* Education Week…

Hundreds of public school employees have lost their jobs, with many more fearing they’ll be next, as a flurry of legal challenges and political backlash to the Trump administration’s latest round of abrupt grant cancellations continues to develop.

As of early December, the U.S. Department of Education had more than 70 active grant awards through the Full-Service Community Schools program, which helps schools network with local organizations and expand on-site social services for students and families. On Dec. 12, the department notified recipients of 19 of those grants, across 11 states and the District of Columbia, that they would not be receive their remaining two or three years of expected funding—$168 million in total.

Much of that money covers salaries for community schools coordinator positions in school buildings, many in rural areas. Some school districts might be able to absorb payroll costs for those employees if the federal grants don’t return—but many will have no choice but to eliminate those positions and lay off staff, school leaders told Education Week.

In Illinois, more than 200 educators have already lost their jobs as a result of the grant cuts, said Susan Stanton, who leads the nonprofit organization administering the state’s two Community Schools grants, which each had three years of funding remaining. That includes full-and part-time tutors, clinicians, family liaisons, social workers, counselors, and facilitators of after-school programming. […]

The Community Schools grant cancellations were part of a larger effort by the Trump administration in the last year to cancel funding for hundreds of initiatives that officials allege are engaged in improper “diversity, equity, and inclusion” initiatives. In many cases, the agency has flagged language in grant recipients’ application materials that the Biden administration required grant applicants to include.

WTTW…

ACT Now, which provides school programming across Illinois, was slated to receive $18 million in 2026 and $37 million over the next two years. ACT Now has filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Education, arguing the grants were illegally discontinued.

This action challenges an unprecedented and unlawful decision … to discontinue two previously awarded, multi-year federal grants based not on grantee performance, statutory criteria or regulatory standards, but on perceived misalignment with the current Administration’s policy preferences and priorities,” the suit reads.

ACT Now sought a temporary restraining order on the grant cuts, which could have kept funding flowing temporarily. That request was denied.

ACT Now Executive Director Susan Stanton said the organization has received no explanation from the Department of Education or the Trump administration for the cuts.

* Tribune…

The plaintiffs in a landmark injunction case limiting the use of force by immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz are expected to formally dismiss their lawsuit on Thursday, a day after agents shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis and as federal officials have vowed to return to Chicago for more large-scale deportation efforts.

The case brought by the Chicago Headline Club and other media groups led to a sweeping preliminary injunction by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis in November limiting the use of tear gas and other chemical munitions against the media and protesters and also requiring agents to wear body cameras and clear identification.

The plaintiffs moved to drop the suit in December, however, following ominous signs from the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, which called Ellis’ order overbroad and a potential infringement on the separation of powers.

In the request, the plaintiffs claimed victory, saying Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino and his surge of agents left town soon after Ellis’ injunction was entered on Nov. 8 and that there had been no reports of any unconstitutional behavior by agents in nearly a month.

* Crain’s…

Tim Killeen, a soft-spoken Welsh geophysicist who steadied the state’s flagship public university system, will retire when his contract ends next year.

The 73-year-old became the 20th University of Illinois president in 2015, guiding U of I through several crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and a state government budget impasse that lasted two years.

His most recent contract runs through June 30, 2027. In the role, he’s overseen the U of I system, which includes an Urbana-Champaign campus best known for its highly ranked engineering and computer-science programs, a Chicago campus that anchors the nation’s largest public medical school, as well as a Springfield campus.

The U of I board will begin a search for Killeen’s replacement in the coming weeks. It promises to be a more challenging endeavor than the search that brought Killeen to Champaign. Higher education is in turmoil, as university presidents have frequently found themselves called to testify on Capitol Hill and as the Trump administration has slashed spending on academic research. They’re also fighting for students at a time when the college-age population is in decline and the public is more skeptical about the payoff of higher education.

* Capitol City Now…

Illinois is six months away from having a new state agency responsible for early childhood education programs. There have already been massive investments made in the Department of Early Childhood.

This agency will officially launch on July 1, roughly two years after Gov. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1 into law.

