>> Everyone, thanks for joining us on the week in review on them.

tensions between Chicago, public schools and the teachers union are hot and yet both sides say at long last a contract, it's close.

We're ready settle.

>> We've given everything to But everything on the table keeping at Bay a controversial budget vote that could have been embarrassing for the mayor.

>> Extremely extremely calls to settling the teachers union contract.

So as a result, the budget amendment and related items have been withdraw from today's agenda.

>> This as President, Donald Trump moves to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education saying schools are failing to educate American children.

>> Not even the very simplest mathematics.

I said give me definition of basic and the talking about like adding a few numbers together.

The president.

>> Doesn't care about the future of the country because the president is not investing.

Indeed, the president is divesting from the young people of this country.

>> Illinois's governor goes on toward likewise lambaste the president and says if Trump goes forward with his plans, the state stands to lose big.

What we're talking across the board.

>> Health care, education cuts, cetera.

We don't have what right now looks like about 11 billion dollars.

We will lose.

Meanwhile, local town halls are becoming testy.

>> If you leave.

>> Plus, Chicago area transit agencies threaten major cuts at the state doesn't come through with the fiscal rescue.

The sometimes loses journalists and seeing it for the line up.

>> And now to our week in review panel joining us, our brendyn pope from Wcbi UTV Allison from the Chicago Tribune.

Rick Pearson also from the Trib and our very own Nic Blumberg of Wt Tw news.

Now.

Let's get right to it.

Brandon, and I'm going to start with you.

Thousands of jobs are at stake.

And then also in this is of no small consequence.

Now that that Kennedy construction has restarted and is wreaking havoc on my commuting life.

I transit transit agencies.

A doomsday is approaching and one out of 5 commuters are going to lose access to their routes and less.

The legislature comes up with 1.5 Bill u N dollars.

What are the other consequences at stake The consequences at stake here is this is a city that's built off of having a great public transportation ecosystem.

And so >> without that, if you cut that significantly because was livelihoods, how they get to work and how they get home then you're coming into the economy itself.

People coming into the city and out of the cities, not just CTA.

We're talking Metra and pace as well.

These are big impacts and Israeli.

You can go to scare tactic, you know, to try to wake up lawmakers, hey, you're not paying attention to this right now.

Here's what could happen if now, as we also know, the Trump administration recently put threats to cities like New York and Chicago about if we don't improve security on our trains, that federal funding could also be removed as well.

So he's a dire time for potential Taishan.

>> And Nic, it didn't.

It wasn't until the very end actually of this lot link the notice of what could happen.

You know, weekend service and pace, I believe, for example, that transit agency said.

By the way, here's what we'll do in exchange for that 1.5 billion and their transformation plan.

I think missing the point with lawmakers.

Well, I think lawmakers want to see governance reform before they come up with any more money.

They've been very clear about that.

Now, what form that takes?

You know, there are a lot of questions we've been talking for months and months now.

Do we merge all the systems into one?

Do we give the RTA more power to coordinate?

>> And I think, you know, the RTA, at least he's been saying, listen, we're open to these reforms.

They came up with about 100 million dollars in savings from, you know, efficiencies and a modest fare increase.

But I think they are very concerned that if they don't try to wake these lawmakers up about this 770 million dollar budget gap.

And yeah, on top of that, looking for a total of a billion and a half to try to revitalize the system.

>> That they're saying, you know, this is going to decimate the region to to Brandon's point about the economics.

They say every dollar into transit.

It's $4 in, you know, a boost to economy.

Large.

>> No, Rick, you know the legislature, they are nothing if not last minute.

So the transit agency say that need to cry, what motivates ABC that's going to come at the end of session.

So that would mean June these cuts would take effect.

But I've been hearing from lawmakers that they're not really going tackle this until veto session.

So.

>> there a timing?

Misaligned men are white a warning now?

Well, one, I mean, I agree that this is a lot of this is this is you're doing just a scare the heck out of everybody kind of thing.

>> And to try to ramp up pressure public pressure on the General Assembly.

But as you and I seen many times, General Assembly will operate under its own time frame.

