program: Ex-Illinois state Sen. James DeLeo, D-Chicago, and prominent Republican lobbyist Nancy Kimme each got 1% of the profits from a clout-heavy company called Vendor Assistance Program LLC, but that lucrative arrangement wasn’t publicly known until a week ago, the court documents and other records show. VAP is led by politically connected lawyer Brian Hynes, who has thrived for more than a decade in a state program that allows a small group of companies to buy government debt. Under the program, VAP and the other companies front unpaid state contractors most of what Springfield owes them, and VAP and other “qualified purchasers” go on to pocket the late-payment penalties from the state.

* WGEM | Illinois lawmakers discuss potential changes to how higher education is funded: The state House Appropriations Higher-Education Committee met Monday to discuss a potential new funding model based in equity to make college more accessible. […] “Our competition has grown to include out-of-state flagships, privates and many others that have wooed our students with shiny buildings and new equipment. While this hasn’t changed the quality of education that we provide, it does impact that perception of our students and our perspective families,” said Eastern Illinois University Vice President for Business Affairs Matt Bierman. He said Eastern Illinois University’s enrollment has declined significantly over the past 15 years.

*** Statewide ***

* Pontiac Daily Leader | Early voting for the Nov. 5 election is about to begin. Here’s what you need to know: If you missed the deadline to register to vote locally or online, you can still vote using grace period registration. The grace period runs from the end of regular registration through Election Day. Grace period registration takes place in person at local election offices, as well as at some early voting sites and at certain polling places on Election Day. Those taking advantage of grace period registration are required to vote the same day they register.

* WCIA | State Board of Elections warns of sample ballots through mail: Officials posted to the board’s Facebook page that people may receive what appears to be a ballot from political candidates or organizations. These are not real ballots; they are sample ballots that cannot be used to vote. People will get a real ballot through the mail only if they ask for one. People who are signed up permanently for voting by mail will receive one automatically from the State Board of Elections.

*** Chicago ***

* Sun-Times | Vacant armory can’t be used as police station because of air traffic safety rules, Mayor Johnson says: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration on Tuesday cited federal air traffic safety regulations for the decision to use a former National Guard armory to store and maintain police vehicles, aircraft and other equipment — and not for a new Southwest Side police district. Last week, alderpersons in the area accused the mayor of pulling the rug out from under their longstanding campaign for a new district to speed response times. It would be carved out of the existing Chicago Lawn police district, which serves the second-largest geographic area with the fewest officers per capita. They accused the mayor of thumbing his nose at a bill approved by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by Gov. JB Pritzker calling for the state to sell the closed armory at 5400 W. 63rd St. to the city for $1 “for the express purpose” of creating a new police district.

* WBBM | Study on Chicago police reform efforts finds holes in city’s approach: At the request of people within Chicago’s philanthropic community, the New York University School of Law’s Policing Project has been looking into the Chicago Police Department for years. Professor Barry Friedman, the project director, said the city is overly fascinated with finding new approaches to policing rather than focusing on proven methods.

* Tribune | New center for organ donors at Rush is first of its kind in Illinois: The Gift of Hope Organ Donor Care Center at Rush is the first of its kind in Illinois. The center accepts patients from area hospitals who’ve been declared brain dead and who’ve been authorized to be organ donors. At the center, doctors and nurses work to keep donors’ organs functioning and ultimately procure their organs, so they can be transported to some of the more than 104,000 people now on waiting lists for organs in the U.S. The center received its first donor Sunday.

* Crain’s | Turns out Chicago’s pandemic exodus wasn’t as drastic as it seemed: Although it was the largest exodus from Chicago in five years, it wasn’t nearly as severe as those seen in other big cities, such as New York, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles, according to a Brookings Institution analysis of IRS data on where people filed their taxes from one year to the next.

* Tribune | Crazy night saw Chicago White Sox fans conflicted over the possibility of a record-setting loss: “It’s been a long season,” left fielder Andrew Benintendi said. “I think that people here tonight were maybe trying to see history. But they’re going to have to wait one more day.” After a slight pause, Benintendi caught himself and added: “Maybe.” So it’s back again on Wednesday when Davis Martin starts and the Sox attempt to avoid history for a second straight night. They need to win their final five games to avoid holding the record.

