Stories by Brandis Friedman
Could House Calls Be the Future of Medical Care?
| Brandis Friedman
Bringing the doctor’s office to patients when they’re no longer able to bring themselves.
Teachers Claim CPS ‘Harassing’ Members Over Sick Leave
| Brandis Friedman
Some Chicago teachers say CPS is looking into whether they are skipping school.
New Investment Helps Young Chicagoans Find Their Opportunity
| Brandis Friedman
In an effort to curb violence, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has directed resources to expand mentoring programs in Chicago Public Schools. A new effort is targeting young men and women who aren’t in school.
CPD Use of Force Policy Getting Revisions Amid Larger Reform Effort
| Brandis Friedman
The Chicago Police Department's controversial use of force policy gets a do-over.
History Comes to Life as CPS Students Meet ‘Hamilton’
| Brandis Friedman
The Founding Father who became the subject of one of the most popular Broadway musicals in a generation is also the subject of a history lesson in Chicago Public Schools.
Chance the Rapper Donates $1M to Chicago Public Schools
| Brandis Friedman
The Grammy winner announced a $1 million donation to CPS, just as Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office presented new ideas to rescue the cash-strapped district from its funding wreckage.
Cash-Strapped CPS Files Motion, Threatens Shorter School Year
| Brandis Friedman
Chicago Public Schools students could be in for a shorter school year.
Emmett Till’s Family Reacts to Accuser’s Confession, 60 Years Later
| Brandis Friedman
A stunning confession in the most notorious civil rights case of the 20th century.
CTU, Principals: Special Education in Crisis
| Brandis Friedman
Strong charges from the Chicago Teachers Union leveled against Chicago Public Schools about funding the district’s diverse learners.
School Funding Reform Commission Delivers Report, Legislation TBD
| Brandis Friedman
Another commission, another report on school funding reform. Will lawmakers’ recommendations create a new formula?
Chicago Police Department Ramps Up Training for ‘Police Legitimacy’
| Brandis Friedman
Chicago Tonight sits in on a training class that aims to teach Chicago police officers how to better engage with the community.
Remembering the 1st Step of Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1,000-Mile March
| Brandis Friedman
Once a neighborhood unwelcoming to families of color, Marquette Park is not only a more diverse community today, but one that's now home to a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial.
How 2012 Chicago Teachers Strike Changed Fight Over Public Education
| Brandis Friedman
A new book argues the teachers strike of 2012 did more than just force a contract. A look inside “A Fight for the Soul of Public Education.”
Judges Help Foster Children Find Independence
| Brandis Friedman
From the foster system to one of the hottest restaurants in town: How one young man is “mixing it up.”
Bitter Cold Especially Challenging for Chronically Homeless
| Brandis Friedman
Weathering the cold is especially hard on people who live outside. What’s being done to help the homeless.
Part-Time Professors at City Colleges Want More From Their Employer
| Brandis Friedman
Adjunct professors at the state’s biggest community college system say their working conditions make it difficult for them to do their jobs.
Watchdog Says CPS Board Blocking Ethics Investigation
| Brandis Friedman
An investigation into whether or not the Chicago Board of Education’s top attorney violated a Chicago Public Schools ethics policy has been stalled, according to the district’s Inspector General Nick Schuler.
CPS Board Approves Revised Budget With $215M Gap
Charter Applications and Inspector General Investigation on the Table
| Brandis Friedman
Chicago Public Schools has a budget, but it could change again before the end of the school year.
Mentoring Program at Chicago Schools Expands to Girls
| Brandis Friedman
No longer just for the boys, a popular mentoring program is now making sure girls aren’t being left behind.
DACA Recipients Fear the Future Under Trump
| Brandis Friedman
As inauguration day grows closer, so does the fear for some young immigrants that their status in the U.S. will be revoked.
Learning Gardens at CPS Schools Plant Seeds for Healthy Food Choices
| Brandis Friedman
Students at some Chicago Public Schools are getting their hands dirty while feeding their minds.
New Report Aims to Increase Principal Retention at CPS
| Brandis Friedman
A tough job, but hundreds of Chicago educators do it–a new report on making sure the best principals are on the jobs in Chicago Public Schools.
Detainees Work Through Trauma in Jail, Aim for ‘Something Different’
| Brandis Friedman
We bring you part two of our story on a program that aims to stop the revolving door of the criminal justice system – from inside the Cook County Jail.
Navigating Community College Takes Support, Time for These Students
| Brandis Friedman
Though community college is expected to last only two years, it's a long road for many students. A look at how some students are getting plenty of support along the way.
New Program to Stem Chicago’s Violence Epidemic Starts in Jail
| Brandis Friedman
For many young men inside the Cook County Jail, violence on the streets is a daily reality. But a new program based at the jail aims to change that reality.
Strike Deadline Looms for UNO Charter School Network, Teachers Union
| Brandis Friedman
The city narrowly missed a massive teachers’ strike last week, but another is brewing for parents at a major charter school operator.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Trending
2026 Chicago Summer Festival Guide
Duckworth, Durbin Call on Andrew Boutros to Step Down as Chicago’s U.S. Attorney Amid ‘Chaos,’ ‘Dysfunction’
CPD Officer Who Punched Teen in 2019 Incident Won’t Be Fired: Records
Brandon Johnson Takes Victory Lap After State Budget Green Lights Digital Ad Tax
2026 Chicago Garden Walk Guide: A Showcase for Urban Oases
Sign up for the WTTW News newsletter