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Chicagoans caught in narco violence in Mexico

Sunday night at least eight continue to shelter in place after car jacking and bombed car.

News

At least eight Chicagoans were sheltering in place in Puerto Vallarta on Sunday amid violent attacks throughout the region in response to the capture and death of the Mexican <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cartel leader" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/09/trump-mexico-colombia-venezuela-strikes-maduro" data-vars-content-id="0620688d-d624-485a-9556-6d28b5f1f789" data-vars-headline="Chicagoans caught in narco violence in Mexico" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/09/trump-mexico-colombia-venezuela-strikes-maduro" target="_self">cartel leader</a> known as &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="El Mencho" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/mexico-cartel-leader-el-mencho-drug-lord-killed" data-vars-content-id="0620688d-d624-485a-9556-6d28b5f1f789" data-vars-headline="Chicagoans caught in narco violence in Mexico" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/23/mexico-cartel-leader-el-mencho-drug-lord-killed" target="_self">El Mencho</a>.&quot;Zoom in: Lakeview resident Jonathan Pizer tells Axios that he and his husband Brad Lippitz were heading to go whale watching with two Chicago friends Sunday morning when their car was stopped.

Illinois lawmakers push back on Chicago Bears' Indiana stadium plan

IL Gov. JB Pritzker said he was surprised by the Bears' announcement Thursday.

The Chicago Bears publicly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="expressed interest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/02/19/indiana-illinois-chicago-bears-stadium-deal" data-vars-content-id="3a84913f-bfe2-4c85-80a7-9d7f3f7a59a4" data-vars-headline="Illinois lawmakers push back on Chicago Bears&#x27; Indiana stadium plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/02/19/indiana-illinois-chicago-bears-stadium-deal" target="_self">expressed interest</a> in building a new stadium in Hammond, after Indiana lawmakers moved forward on a bill to lure them across the border.Why it matters: The &quot;Pride and Joy of Illinois&quot; could play football in a different state.

Axios Chicago poll: Should the Bears leave Illinois?

Take our ultimate poll about the continuing stadium saga in Illinois

While the Bears negotiate (again) for a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new stadium site" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/02/19/indiana-illinois-chicago-bears-stadium-deal" data-vars-content-id="fef5ff15-c812-4d0a-b7a0-e4dd4b38e3cb" data-vars-headline="Axios Chicago poll: Should the Bears leave Illinois?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2026/02/19/indiana-illinois-chicago-bears-stadium-deal" target="_self">new stadium site</a>, we think it&#x27;s time to get your voice involved.State of play: We have a few questions for what we are calling the &quot;ultimate, hands down, definitive Bears stadium Axios Chicago poll,&quot; otherwise known as the UHDFBSACP.

Where to celebrate Lunar New Year in Chicago this weekend

From dances to dumpling classes, here's where to ring in the Year of the Fire Horse in Chicago.

Culture

Mark the Year of the Fire Horse with art, music and food this Lunar New Year. Here are a few ways to celebrate in Chicago this weekend.

Study finds ChatGPT reflects stereotypes of U.S. cities and countries

Researchers found AI tools echo online stereotypes, from food praise to "not friendly" cities.

Researchers have found that LLMs, like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ChatGPT" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/09/chatgpt-ads-testing-go-free" data-vars-content-id="594e16e1-3b9c-4bfe-a5f8-47052141fe69" data-vars-headline="Study finds ChatGPT reflects stereotypes of U.S. cities and countries" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/09/chatgpt-ads-testing-go-free" target="_self">ChatGPT</a>, are just as biased as the rest of the world.Why it matters: Last year, over 50% of adults in the U.S. reported using LLMs, and as more people rely on the information these platforms deliver, geographic, racial and economic stereotypes are perpetuated further.

Exhibit showcases work inspired by innovative arts program

Gallery 400 at UIC spotlights the ensemble that brought puppets, clowns and creativity to youth across Chicago.

In the late 1970s, a group of neighbors in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pilsen" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/01/20/a-new-york-slice-on-the-pink-line" data-vars-content-id="5255dd55-8dcb-4fb7-8e7a-87ce3077f8ef" data-vars-headline="Exhibit showcases work inspired by innovative arts program" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/01/20/a-new-york-slice-on-the-pink-line" target="_self">Pilsen</a> decided to do something radical — teach art to children across the city for free.The big picture: The collective known as the Pros Arts Studio ensemble visited schools, parks and community centers to perform plays with clowns and puppets and help young people tap into their own artistic talents. <ul><li>For some students, it was the only arts education they received. </li></ul>

Chicago photographer reveals CPS students' everyday moments

Through trusted portraits at CPS schools, Melissa Ann Pinney shows students as they really are.

Education

<figure><img alt="Teen girl with long braided hair wearing a brown hoodie and colorful backpack looking at herself in a bathroom mirror with beige tiles and pink walls." height="1597" id="1ceb00b4-88b3-4510-b47b-e5d08e621cb7" src="https://images.axios.com/601xajea1iS27rcKTL7WIlHRtjU=/2026/01/06/1767724553345.jpeg" width="2000"/><figcaption>Jael&#x27;s portrait was included in an exhibit at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in 2022. Jael became the face of the project when her portrait was chosen for the cover of In Their Own Light. Photo: Courtesy of Melissa Ann Pinney</figcaption></figure>Photographer Melissa Ann Pinney has had a consistent presence in Chicago Public Schools for the last several years, capturing both the mundane and memorable moments.The big picture: Pinney started photographing at Bell School in 2018 through the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Artists in Public Schools" data-vars-click-url="https://artistsinpublicschools.org/" data-vars-content-id="bb1b4f2f-1bf2-4a4c-8afb-9fb1a3eedd74" data-vars-headline="Chicago photographer reveals CPS students&#x27; everyday moments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://artistsinpublicschools.org/" target="_blank">Artists in Public Schools</a> residency, which places artists in schools across the city to help tap into the creativity of students and staff and collaborate on projects.

Northwestern deal raises questions about future of transgender care and rights

A $75M settlement restores nearly $800M in funding but draws criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates.

Northwestern&#x27;s settlement with the Trump administration has led to confusion about the future of transgender students at the university and patients at Northwestern hospitals.The big picture: Transgender rights have been under attack since President Trump took office, including changes the administration has made to Title IX, the 1972 law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational settings.<ul><li>The Trump administration has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="taken legal action" data-vars-click-url="https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-justice-department-sues-virginia-school-board-over-transgender-use-locker-2025-12-09/" data-vars-content-id="7c70ae2e-6da9-4a6d-84c9-dff4be060bef" data-vars-headline="Northwestern deal raises questions about future of transgender care and rights" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-justice-department-sues-virginia-school-board-over-transgender-use-locker-2025-12-09/" target="_blank">taken legal action</a> against schools it claims violate the administration&#x27;s declaration that there are only two genders that are determined by sex defined at birth.</li></ul>

CPS college enrollment beats national average

New data shows 66% of CPS grads enrolled in college, despite economic and systemic hurdles.

Chicago Public School students are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="enrolling in college" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/04/25/chicago-college-student-debt-trump-save-money" data-vars-content-id="20797a80-d6a6-4ba8-83d7-b3bf6228f17a" data-vars-headline="CPS college enrollment beats national average" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/04/25/chicago-college-student-debt-trump-save-money" target="_self">enrolling in college</a> at rates higher than the national average, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new report" data-vars-click-url="https://toandthrough.uchicago.edu/tool/cps/pai/2023/#" data-vars-content-id="20797a80-d6a6-4ba8-83d7-b3bf6228f17a" data-vars-headline="CPS college enrollment beats national average" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://toandthrough.uchicago.edu/tool/cps/pai/2023/#" target="_blank">new report</a> by UChicago&#x27;s To&amp;Through Project and Consortium for School Research.Why it matters: Higher college enrollment rates can translate into higher earnings for CPS students, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="71.8% of whom" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cps.edu/about/stats-facts/#:~:text=See%20statistics%20and%20facts%20about%20CPS%20at,about%20schools%2C%20LSCs%2C%20students%2C%20staff%2C%20and%20budget." data-vars-content-id="20797a80-d6a6-4ba8-83d7-b3bf6228f17a" data-vars-headline="CPS college enrollment beats national average" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cps.edu/about/stats-facts/#:~:text=See%20statistics%20and%20facts%20about%20CPS%20at,about%20schools%2C%20LSCs%2C%20students%2C%20staff%2C%20and%20budget." target="_blank">71.8% of whom</a> face economic disadvantages.

Evanston/Skokie school district considers school closures

The district says it needs to cut up to $15 million.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Evanston/Skokie" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/02/23/evanston-howard-street-plan-public-spaces" data-vars-content-id="552fec0c-f17f-436a-956c-71bd9fefd104" data-vars-headline="Evanston/Skokie school district considers school closures" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/02/23/evanston-howard-street-plan-public-spaces" target="_self">Evanston/Skokie</a> District 65 school board is scheduled to vote Monday on whether to close elementary schools as they try to close a multimillion-dollar budget hole.The big picture: The North Shore district comprising 18 schools and education centers needs to cut up to $15 million as part of a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Structural Deficit Reduction Plan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.district65.net/about/budget-finance/structural-deficit-reduction-plan" data-vars-content-id="552fec0c-f17f-436a-956c-71bd9fefd104" data-vars-headline="Evanston/Skokie school district considers school closures" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.district65.net/about/budget-finance/structural-deficit-reduction-plan" target="_blank">Structural Deficit Reduction Plan</a> (SDRP) and one of the options is closing what they classify as underutilized schools.<ul><li>All the three schools being considered for closure are at less than 50% capacity, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="according to the district." data-vars-click-url="https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1746133740/district65net/unsdqvvbzvst0mqh6gby/D65CAPACITYUTILIZATIONCALCSUPDATE_SY25wFoster.pdf" data-vars-content-id="552fec0c-f17f-436a-956c-71bd9fefd104" data-vars-headline="Evanston/Skokie school district considers school closures" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1746133740/district65net/unsdqvvbzvst0mqh6gby/D65CAPACITYUTILIZATIONCALCSUPDATE_SY25wFoster.pdf" target="_blank">according to the district.</a></li></ul>

Artists push back after SAIC cuts Video Data Bank staff

Chicago's Video Data Bank, a major archive of video art, now has just two staffers after cuts.