They'll do something.

do something and that's not going to be some point.

But they will do something.

They do enough to alleviate the immediate crisis.

>> But part of those issues are going to be, you know, the idea of how the reform the system, which let's face it, it's a turf more more about the city and the suburbs and who gets how many seats on various boards to run everything.

>> Because we're going make the appointment it was going to steal the money and other suburbs are going to get all the city money.

The city is going to much money.

I mean, these and these have been going on for decades.

So, you know, there will be some serious negotiations following right.

But but I I do not expect that that's going to be.

so I was I wouldn't want to go over to you for some drama elsewhere.

And this is at City Hall where you had Mayor Brandon Johnson.

>> Call a meeting with CPS leaders in Chicago.

Teachers, union leaders.

This is they're trying, of course, to finalize a contract.

Why the mayor intervene here and given what is widely perceived to be his allegiance to the CTU?

>> Was he seen as fair broker?

Had that event tells drama Dish?

>> Yeah, I know.

So told that board president hand plant on Harden, requested this meeting with season.

Davis, Gates and Pedro Martinez, some Hardin Mayor Johnson approached told reporters afterwards they thought it was a productive meeting they are getting close to a contract.

But we've a different tone from both Pedro and He said that you got contentious and they thought, you know, feelings were hurt.

And there is a suspect going around.

So also say, is both parties to some degree they're getting closer to settling remaining issues of the contract.

But there is a big elephant in the room, which is how they're going to fund that contract and >> still no answers to that because, of course, we did have a meeting this week of the board of Education, but they ended up delaying a vote because the contract is now so close to a deal.

What's going on there while regional lines?

It seems that the >> a Dodger of you don't call a vote unless you know you have the votes It was going to be an embarrassment.

votes were not there.

But there is a time crunch here because right now 175 million dollar pension payment is still on the city side and they need to be reimbursed for it.

By the end of this month.

Earls are closing out 2024 at the deficit.

I have to imagine some of the frustration that you see with Pedro Martinez and Stacy Davis.

Gates may be is because they're so close because they want to get this over the finish line.

This has been going on for close to a year now.

>> You know, certainly the mayor and the school board president have been engaged in this process, but they're not the ones taking heat day in day out.

So I think no love lost between the nobody wants to strike because strikes in benefit.

Anybody doesn't benefit the major political.

He doesn't benefit the CTU politically benefit students and teachers and parents and all.

>> And so they want to get this done in the issues that seem to be the sticking point from what I'm hearing and reporting is things like how much prep time teachers get sick.

I admit only how much are you gonna fight over that and one hand that's time that adds up over the course of the year on the other.

>> know, 5.10, minutes and the scope of the work day flies by without even notice And you can understand why a teacher would 20 minutes to grade papers.

And, you know, there's a lot of work, parents, a lot of work involved, right?

I think when you look at both the mayor and the CTU were the 2 most politically vulnerable groups and who do not have a whole lot of public support either one right How far do you take story so you're going throw a strike?

>> I don't think that works for either really you know, is an election.

Coming up in May for Stacy Davis, Gates will seat.

He might She's for sure.

I'm we're going to get to more politics in just a bit.

But first, I want to talk about how all of this is the context, of course, of President Trump dismantling the Department of Education.

>> And and a warning from Governor Pritzker that that could mean 3 billion dollars in a hit to Illinois in education alone.

So how much is just this fiscal landscape part of these negotiations?

I will say that Trump said that the money will still flow.

>> Now that's Trump saying so take it for what it's question about who's going to be distributing workers are that this will be distributed out to different age and other agencies.

But again, some cells and lost a lot of workers and continued to lose So I'd be like for for student loans, the higher education side.

Those are now supposed to go bully.

Small business administration, which, of course, losing tens of thousands of workers.

So having offices close to downtown, right.

So I mean, there is a potential I mean, we see how chaotic everything has been since day one of this administration, including funding portals that shut off with no reason.

Who knows what's going to happen here.

But, you know, as as the governor said in that clip that, you know, the bottom line is when you're talking about 11 billion dollars in that kind of a catchall number.

There is no way.