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* Daily Herald Editorial Board | A divisive moment averted: Plans to bring inflammatory speaker to suburbs would only have hurt Illinois GOP: It is hard to wrap our heads around the self-inflicted damage certain northern Illinois Republicans inflicted on themselves and their party in recent days by inviting a misogynistic, homophobic, Holocaust-denying and Black-hating politician from North Carolina to speak at a GOP fundraiser. If former Lake County GOP party leader Mark Shaw was trying to help former President Donald Trump win Wisconsin when he invited Mark Robinson to speak at the Tenth Congressional District Republican Organization in Kenilworth on Sept. 29, he miscalculated.

* WGN | Thornton Township trustees ask for auditor to step in amid question over spending: Trustees in Thornton Township are asking for an auditor to step in as they question money being spent on credit cards for events, amid their focus to reign in on spending. “I am the leader for Thornton Township, I am the supervisor for Thornton Township and I’m going to make sure y’all give me my respect and stop playing these games every time you come to the meeting. I need you to please put some respect on my name,” embattled Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard said during Tuesday night’s contentious meeting.

*** Downstate ***

* WAND | Increasing diaper costs impacts local families and nonprofits: The Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery provides free childcare to families who don’t have access to reliable care. In addition to childcare, they also offer a small pantry, stocked with diapers and formula. Each month, the crisis nursery hands out more than 250 packets of diapers to families in need and have to turn away dozens when their stock runs out.

* WICS | Illinois Veterans’ Homes at Anna and Manteno See Increase in Mild COVID-19 Cases: The Illinois Veterans’ Homes at Anna and Manteno are experiencing increased COVID-19 cases among its veterans and staff and the majority of cases have presented mild symptoms. As of September 24th, the following cases have been reported: Anna: 17 residents and seven staff Manteno: 15 residents and nine staff

* WCIA | U of I workers hit day 2 of strike as proposal is rejected: Rain or shine union members were back at it to make their voices heard. And U of I students are feeling the impact of the building and food service workers being out here on the picket lines. It’s day two of a strike for more than 700 workers. There’s no compromise on a contract yet. There was an offer made during yesterday’s mediation session. The union rejected it.

* WCIA | UIS scores top public regional university in Illinois rating: The University of Illinois Springfield has been recognized as the top public regional university in Illinois for the sixth year in a row. UIS scored better than several other public universities like Eastern Illinois University, Western Illinois University and Chicago State University. The university tied for 28th place overall for all regional universities in the Midwest with Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, and Winona State University in Minnesota.

* PJ Star | Multitalented Peoria native will have recurring role in popular NBC TV show: Peoria native Dionne Gipson will have a recurring role in the upcoming second season of the acclaimed NBC crime drama “Found.” The season debut is Oct. 3. It won’t be the first national exposure for the multitalented Peoria High School alumna. Gipson is an actress, singer and songwriter, born and raised in Peoria. She got her start in the entertainment industry through singing with her father, Byron “Wild Child” Gipson, a popular local musician. She graduated from Florida A&M, a historically black university, and earned a master’s degree in theater arts from Penn State University, according to her website biography.

*** National ***

* Politico | The Truth About Emmett Till Wasn’t in Your History Book: What almost nobody knows, including me when I started reporting The Barn, my new book on the untold history of this famous murder, is that he allegedly whistled the day after a long gubernatorial election dominated by intense racial rhetoric. Mississippi during the election of 1955 was a place trapped in a cycle of hysteria, conspiracy and rage. “A Nazi rally,” is how former Gov. William Winter once described to me the state’s mood during the civil rights era.

* WaPo | GOP asks court to change voting rules in one state, with impact for all: A panel of federal judges heard arguments Tuesday in a case that could upend the rules for counting a sliver of mail ballots in Mississippi just weeks before Election Day, with possible ramifications for all states. At issue is a Mississippi law that allows mail ballots to be counted if they arrive up to five days after Election Day and are postmarked by Election Day or earlier. Seventeen other states and Washington, D.C., have laws allowing postmarked mail ballots to be counted if they arrive after Election Day, according to the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures.