Lane Tech Computer science teacher Jeff Solin is "freaking out" over a Chicago Public Schools policy blocking students from using crucial software for art, design, computer science, math, engineering and journalism classes.

Why it matters: The issue stems from CPS' particular interpretation of a new state law called the Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA). Effective July 1, the law aims to protect student privacy by putting requirements on the makers of student software.

• Most districts have approved software for use through standard data sharing agreements but CPS has created extra stipulations that many software firms can't or haven't met. This means students in Wilmette can use software Chicago students can't.
• "We know that our students are going to be hurt by this policy and it's going to increase the technology gap," Solin tells Axios.

State of play: Several programs, including those by software giant Adobe, are now blocked. More could be blocked any day, though CPS is not saying when.

What they're saying: Student journalists are decrying the loss of their newspaper software used by 194 other schools in the state.

• "Right now teachers are blocked from using the best available tools and curriculum for reasons that simply do not make sense," Professor Dale Reed of the Chicago Computer Science Teachers Association said at last week's school board meeting.
• Co-architect of the SOPPA law Cassie Cresswell tells Axios she's "distressed" by the way CPS is interpreting the law.

The other side: CPS officials confirm that students have already "lost access to Adobe software and other platforms."

• CPS spokesperson Sylvia Barragan tells Axios, "We are currently working with these [software] vendors toward a solution."

What they want: Reed calls for CPS to decouple SOPPA compliance from a "vendor approval" process meant to vet companies selling to the district rather than offering free software.

• He also urges CPS to join the Illinois Student Privacy Alliance (ISPA), a consortium of 791 districts that share SOPPA compliance resources.
• Students want to know why they can't use their newspaper software but CPS is still using an unapproved Aspen program for grading.
• CPS officials did not respond to questions about these three requests.

It's leaf raking season but data suggests most Chicagoans still don't know the right way to throw away their yard waste.

• Still, they can be forgiven because it's weird and complicated.

Why it matters: When organic waste like leaves and other plants is dumped in trash bins, it heads to a landfill and creates powerful greenhouse gasses that drive climate change. It's also been illegal to dump yard waste in landfills since 1990 in Illinois.

How it works: Chicagoans are supposed to place their organics in any bag, call 311, schedule a yard waste pick up and then leave the bag outside next to their garbage bins.

• Your ward superintendent is then supposed to send a special truck — not a normal garbage truck — to pick up the bag.

The intrigue: Many citizens have reported and photographed sanitation workers pitching their yard waste into garbage trucks headed for the landfill.

• City officials tell Axios that they will take action if they get verified reports of city workers breaking the rules.
• Monica has investigated the issue over the years and found that only about 1% of citizens call to have their yard waste picked up.
• But even as the number of calls rose in recent years, actual yard waste pick ups fell and city officials could not explain why.

Meanwhile: Axios filed an open records request to the Department of Streets and Sanitation last month to see how the system is working today. We'll share it as soon as we get it.

• In the meantime, compost leaves at home or just leave them in flower beds.

💉 The city's vaccine mandate is still in effect, but a judge ruled that the city and the police union need to go to arbitration before any consequences are handed out. (Chicago Tribune)

👮‍♀️ An off-duty police officer is facing felony charges for shooting at carjackers. (Sun-Times)

✈ What's going on with American Airlines? They canceled more flights out of O'Hare yesterday. (ABC 7 Chicago)

🥶 It's going to stay cold for at least a week, maybe longer. (Block Club Chicago)

The Blackhawks postpone celebration of Marian Hossa. (WGN-TV)

Sparked by the Chicago Tribune's story on the dearth of public bathrooms last month, we recently shared some of our secret downtown bathroom spots.

• And when we asked for yours, you delivered a gusher of great locations just in time for downtown holiday visits and shopping.

📚 The Harold Washington Library Center is huge and has lots of bathrooms and very long hours. — Ashley R.

🛒 The Mariano's grocery store at Monroe and Halsted [has]... spacious and clean restrooms. I often assuage my guilt by purchasing a made-to-order smoothie, thereby assuring that I would need to find another within 2-3 hours! — Steve N.

👩‍⚕️ Northwestern Memorial Hospital has tons of bathrooms that anyone can use! Since it’s a hospital, they require and hand out masks at every entrance ... And they keep the bathrooms super clean! — Mike R.

💼 Any hotel on S. Michigan Ave. has easy access, first floor bathrooms that are usually very clean. Also the Swiss and Hyatt hotels on East Wacker are accessible — private — and clean. — Andrea D.

☕ Second floor of the Virgin Hotels, upstairs from the Two Zero Three coffee shop at 203 N. Wabash, is my go-to workplace and bathroom when I’m downtown. The coffee is good too. — Jeff W.

Go deeper for the full bathroom list.

It's time for our weekly feature where one of us visits an iconic Chicago location. If you guess where Monica is, you could win some free Axios swag!