Yesterday was a busy day for WTTW News. Catch up with these stories on all things Chicago. Mayor Lori Lightfoot appears on "Chicago Tonight" on Jan. 3, 2023. (WTTW News) Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s reelection campaign had already been warned twice about sending electioneering emails to public employees before the incumbent drew widespread criticism in January 2023 when her campaign sent emails to Chicago Public Schools teachers asking them to encourage students to volunteer to help Lightfoot win a second term. That’s according to a new annual report published today from the CPS Office of Inspector General (OIG), which highlights the office’s major investigations from the previous year. While the OIG found no evidence of coordination between the Lightfoot campaign and the district, the watchdog determined the emails essentially asked employees to violate CPS policy and raised “significant constitutional issues.” As WTTW News first reported in 2023, the emails said participants in the “externship program” would be expected to contribute 12 hours per week to the Lightfoot campaign and students could earn “class credit.” A CPS spokesperson in a statement said the district “remains committed to upholding all District policies and procedures as well as state and federal laws to best serve our students, families and greater CPS community.” What else the report found: Another major investigation highlighted in the report focused on an unnamed CPS high school, where the head coach and his staff conspired to violate residency rules and fraudulently enroll at least half of its student roster over the past three seasons. That investigation was launched after members of the community contacted the OIG alleging several student-athletes lived outside of Chicago. The OIG report also highlighted investigations into CPS employees’ fraudulent use of the Paycheck Protection Program, a pandemic-era measure aimed at helping small businesses cover costs and pay. In several cases, the OIG found CPS employees submitted loan applications with fake business information in order to receive a forgivable government loan. Read more Chicago Police Department headquarters. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News) The independent monitoring teams for Chicago's police consent decree include former police brass who were previously involved in consent decrees and reform efforts across the country. Despite their professional credentials, some members have documented histories of misconduct that might complicate the long-running effort. WTTW News reviewed misconduct cases, settlements and controversial shooting cases that were part of the career history of members of the monitoring team. Some faced other serious allegations. A former Boston police commissioner reinstated an officer after allegations of sexual abuse of a child were sustained. That officer was later charged with sexually abusing six children and convicted, receiving a prison sentence, records show. The commissioner, who was also connected to a controversial fatal no-knock raid, is an associate monitor for use of force for the Chicago consent decree. A former detective, listed in documents as a subject matter expert, drew criticism when he charged a person with a visual impairment with obstruction after she reported him for misconduct during a rape investigation. Despite his focus on the victim, a conviction in the case came when investigators later tested DNA evidence after focusing investigative resources on the woman, based on reports at the time. The victim was later exonerated. Read more Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan exits the Dirksen Federal Courthouse on Oct. 31, 2024. (Andrew Adams / Capitol News Illinois) Michael Madigan, the nation’s longest serving legislative leader before his retirement as Illinois House speaker in 2020, has elected to testify in his own defense at his ongoing corruption trial. The bombshell decision came Tuesday as the monthslong trial at Chicago’s Dirksen Federal Building is drawing to a close. Neither Madigan, nor his defense team, had given any prior indication the former speaker intended to take the witness stand. Read more Read more Learn more about advertising & sponsorship with WTTW. Local Music Recommendations: Record Store Edition Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more. This week, however, there’s a holiday-induced lull at the city’s venues. They’ll be back to normal next week, especially with the Tomorrow Never Knows music festival happening. In the meantime, WTTW News has decided to highlight local record stores to help you get your music fix. As you remain cozy, skip the concerts this week to shop local. 1). Dusty Groove In my opinion, this is the best-curated store in the entire city. Its eclectic offerings are full of hard-to-find soul, funk and dance music from around the world. You could spend hours here perusing the racks. 1120 N. Ashland Ave. 2). 606 Records Located across the street from Pilsen’s premier music venue Thalia Hall, 606 Records specializes in boundary-pushing releases from international record labels. Go to the South Side for outre selections in jazz, electronic and psychedelic rock. 1808 S. Allport St. 3). Rattleback Records This cozy shop in Andersonville is your destination for a well-rounded inventory that won’t feel overwhelming. The service is friendly, and I’ve found some killer Grateful Dead rarities there. 5405 N. Clark St. Read more Back in the Day: January 8, 1970 - Bulls Center Tom Boerwinkle Grabs 37 Rebounds In today’s NBA, if a player averages more than 10 rebounds a game that places them in the top 20 of the entire league. So far in 2024, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama has gotten the most boards in a game this season, with 23 rebounds against the Denver Nuggets last Saturday. While that’s an impressive haul, on this day 55 years ago Chicago Bulls center Tom Boerwinkle secured 37 boards in a single game. What’s more astounding is that he did this during a chilly night when Chicago Stadium’s heater was broken. “One of the most wicked cold snaps in Chicago history was paralyzing the city,” Boerwinkle said in a 2005 interview.“ By Jan. 8, it had been below zero for 10 straight days.” He also said, “And as the teams and officials were discussing whether to play the game at all on that very chilly night, there was one little secret nobody knew: I was a cold-weather person.” Since that night when the Bulls beat the Phoenix Suns, no one has grabbed more rebounds in one game than Boerwinkle. Learn more about advertising & sponsorship with WTTW. What is your favorite museum in Chicago? Tell us why. Email [email protected] with your responses and your answers might be published. It's inauguration day in Springfield. A look at what's ahead for state lawmakers in 2025. 5:30 PM | 10:00 PM Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more. Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