The Department of Early Childhood will take over the state’s childhood block grant program, childcare assistance, home visiting and early intervention services. It will also be responsible for daycare licensing, which became a problem for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

*** Campaign News ***

* Press Release | SEIU Leading the Independent Expenditure Established in Support of Anthony Driver for Chicago’s 7th Congressional District: An independent expenditure has been established to support the candidacy of Anthony Driver, candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 7th Congressional District.  “Anthony represents a new generation of leadership focused on accountability, opportunity and effective representation for the diverse communities of the 7th District,” said Jeffrey Howard, Vice President of SEIU Local 73. “This independent effort reflects strong grassroots enthusiasm for a candidate who understands the district, is prepared to lead, and will bring prosperity to the entire 7th Congressional District - not just Downtown Chicago.

* Press Release | Endorsements Show Latonya Mitts’s Momentum in 8th District State House Race : Latonya Mitts (D-Chicago), candidate for Illinois State Representative in the 8th District, announced a diverse array of endorsements that underscore her campaign’s momentum in the weeks leading up to the March 17th primary. Mitts announced endorsements from key community leaders and labor organizations including former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, Illinois AFL-CIO, the Chicago Laborers District Council (LIUNA), International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399, Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134, Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Riverside Township Democratic Committeeman Mike Zaleski, and Lyons Township Democratic Committeeman Steve Landek.

*** Chicago ***

* WBEZ | Child care funding freeze causes anxiety for Chicago-area parents: Child care providers across the Chicago area vehemently agree that the freeze would cause “devastating” ripple effects for businesses, their employees and the families they serve. The child care system has already been operating on thin margins, including underfunding, workforce shortages, low wages and rising operating costs, they said. “Rolling back policies that provided stability and predictability risks accelerating closures, reducing access for working families, and destabilizing care for young children — particularly infants and toddlers, who are the most expensive to serve,” said Lauri Morrison-Frichtl, executive director of Illinois Head Start Association, which provides services to low-income families.

* Tribune | Feds’ statements after Minneapolis driver killed by ICE officer echo pattern from Midway Blitz in Chicago: In both cases, the feds alleged that the agents who fired at Marimar Martinez and Silverio Villegas González had been acting in self-defense. And in both cases, video footage and discovery materials later poked holes in officials’ claims about agents’ justification for lethal force. […] In late November, a federal judge dismissed charges against Martinez in one of the highest-profile criminal cases against protesters to disintegrate at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse.

* CBS Chicago | Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces ICE Accountability Project: “We are an independent initiative designed to be a centralized, public-facing repository for the collection of alleged criminal and abusive conduct by federal immigration agents during the so-called Operation Midway Blitz,” Lightfoot said Thursday morning. “We aim to preserve evidence, to facilitate transparency and accountability. We also intend to unmask those agents who have been alleged to have committed crimes or to have engaged in other unlawful conduct.”

* Tribune | What we heard from Chicago White Sox, including ‘healthy competition’ for rotation with Sean Newcomb’s arrival: Newcomb and the Sox agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract on Dec. 23. The 32-year-old is 30-30 with a 4.20 ERA, four saves, 25 holds and 529 strikeouts in 223 appearances (65 starts) during nine major-league seasons with the Atlanta Braves (2017-22), Chicago Cubs (2022), the Athletics (2023-24, 2025) and Boston Red Sox (2025). In 2025, he had a 2.73 ERA, two saves, four holds and 91 strikeouts over 48 combined appearances (five starts) with the Red Sox and Athletics.

* ABC Chicago | Nationally recognized South Side artist to serve as Chicago Poet Laureate: Del Valle will serve a two-year term and receive $70,000 to commission new work and create public programming. Her first public appearance as poet Laureate is on Wednesday, Jan. at 6 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center. “Chicago has always been a city shaped by bold voices and powerful storytelling,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Mayda Alexandra del Valle’s work reflects the heart, soul and creativity of our city. Her appointment honors Chicago’s rich literary legacy while investing in a future where poetry continues to bring people together.”

*** Cook County and Suburbs ***

* WBEZ | High schoolers train to be election judges in March primary: The Cook County Clerk’s Office and Chicago Bears this week launched Defenders of DA’Mocracy, a program to train 150 high school juniors and seniors to serve as election judges during their schools’ early voting day on Feb. 26, before the start of early voting March 3, and ahead of the March 17 primary election. The clerk’s office announced the program on Wednesday at an event at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights. No Chicago Bears players attended the training, but Chicago Bears special advisor to the CEO Ted Crews spoke to students and played a video of some players talking about the importance of voting.

