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Chicago Teachers Union Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Illinois Policy Institute Over 'Toxic' Branding and Audit Claims

Chicago Teachers Union Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Illinois Policy Institute Over 'Toxic' Branding and Audit Claims

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has initiated a defamation lawsuit against the Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) and its legal arm, the Liberty Justice Center, along with IPI's marketing vice president, Austin Berg. The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges that social media posts and articles by the defendants have bashed the union's finances and its president, Stacy Davis Gates, branding the union as 'toxic.' The CTU claims these actions are part of a 'deliberate campaign' to harm its reputation. Specifically, the suit cites statements accusing the union of fraud, dishonest accounting, and misuse of funds, which the CTU argues undermine its integrity and ability to represent its approximately 30,000 member-educators. The lawsuit highlights an August 2025 social media post by the Liberty Justice Center featuring a cartoon of Davis Gates and the words 'Cooked Books,' which the union asserts falsely implies criminal conduct. Another point of contention is an October 2025 IPI article claiming t...
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Chicago Teachers Union Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Illinois Policy Institute Over Anti-Union Campaign

Chicago Teachers Union Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Illinois Policy Institute Over Anti-Union Campaign

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), led by President Stacy Davis Gates, has initiated a defamation lawsuit against the Illinois Policy Institute (IPI), its legal arm the Liberty Justice Center, and IPI's Vice President of Marketing, Austin Berg. The lawsuit alleges that the IPI has engaged in a multi-million dollar smear campaign against the CTU for at least the past four years, disseminating false and defamatory statements about the union. This legal action comes as the CTU continues to advocate for fully funded schools and has recently fought against a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) budget that proposed furloughs, layoffs, and school closures. The union asserts that the IPI's campaign is part of a broader anti-union and anti-public-school agenda, aiming to undermine their efforts and public perception.
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Mayor Brandon Johnson Reassures Bond Investors on Chicago's Pension Obligations Amidst Budget Shortfalls

Mayor Brandon Johnson Reassures Bond Investors on Chicago's Pension Obligations Amidst Budget Shortfalls

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has assured bond investors that his administration will fulfill the city's pension payment obligations by the end of the year. This comes despite earlier uncertainty from the city's former Chief Financial Officer, Steven Mahr, who had hedged on whether the full advance pension payment, budgeted at $260 million, would be made. Johnson's administration had initially proposed lowering the advance payment to $121 million from the previous year's $260 million, but the City Council majority insisted on the full amount. In January, only $130 million of the budgeted amount was paid, with the remainder promised later in the year. Mayor Johnson clarified that the delay was due to Cook County's delayed property tax revenues, emphasizing that the payment is a matter of 'when, not if.' This reassurance was delivered during the city's annual meeting with the investment community, following personnel changes in the finance department, including Mahr's departure and the appointment of Ashlee ...
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BBC Seeks U.S. Court Assistance for Trump Family Testimony in Defamation Lawsuit

BBC Seeks U.S. Court Assistance for Trump Family Testimony in Defamation Lawsuit

The BBC has requested assistance from a U.S. court to obtain documents and testimony from members of President Trump's family, including Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Donald Trump, Jr., in connection with President Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster. According to a federal court filing in Florida, the BBC argues that these individuals possess "personal knowledge" and relevant records concerning President Trump's claims. The broadcaster has faced difficulties serving subpoenas due to the Secret Service protection and other security personnel surrounding the family members. President Trump filed the lawsuit in December, alleging defamation and deceptive trade practices, specifically citing the editing of a 2024 documentary that he claims misrepresented his January 6, 2021, speech before the Capitol incident. The BBC has apologized for the misleading edit but denies defamation. The court has given President Trump's legal team until Friday to respond to the BBC's request.
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Chicago Study Links Tree Canopy Increase to Reduced Mortality Rates Amid Rising Temperatures

Chicago Study Links Tree Canopy Increase to Reduced Mortality Rates Amid Rising Temperatures

A recent study from Northwestern University indicates that even a minimal annual increase of 0.03% in Chicago's tree canopy could prevent over 100 deaths citywide by mitigating the effects of extreme heat. The research, published on August 5 in the scientific journal GeoHealth, also found a correlation between increased tree canopy cover in Chicago neighborhoods and lower death rates, specifically reducing the risk of mortality from heart, lung, mental health, and certain musculoskeletal conditions. This comes as Chicago's average summer temperatures have risen by 1.9 degrees since 1970, with average summer night lows increasing by at least 2.5 degrees, contributing to successive heat waves. As of mid-August, Cook County has reported at least 12 heat-related deaths this year, with nine occurring in Chicago's South and West sides. The study emphasizes the critical need to protect existing mature trees, which are increasingly vulnerable to severe storms intensified by climate change.
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Gov. JB Pritzker Questions Chicago Public Schools' $150 Million Funding Request Amid Union Endorsement

Gov. JB Pritzker Questions Chicago Public Schools' $150 Million Funding Request Amid Union Endorsement