I mean Illinois budget 55 billion here right And 11 is a by the way, let's throw in the transit by >> Rounding error.

All right.

We're in it, will it?

So speaking of departments closing that one of the Department of Education's civil Rights office is closed here in Chicago.

And yet we do have the civil rights Office of the Department of Education.

Now.

>> Taking in an investigation into Chicago Public Schools, the Illinois State Board of Education, as well as a Deerfield School district.

Nick, what can you tell us about this investigation comes on the heels of a couple of conservative groups filing a lawsuit.

That's right.

When most prominent we also saw, you Deerfield Parents File a complaint with the Department of Education saying that >> her daughter was forced, you know, in gym class locker room to change in the presence of a, quote, biological male.

The Deerfield School District has made very clear that no student is forced to change publicly anywhere.

There are multiple options for changing privately.

So this does appear to be a part of sort of this, you know, culture of people challenging a trans folks in public spaces that we have seen over the last few years.

And that does follow on, you know, these executive orders that we've seen from the Trump administration.

Ellis, any word from CPS?

This was a deerfield school wire Chicago, public schools involved.

And I feel like general, though, you know, White House has been kind of cracking down on liberal cities, liberal leaders like Chicago and they can also launch an anti Semitism.

>> Task investigation into Chicago as well.

So I guess that's where that's from.

But I will say the Deerfield situation.

I think it is also playing out under a backdrop of this really like Intra Party dispute among Democrats really have like Rahm Emanuel.

Gavin Newsom signing on one side of it and then Lori Lightfoot you know, other progressive approach up to use of voices coming on the other.

And I feel like that's just gonna continue to play out in the national conversation.

And Governor JB Pritzker inserting himself very much into that conversation.

I read an article from The Telegraph.

So, you United Kingdom based publication and he was the lead Pritzker and the prospects of his running in 2028.

So.

>> How does he fit into that?

That picture Democrats who want to be in their navigating this intraparty squabbles?

I think if you look at some of his most recent public appearances are talking about the Center for American Progress, which is certainly on the progressive side of the scale.

>> Rahm Emanuel, for example, has always been more of a left center.

Tell I mean, he's the one told Obama that going for Obama care was top may be too big to have a final bid So I mean, you've different Styles.

And Emmanuel recently also saying that the Democrats need to focus less on right.

Exactly Yeah, right.

Well, he also he also talked about classrooms and policing and were 2 issues that called a lot of grief, or so.

here Saturday, back all Well, but I mean, I mean, there is the prospect that, you know, Rahm Emanuel is certainly looking at running for President.

>> Jb Pritzker, obviously with the steps that he's taking to increase footprint certainly have some kind of presidential ambitions.

The question is kind of true.

Presidential ambitions, something that's helped by being a through 3 term governor with to a home during into a budget.

we can do at home or to manage Brecon right now of all the people trying to jockey for position to be the leader of the that's ended one.

It may.

believe once were once he was But I mean, seeing him at that center for American Progress event, it almost seemed like he was testing out some of the lines he might use on the stump.

You know, the sort of >> Elon Musk's minions and me morgues and you know, all as well as trying to find that message, right, you have this listless leadership in the Democratic Party that, you know, is absolutely divided over.

And I don't think need to come to the kids are consensus on why they lost in November.

There's >> a lot of different theories on like saw Latina got real.

And also, you know, we want to say it was because of them.

So there's always speaking of, we have Cook County Board, President Toni Preckwinkle saying that she is going to run again.

>> She is 78, by the way, the same age as President Trump.

But not that far out from what Biden was when he was too old to run for another office is is a surprise.

Any serious competition.

>> Aides going to be an issue.

I think maybe her competitors might try to make it an issue.

But I think for folks who pay attention to President Preckwinkle, she sees art.

She is sharp.

She is energetic.

She is her same no-nonsense self that I think folks have come to know for I'll play the one-word answer.

Competitors expecting can't really foresee any and in a serious pain But I will say here again, you know, running for another term in this atmosphere of the Trumpian economics work.

What's the biggest thing that the county has to do with his health And really group could create some uncharted.

