City briefings: Chicago schools, union disagree on strike dates
Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool said Friday that Chicago teachers cannot strike April 1 as the union contended earlier in the week.
Claypool said it is "not possible" for the teachers to strike until the middle of May, given the fact-finding process that has to happen by law first.
The school system will delay its plan to stop making a 7 percent contribution to teachers' pensions - a move that had enraged the union - as negotiations between the two parties continue to avoid a strike.
On Thursday, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis said a strike on April 1 was all but assured after Claypool announced that teachers would be forced to take three unpaid furlough days this school year to help save the financially school district $30 million.
School cuts, layoffs to reach $85 million
Chicago Public Schools announced $85 million in cuts on Monday, saying that in all, 62 employees - including 17 teachers - are being laid off.
In a statement, the district said its hand was forced by the lack of a funding solution from state government.
"The reductions will come through layoffs, closing vacant positions, reallocating funds held in reserve and changing programs," CPS said in the statement. "Next year, the reductions will amount to $120 million on an annualized basis."
Trib exec donates Sun-Times stake
Tribune Publishing Chairman Michael Ferro has donated his stake in the Chicago Sun-Times to a charitable trust.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Sandra Martin, chief financial officer of Tribune Publishing, said Ferro's "divestiture will create a very clear separation of ownership and avoid perceived conflicts of interest, while also providing millions of dollars for community programs and other charitable causes."
Ferro had been the majority owner of Chicago Sun-Times' parent company Wrapports when, early last month, a company he led, Merrick Media, bought a 16.6 percent stake in the rival Tribune Publishing for $44.4 million.
It made him the Tribune's single-largest shareholder. He moved his office out of the Sun-Times building, took over the chairman's role at Tribune Publishing and soon had installed longtime business associate Justin Dearborn as CEO, replacing Jack Griffin, the man who'd brought Ferro on board.
House arrest for airline stowaway
Serial stowaway Marilyn Hartman was sentenced to six months of house arrest on Thursday as punishment for her latest escapade.
Hartman, who has a history of arrests for trying to sneak onto airplanes, also was placed on two years' mental health probation. She will serve the house arrest at Margaret Manor, the mental health facility where she now lives.
"This is a going to basically be a jail sentence," Judge William Raines said. "You cannot leave Margaret Manor. If you walk out on the street, you're going to jail. … We've had a lot of conversations (about) you. … At this point, I'm thinking about punishment."
Raines said Hartman will pay the costs of her own confinement and treatment from her Social Security and risks a $2,500 fine for any probation violation. Under the terms of that probation, she can't go to any airports, train stations or even bus stops.
Mayor says Lucas wants lakefront site
Movie mogul George Lucas has his "heart set" on building his $400 million museum on 17 acres of lakefront land near Soldier Field, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Wednesday, arguing he's now afraid Chicago will lose the coveted prize.
Emanuel said Lucas' hometown of San Francisco "coughed it up" after a federal panel rejected the picturesque Presidio site that was Lucas' top choice.
The mayor said he fears Chicago will do the same thanks to a federal judge's decision to keep alive a lawsuit filed by Friends of the Parks challenging the lakefront land giveaway.
United wants to fly O'Hare to Cuba
United Airlines said Wednesday it has applied for authority to fly to Cuba from four of its largest U.S. gateway cities, including Chicago.
The Chicago-based airline said it would be one of the first U.S. carriers to offer daily, nonstop scheduled service to the island nation. The other cities proposed by United are Newark/New York, Houston and Washington, D.C.
"This is a historic moment for our company, our employees and, most importantly, our customers," said Oscar Munoz, United's president and chief executive officer. "We want to be the first choice for passengers traveling between the U.S. and Cuba."
Madigan backs Rush primary opponent
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is backing Alderman Howard Brookins against veteran U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush in the March 15 Democratic primary.
The speaker - who also is chairman of the state Democratic Party - customarily supports the party's incumbents. But Brookins is listed as the preferred candidate of Madigan's 13th Ward Democratic Organization on the newly printed "sample ballots" sent to voters in the speaker's Southwest Side power base.
The Madigan organization's "palm card" promotes none of the candidates in the heated primary for Cook County state's attorney.
• This week's City Briefing was collected in partnership with the Chicago Sun-Times. For complete versions of the items, check chicago.suntimes.com.