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has expressed skepticism regarding Chicago Public Schools' (CPS) request for an additional $150 million in state funding. This comes after Pritzker accepted an endorsement from the Illinois Education Association (IEA), a prominent teachers' union representing educators primarily outside Chicago. The CPS board, under pressure from the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), passed a nearly $10 billion budget that includes this unallocated $150 million, aiming to restore positions and prevent classroom cuts. Governor Pritzker indicated that the state does not have readily available funds for such an allocation and emphasized that any additional funding would likely need to be extended to schools statewide, not just Chicago. He highlighted the difficulty of finding three to four times the requested amount without impacting other state budget priorities. The governor's comments underscore a potential conflict ahead of the General Assembly's fall veto session, where the funding push is expec...
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Portland Mother Sues School District Over Gender Curriculum and Event Ban

Portland Mother Sues School District Over Gender Curriculum and Event Ban

Allison Roberts, a mother in Portland, Oregon, has filed a lawsuit against Portland Public Schools and her children’s elementary school. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday by the Liberty Justice Center, alleges retaliation against Roberts for her opposition to the school's gender curriculum. Roberts initially raised concerns last year about Meriwether Lewis Elementary School's adoption of an 'Intersex-Inclusive Progress' flag, which she viewed as an overtly political symbol conflicting with her Christian faith, particularly its promotion of transgender ideology. Her concerns escalated after her 11-year-old child received an 'identity flower' assignment that asked students to discuss their gender identity. Following an unsatisfactory response from the school and an open letter she distributed outside school property, Roberts was issued a one-year trespass order, banning her from school events, including her child's graduation ceremony. The school cited 'harassment, intimidation, and threatening behavior' as re...
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Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant Grazed by Bullet in Restaurant Shooting Incident

Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant Grazed by Bullet in Restaurant Shooting Incident

Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant was grazed by a bullet during a shooting incident at Harold’s Chicken and Ice Bar. The event occurred shortly after midnight on Saturday when Marquelle Rose, 29, of Chicago, entered the establishment and began firing at an intended target. A security guard, contracted by the bar, responded by shooting the masked gunman, Rose, who was later pronounced dead at a hospital from multiple gunshot wounds. Mayor Bryant and a 29-year-old DJ working at the bar were both grazed by ricocheting bullets and received hospital treatment. According to Robbins spokesperson Sean Howard, neither the mayor nor the DJ were the intended targets of the shooter. Mayor Bryant was at the bar for a senior resident's birthday party and was ordering food when the shooting began. The Cook County sheriff’s office is leading the investigation into the incident, and Harold’s Chicken and Ice Bar will remain closed until the Robbins police conclude their investigation, which is estimated to be by Tuesday.
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Former Chicago Prosecutor Prashant Kolluri Joins Greenberg Traurig Litigation Group

Former Chicago Prosecutor Prashant Kolluri Joins Greenberg Traurig Litigation Group

Former Chicago Prosecutor Prashant Kolluri Joins Greenberg Traurig Litigation Group
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Robbins Mayor Grazed in Shooting Incident at Birthday Party, Gunman Fatally Shot by Security

Robbins Mayor Grazed in Shooting Incident at Birthday Party, Gunman Fatally Shot by Security

Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant was grazed by a bullet during a birthday celebration at Harold’s Chicken & Ice Bar in south suburban Robbins just after midnight on Saturday. A gunman, identified as 29-year-old Marquelle Rose of Chicago, opened fire, also wounding a DJ. A security guard present at the event then fatally shot Rose. Mayor Bryant was transported to a hospital for a brief period, approximately 35 minutes, before returning to the venue to check on patrons. The DJ also received treatment and was released. According to village spokesperson Sean Howard, Mayor Bryant was not the intended target, and the shooting is considered an isolated incident. Many of the individuals inside the restaurant at the time were seniors. Howard emphasized that the incident does not reflect the progress of Robbins as a town, which has moved from being one of the poorest in America.
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Civil Rights Advocates Urge Supreme Court to Review Texas Ten Commandments Law in Public Schools

Civil Rights Advocates Urge Supreme Court to Review Texas Ten Commandments Law in Public Schools

Civil rights advocates have formally requested the U.S. Supreme Court to review a Texas law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. This action sets the stage for a potential new legal challenge concerning state-sponsored religious expression within educational settings. The Texas law, signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott and effective since last September, requires school districts to display the Ten Commandments if donated. Consequently, conservative groups and individuals have been distributing these posters to campuses across the state. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously upheld the Texas law in a 9-8 ruling, overturning lower federal court decisions that had blocked some Texas school districts from implementing the displays. Similar laws have also been enacted in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama, making this a matter of nationwide importance, according to Heather Weaver, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). T...
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Baby with Heart Defect Undergoes First Surgery Amidst Surrogate Dispute

Baby with Heart Defect Undergoes First Surgery Amidst Surrogate Dispute

A baby, named Rumi by his parents, born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare and severe heart defect, has undergone the first of a series of necessary surgeries. The procedure, a Norwood procedure, was performed on Monday morning. Rumi was born on Wednesday in Texas and his condition remains critical and complex. This medical development is set against the backdrop of a legal dispute between the baby's biological parents, Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar, and the surrogate mother, McKenna West. When the parents learned of the heart defect several months prior to birth, they requested the surrogate to have an abortion, which she refused. West, from Alaska, traveled to Texas before the birth. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened, securing a court order that mandated life-saving medical care for the baby and assigned medical decision-making to Gilkar and Ahmed. Consequently, West has been denied contact with the child and is challenging these orders to gain custody.