Was she saying believed through running again for that very reason, Alice, you were going to add in, but I'm going add the question to throw it you so you can double You also have been reporting about Mayor Johnson, perhaps looking ahead to his >> prospects politically down the road in making some really concerted effort to reach out to the black community.

>> Why is that a sign of trouble for him?

Do you think or what?

What's going well, I guess it for sale 2 years out until 20 joins other.

That's a lifetime in politics.

So who knows happened?

>> But we are seeing some, you know, early signs of maybe trouble in like maybe a repeat of what we saw Lori Lightfoot do when she shifted her strategy where, you know, both of them, they got into the run-off, mainly with the support of, you know, Nora's lakefront Liberals and Milwaukee Avenue progresses and then they later pivoted to the black vote on.

They obviously got it during both of the runoffs.

And and, you know, I feel like some of the conventional wisdom in local politics is that progressives, the progressive base is a bit more of a fickle voter base on day.

Certainly express a lot of discontent over the past couple years.

And now we see the mayor do really trying to Spend your time outreach into the black community.

Go into the church isn't something you kind of surprised that only because.

>> Throughout his mayoral ship, he has talked about how he is trying to.

Rep right, the wrongs that have affected the black community.

So if you're at the stage of the game right now and you've got to go back to that base that you've appealing to this whole time.

So times, very serious political problems.

comes down to messaging.

I mean, ultimately he's got things he could run on.

Violence is down.

>> He's got the one fairways program and there's things you can message right?

But when you see him in press conferences, we try explain these things want you talking about.

He's dancing around things and comes off as too professorial.

Sometimes I don't think that mix all the way with black voters here the Chicago area.

Is there someone out there that could capture that and be a threat there?

Aside from Willie Wilson.

I don't really see that happening right now.

But that said, Base he has to get because as you mentioned, progressives.

Kind of salary want to this point.

And so he can lock into them for support at this point.

Well, and this comes as we have a lot of voters very activated, perhaps sometimes angry.

Rick, you been reporting on disruption at a town hall.

>> I've read about that.

And some GOP town halls.

This was for Democratic Congressman Sean Downers Grove and ostensibly.

>> This was supposed to be kind of a gathering to do an anti Trump and Democratic rally kind of thing.

But what you had here is.

Rather than talking about Trump.

It was the issue of support military aid to Israel Israelis war against Hamas and the deaths in Gaza.

this something that you see pop up occasionally.

And we saw during the Democratic Convention too, among Democrats.

And that's also one of the issues among, you know, how to how the Democrats reconcile that and is there us complicity?

You know, in those that but, you know, in all of these, it's always always, you know, you've got one side to the other.

There's you can't you can't have any kind of understanding of issues both because size you want with think to the point of view, no progress is being perhaps a fickle voters.

Folks on the left, I think, you know, with the ongoing war in Gaza aren't necessarily.

>> You know, just happy to say, well, vote for the Democrat because they're not Trump for a vote for the Democrat because I'm on the left and I align with them.

I think they're really making the point that no, I have these very serious political humanitarian differences with you.

And I don't really care if you're a Democrat.

That's not cut it for And a lot of those a reas come because they know people who are impacted by this or they are impacted by this like Cook County.

That's real has the largest population of barricades in the can and the country like.

>> It's really impact people with home journalist, of course, keeping their eye on things.

Run them going to stick with you because it is sad and unfortunate news.

The Sun-Times through buyouts granted losing 20% of its staff.

What does that do to the journalistic it's it's a major blow.

I mean, we all obviously, you know, different news organizations.

We have fun.

We compete.

But at the end of roof reach of United, don't want to see job loss and to see the situation, I mean, especially to the sports staff.

You're you're getting sports coverage.

>> Women's sports coverage, photographers is this.

I can't fathom how they're going to produce the same quality of news they did before.

And ultimately that impacts.

Our our viewers, our audience, Chicago, is themselves and this is not just sometimes or Chicago.

Public media.

It's across the board and not just a Chicago.

We're facing a real crisis when it comes to gutting of our journalistic institutions.

And it's not great for democracy at all.