* Daily Herald | Naperville gears up for city’s 200th birthday celebration: The city’s 2031 Bicentennial Framework — last year, it came to nearly 50 pages — offers recommendations on fundraising, possible projects, special events and other activities for the birthday bash. Tucked in the report is a copy of a prescient letter written by Judge Win Knoch in 1931 — the city’s 100th year — to the future chairman of the city’s second centennial celebration.

*** Downstate ***

* Muddy River News | Quincy man who admitted to threatening alderman arrested again on a child pornography charge: It was a short taste of freedom for Benjamin Inman, who entered a guilty plea yesterday to making a phone threat against Quincy Alderman Jack Holtschlag (D-7th Ward). Muddy River News can confirm that Inman is back in custody at the Adams County Jail, awaiting a court appearance tomorrow on a child pornography charge.

* WSIL | Southern Illinois Healthcare implements visitor restrictions amid spike in Influenza A cases: Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) is instituting temporary visitor restrictions at its hospital facilities effective immediately, citing a sharp increase in Influenza A cases throughout the region. The healthcare provider announced the new protocols to protect patients, families, and staff from the spreading virus. Under the temporary guidelines, visitation is strictly limited to individuals ages 18 and older. Additionally, each patient is permitted no more than two visitors at a time.

* WMBD | More aid available to support families struggling with power bills: In December, the news release says Warm Neighbors Cool Friends made an additional $2 million available for Ameren Illinois customers. The program is funded through donations and serves Ameren Illinois customers who make too much to qualify for LIHEAP.

* WGLT | Strong Towns Blono commissions public art to recognize Route 66 centennial celebration: Last May, the grassroots advocacy group commissioned an artist to paint 15 circus-themed murals connecting the Bloomington Public Library and the McLean County Museum of History. The organization will do the same thing this summer to celebrate the centennial of Route 66. “I thought it was really successful,” said Katherine McCarthy, who chairs Strong Town’s public art and safety committee. “We had 32 applications, really good applications. We had excellent finalists, three finalists, and the winning artist was Delia Kerr-Dennhardt, who did a circus theme.”

* WSIL | Union County invites locals to plan 250th America celebration: The county has launched a sign-up sheet where participants can submit events, volunteer for activities, and contribute to the festivities. Highlights of the planned events include egg and spoon races, sack races, cornhole, horseshoe and badminton tournaments, and even a hot dog eating contest. Organizers encourage everyone to get involved, whether by competing, cheering, or volunteering. The celebration aims to make America’s milestone birthday unforgettable for Union County.

*** National ***

* NYT | Trump Administration Deploying More Border Patrol Agents to Minnesota: The Department of Homeland Security plans to pause operations in Chicago — where Gregory Bovino, a Border Patrol official, has led controversial arrest efforts — to support the immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota. Border Patrol officials also plan to send all nonlethal weapons housed in Chicago to Minnesota, according to the documents.

* AP | Trump’s ‘beautiful’ new law means states have big decisions this year on Medicaid, SNAP and taxes: New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, a Democrat, said the state has an obligation to help people access health care and food. But he said the magnitude of federal cuts — as much as a $36 billion reduction for New Jersey over the next decade for Medicaid alone, according to KFF, an organization that researches health policy — could make it hard to keep all the state’s social programs unchanged. “What there will be is a commitment to doing our level best to make sure that all of the people’s needs get covered,” Coughlin said.

* Bloomberg | Musk’s Grok AI Generated Thousands of Undressed Images Per Hour on X: During a 24-hour analysis of images the @Grok account posted to X, the chatbot generated about 6,700 every hour that were identified as sexually suggestive or nudifying, according to Genevieve Oh, a social media and deepfake researcher. The other top five websites for such content averaged 79 new AI undressing images per hour in the 24-hour period, from January 5 to January 6, Oh found. The scale of deepfakes on X is “unprecedented,” said Carrie Goldberg, a lawyer specializing in online sex crimes. “We’ve never had a technology that’s made it so easy to generate new images,” because Grok is free and linked to a built-in distribution system, she added.