2+ week, 4+ day ago (855+ words) George M. Knue spent his entire career with the Tribune, rising from working in its suburban editions as an intern to building a highly regarded high school sports section, and culminating with developing and leading several of the Tribune's digital news sites from the outset of the internet era into the mid-2010s. Along the way, Knue built a reputation for his intelligence, effectiveness and moxie, as well as for his kindness and ability to mentor his staff, colleagues said. Knue, 74, died of complications from cardiac sarcoidosis on Nov. 11 at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth La Grange Hospital in La Grange, said his wife of 48 years, Jonell.Knue had been a longtime Western Springs resident. Born in Indianapolis in 1951, Knue moved with his family to La Grange when he was about 5 years old, his wife said.He graduated from Lyons Township High School in La…...

2+ week, 1+ day ago (493+ words) Andrea Hanis was a versatile journalist who spent almost her entire career working for Chicago newspapers, including the Tribune, where in 2013 she launched Blue Sky Innovation, a digital hub focused on Chicago's emerging innovation economy, and served as its editor. Those who worked closely with Hanis recalled her high journalistic standards, her strong work ethic, her effervescent personality, her upbeat spirit and her ever-present sense of humor. Born in 1969, Andrea Marie Hanis was a native of Whiting, Indiana, and graduated from Whiting High School in 1986.She earned a bachelor's degree in 1991 from Indiana University, where she worked on the school newspaper, the Indiana Daily Student, as managing editor and news editor. After college, Hanis worked for the Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper in Kentucky for two years before moving to Chicago in 1993 to take a job at the Chicago Sun-Times.She was…...

6+ day, 18+ hour ago (385+ words) It's past time for the Chicago Teachers Union to come clean on its finances. One of the oddest long-standing issues in Chicago politics has been CTU's stubborn resistance over the past several years to sharing full audited financials with its own members, as the union's bylaws seem to require. The union's secretive ways, naturally, have prompted plenty of conspiracy-theorizing. What could CTU be hiding? From its own members, no less? The union reacted to these complaints at first by largely ignoring them. But as the drumbeat grew louder and the union was taken to court by several of its own members over the issue, CTU's protestations took on the sort of tone we now too often associate with CTU's leadership: ad hominem attacks. Case in point: CTU President Stacy Davis Gates in 2023 derided a fellow union member who raised the…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago (418+ words) School District U-46 is planning to sell $32 million in bonds to increase its working cash fund, a measure that most likely won't need voter approval and that officials say won't raise taxes. "The school district does not need voter signatures or additional approval to proceed with this bond sale," Ann Williams, deputy superintendent of operations/treasurer, said in an email. "The board has initiated a standard, state-authorized process to issue bonds as part of the district's long-term financial plan." During a work session at last week's school board meeting, Williams discussed starting the formal process to sell the bonds. Elizabeth Hennessy, managing director for the Raymond James investment banking firm, explained the process. It requires that the board pass a resolution at its Nov. 17 meeting announcing its intention to sell the bonds. If approved, notification would be published in a local…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago (374+ words) College of DuPage is offering a new 44-credit hour ecological restoration certificate. The program is designed to use restoration techniques to monitor, assess, preserve and restore ecosystems, a news release said. Students will receive a foundation in local natural history, ecological concepts and disturbances, and natural resource management policy and can pursue future careers as restoration ecologists, environmental restoration planners and field technicians in government, corporate and nonprofit organizations, the release said. Students also can use the credit hours towards the college's horticulture associate in applied science degree, the release said. Proceeds from the KidsMatter EMPOWER Gala will help launch an arts and innovation course within the SpringBoard Summer Series as well as help fund other KidsMatter initiatives, organizers said. The gala will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Naperville, 1823 Abriter Court. Performances include Harmony…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago (552+ words) Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday sought to pump the brakes on the Chicago Board of Education's search for the next leader of the nation's fourth-largest school district by suggesting the process is not close to completion after all. The mayor distanced himself from the names floated as final-round contenders and indicated further applicants should throw their hats in the ring, despite district leadership and an outside firm spending the last half year getting to this point. In the letter, Davis Gates pointed to a section of Illinois' school code, which states: "The Mayor shall appoint a full-time, compensated chief executive officer, and his or her compensation as such chief executive officer shall be determined by the Mayor." The section was written in 1995, when CPS was put under mayoral control. But it was not changed when legislation was passed in 2021 to…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (327+ words) Veterans Day ceremonies are being held in the Elgin area on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 10-11: A Barrels of Hope benefit to raise money for PADS of Elgin will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, at The Distance Social, 314 N. River St., East Dundee. The night will include bourbon samples from more than a dozen top-shelf distilleries, food from Duke's Blues-N-BBQ and a raffle, according to the event webpage. PADS provides shelter, support services and advocacy for people and families experiencing homelessness. Carpentersville is one of 25 communities in northern Illinois to receive a $2,500 ComEd "Powering the Holidays" grant. Since 2021, ComEd has distributed $234,000 in grants to more than 90 communities and organizations to transform public spaces into holiday displays. The Elgin Public Museum holding a free Indigenous Peoples Month event from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15. HoChunk Native American Gerald Savage will give an Illinois…...

4+ week, 7+ hour ago (621+ words) A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official opening of Elmhurst University's new Health Sciences Building, which features 45,000 square feet of space and is the home of the departments of Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Public Health and Troy D. VanAken and Communication Sciences and Disorders. The building, designed and built according to strict environmental sustainability standards, boasts more than 300 solar panels on the roof, which are one reason the building received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. "I could not be more gratified by how our trustees, faculty, staff, donors, alumni, students, the City of Elmhurst and other stakeholders came together to support this project at every step, from fundraising to finish line," President Troy VanAken shared, according to a media release. The Forest Preserve District of Will County Pumpkin Smash takes place noon to 4 p.m. at Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 419 Stout Farm…...

3+ week, 6+ day ago (347+ words) Pumpkin smash events will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 8, at Naperville Central High School, 440 Aurora Ave., and Peterson Elementary School, 4008 Chinaberry Lane, Naperville. Sponsored by SCARCE (School and Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education), the nonprofit started holding pumpkin recycling events in 2014 and has helped keep more than nine tons of pumpkins out of landfills by using them for compost, organizers said. Last year, more than 150 registered and unregistered pumpkin smash sites composted nearly 165 tons of pumpkins, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and produces nutrients to improve soil quality, SCARCE organizers said. A community Food Drive at Block 59 will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, in the parking lot of the Walter E. Smithe store to support the Loaves & Fishes food pantry in Naperville. Non-perishable food items are being collected, according to a news release from Brixmor, the…...

3+ week, 5+ day ago (639+ words) Waukegan Public Library patrons can now more easily check out a book, movie or music, reserve a study room, or access e-books or movies online by using the library's updated website. Amy Grossman, the library's deputy director, said cardholders can go to the website, log into their account and reserve a book, movie or music if it is available. They can also select a movie and watch it on a device at home. "You can place the book on hold, and then pick it up at the library," she said. "Some things are a lot easier now. Before it was a challenge." The Waukegan Public Library launched its new website in October, replacing an obsolete software system and adding new features, making it easier for users to find resources and receive a recommendation of a book to read. With the…...