>> And we've got about one minute left here.

I want to get to some news today because the U.S. Supreme Court 30 seconds actually quick admit side former alderman Patrick Daley, Thompson, he is out of prison.

So not gonna make a difference there.

But they're unanimously ruling he misleading is not lying so he could have Avery trial there.

>> Rick, well, it's here again.

It's one more question of are we seeing the court's weakening corruption statutes to to try to prosecute, especially in the Chicago area.

>> And still waiting to fill a vacancy at the top of that office at least permanently.

So here we we are out of time.

Our thanks to Brendan Pope Nick Blumberg Ellis and and Rick Pearson.

And we'll be back to wrap things up with an important note about this program right after this.

>> Tonight's presentation of Chicago Tonight Week in review is made possible in part by and and rich car.

Bnsf railway, Francine and Doctor Anthony Brown.

And the moment, however, progressive philanthropic fund in honor of them and how supporting quality journalism.

Chicago tonight is made possible in part why the Alexandra and John Nichols family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation, additional support is provided by.

>> In book 4, We end the program.

A personal note.

It has been my privilege to report stories grill politicians and take my curiosity all over the city as part of the Chicago tonight News team.

But this will be my last show working on W T tw new challenges on the horizon going forward.

The week in review program will be in the smart and steady hands of my friends.

Nick, One back.

>> And I cannot think of any shoes.

I would rather try to fill all though.

I don't know if I can wear the heels.

We We are also excited for we are so excited for your next adventure.

But we are going to miss you like crazy and to that.

And here are a few of our favorite Amanda memories.

>> Another busy day in Springfield.

Amanda first came to our attention as state House bureau chief for Illinois Public Radio.

And after many appearances with us in that capacity officially joined the W T Tw News team a 2017.

What has to happen before lawmakers go home?

It's what this whole week has been working toward Vice President Kamala Harris accepting her party's nomination for a promotion to president of the United States.

Her main beach have remained politics, including local, state and federal, been outspoken as a critic and President Trump doesn't seem to take all too kindly to that.

So what would your strategy be to bring?

>> Resources to Illinois?

>> Well, look, I would hope to convince him to change his ways.

And Amanda is always tireless in getting the story no matter what stands in her way.

Grab the swap.

>> have to put it in one nostril.

>> And also distinguished herself with her reporting during the COVID pandemic and not just by being one of the first to introduce the public to what a COVID test was like.

Who could forget her stellar coverage the pandemic and the political activity in a fallout from the living room of her Chicago home the night night after night getting justly in front of granting that he >> Brandis like other communities.

The coronavirus has been costly for Skokie first and she also got out did important reporting in communities in and around Chicago area telling the stories of those affected by the pandemic and the social unrest of Twenty-twenty Sunday service.

And also has a feel for telling stories on lighter side as well.

It isn't quite the Caribbean, but waters here in Lake Michigan has getting bluer having a little and connecting with the audience.

That's what my colleagues and I will is a menace co-worker.

We get a life that's not going to be the same here without you.

>> Those clips just scratched the you and I have done conventions.

We've done documentaries million late election countless hours working with you all a pleasure.

But as your next-door office neighbor, I think the thing I will miss the most are Europe, certainly loud sneezes.

Nobody does it you an end up on yes.

Apologies are.

You're welcome.

Maybe to the audience.

We have not had the privilege you're busting news like that.

Thanks so much snack and good luck to you.

>> And thanks to everyone watching.

And that includes you, mom, for your trust and for watching.

And now for the weekend radio.

I'm an event stay healthy, safe and then good night and good.

What else can you tell And again, sentencing.

What do think the judge is gonna focus on that?

>> It's going he's going serve I mean, how much, though?

Not maybe I would say no more than 5 years to he have the goodwill that Halderman Park hilltop that Steve got him to to I mean, if we the kind of outpouring that we saw for former Alderman Burke, I think a lot of people were surprised.

>> All those letters that came pouring into the >> closed captioning is made possible by Robert a cliff.

And Clifford law offices, Chicago, personal injury and wrongful That is proud to be a multi-level law firm that