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) reduced staff at the influential Video Data Bank, raising concerns from artists about its future.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Video Data Bank" data-vars-click-url="https://www.vdb.org/" data-vars-content-id="834028fb-201b-4ac0-aca8-198275320c5a" data-vars-headline="Artists push back after SAIC cuts Video Data Bank staff" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.vdb.org/" target="_blank">Video Data Bank</a> (VDB) is considered one of the premier archives of video art. It lends its collection to museum exhibitions, film festivals and universities and art schools. <ul><li>Contents of the archive have appeared at the Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, Tate Modern and many other places.</li></ul>

Illinois and Chicago sue over public service loan forgiveness rule

Public service workers the Trump administration deems "anti-American activists" could be denied loan forgiveness.

Illinois and Chicago each joined separate lawsuits this week against the U.S. Department of Education over a new rule about the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/03/trump-student-loans-education-department-letitia-james" data-vars-content-id="843954fc-18f3-48fc-992a-765caccee1ed" data-vars-headline="Illinois and Chicago sue over public service loan forgiveness rule" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/03/trump-student-loans-education-department-letitia-james" target="_self">Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program</a> (PSLF).Why it matters: The program forgives the remaining balance on federal student loans after 10 years for eligible public service and nonprofit workers.<ul><li>For some, it&#x27;s the only option to escape the burden of debt, and local governments and agencies say it helps them attract and retain talent for critical positions.</li></ul>

Emanuel talks schools legacy ahead of award

Chicago Public Schools' graduation rate climbed under Emanuel — but teachers' unions and community activists still question the price of those reforms.

As former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="teases a presidential run" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/06/18/mayor-rahm-emanuel-considering-2028-presidential-run-white-house" data-vars-content-id="2a38de42-0b45-4e77-ba16-be8e3733abc9" data-vars-headline="Emanuel talks schools legacy ahead of award" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/06/18/mayor-rahm-emanuel-considering-2028-presidential-run-white-house" target="_self">teases a presidential run</a>, he&#x27;s touting changes he made at Chicago Public Schools and lecturing Democrats on what they&#x27;re getting wrong about education.Why it matters: Emanuel is credited with creating a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="longer school day" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wbez.org/chicago/2019/05/16/grading-mayor-rahm-emanuels-education-legacy" data-vars-content-id="2a38de42-0b45-4e77-ba16-be8e3733abc9" data-vars-headline="Emanuel talks schools legacy ahead of award" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wbez.org/chicago/2019/05/16/grading-mayor-rahm-emanuels-education-legacy" target="_blank">longer school day</a>, expanding access to early education and driving up graduation rates during his tenure. Many experts agree he left CPS in better shape than he found it.<ul><li>But critics, including <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="teachers&#x27; unions" data-vars-click-url="https://inthesetimes.com/article/chicago-teachers-union-ctu-contract-labor-brandon-johnson-common-good" data-vars-content-id="2a38de42-0b45-4e77-ba16-be8e3733abc9" data-vars-headline="Emanuel talks schools legacy ahead of award" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://inthesetimes.com/article/chicago-teachers-union-ctu-contract-labor-brandon-johnson-common-good" target="_blank">teachers&#x27; unions</a> closely aligned with the party, see his record as damaging.</li></ul>

Jennifer Hudson talks creativity, reinvention and Chicago roots

The annual fest celebrates Black creativity.

Chicago&#x27;s own <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jennifer Hudson" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/18/hollywood-strikes-bill-maher-drew-barrymore" data-vars-content-id="641b21e2-74f5-4ab2-aa9f-10aab2b697e1" data-vars-headline="Jennifer Hudson talks creativity, reinvention and Chicago roots" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/18/hollywood-strikes-bill-maher-drew-barrymore" target="_self">Jennifer Hudson</a> gave plenty of shoutouts to her hometown at this year&#x27;s CultureCon, and detailed how the city continues to shape her.The big picture: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="two-day conference" data-vars-click-url="https://theccnyc.com/culturecon" data-vars-content-id="641b21e2-74f5-4ab2-aa9f-10aab2b697e1" data-vars-headline="Jennifer Hudson talks creativity, reinvention and Chicago roots" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://theccnyc.com/culturecon" target="_blank">two-day conference</a> last weekend in Brooklyn brought together Black and brown creatives, media professionals and entrepreneurs.

Education 📚

Study finds ChatGPT reflects stereotypes of U.S. cities and countries

Exhibit showcases work inspired by innovative arts program

Chicago photographer reveals CPS students' everyday moments

Northwestern deal raises questions about future of transgender care and rights

CPS college enrollment beats national average