Chronic absenteeism is still on the rise at East Aurora School District 131, but so is its graduation rate, according to its 2025 Illinois Report Card.

The annual report from the Illinois State Board of Education offers a comprehensive analysis of academic, demographic and financial data for every school and district in the state.

Mirroring statewide trends, East Aurora continues to struggle with chronic absenteeism, but saw its graduation rate tick up once again. The district also saw some schools’ designations shift in the state’s tiered system, which is based on metrics like test scores and graduation rates.

Here are some of the key data points for the district from the 2025 Illinois Report Card.

East Aurora’s total enrollment has been steadily going downward in recent years, though the most recent batch of data from the Illinois State Board of Education indicates a less sharp decline than in previous years. This year’s numbers put the district at just over 12,000 students, down from more than 14,000 in 2019.

The district’s own enrollment data, for comparison, puts that figure even a bit lower, based on numbers from October.

The figures from ISBE also show attendance rates declining slightly in District 131, for an average of just over 88% for 2025. That’s lower than the state average of a little under 92%.

Chronic absenteeism continues to be an issue for the district, mirroring a statewide trend. According to its 2025 data, more than 30% of district students missed 10% or more of school days with or without a valid excuse, a figure that has ticked upwards in recent years.

Attendance is an “area of focus” for the district, according to Associate Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessments Ami Engel. She said in a statement to The Beacon-News that, though some schools made a targeted effort to address absenteeism and saw a positive impact, the district is “reaching out to students and families to address any barriers they may have in coming to school.”

Four-year high school graduation rates, however, have been on the rise for the district, topping 90% on this year’s report card and again outpacing the state average.

The district saw some changes in individual schools’ summative designations — a five-tiered metric from the state Board of Education that assesses a school’s performance and, if it is designated as being in one of the lower three tiers, requires it to begin a four-year cycle of school improvement.

This year, one district school — Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy — received the highest designation of “exemplary.” Exemplary schools are those with overall performance in the top 10% in the state, with commendable the next highest rating, according to ISBE. In the East Aurora district, 10 schools were deemed commendable.

Seven district schools were designated as in need of targeted support this year, according to the report card figures.

But none were deemed “comprehensive,” which refers to schools in the lowest-performing 5% of schools in Illinois and any high school with a graduation rate of 67% or less. The year prior, two district schools had been designated as in need of comprehensive support, Engel said at a recent meeting of the district’s school board.

As for academic achievement, East Aurora’s rates of proficiency in English Language Arts, or ELA, math and science fell well below the state averages, the data from the Illinois State Board of Education shows.

The state’s benchmarks for proficiency have changed, however, meaning proficiency rates can’t be compared with previous years.

And students’ growth percentiles — which show their improvement compared with their peers — indicate that East Aurora students are improving slightly below the state average in ELA and math.

The district’s ACT scores also fall below state averages, and are slightly lower than the last time the ACT was recorded for the district, in 2017.

East Aurora’s average score on the ACT was 14.1 for ELA, 15.2 for math and 16 for science, according to this year’s Illinois Report Card data.

On the district’s ACT scores, Engel highlighted that this was the first year in many years that Illinois provided the ACT to students. She said the district provides the fall pre-ACT to students in advance of spring testing, and have incorporated practice for the assessment into their courses.

However, the district has been seeing gains in the number of students enrolled in Advanced Placement, or AP, coursework in recent years. Around 36% of students were enrolled in AP coursework, per the latest report card numbers, more than 10 percentage points higher than the state average.

Asked about the district’s AP enrollment, Engel said the district “strive(s) to provide a variety of programs” for students, and that “student choice is an important part” of supporting students “to be ready for whatever future they want.”

The district’s full Illinois Report Card for 2025 can be found at: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.

mmorrow@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/east-aurora-2025-illinois-report-card/ 

Visualizing The World’s $111 Trillion In Government Debt In One Giant Chart

Tyler Durden
Mon, 11/17/2025 – 06:55

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/visualizing-worlds-111-trillion-government-debt-one-giant-chart 

Por ANDREW DALTON

LOS ÁNGELES (AP) — Tom Cruise, a sus 63 años todavía la mayor estrella de cine en una sala llena de ellas, finalmente pudo sostener su propio Oscar en un escenario de Hollywood el domingo por la noche.

“Hacer películas no es lo que hago, es quien soy”, declaró Cruise en los Premios de los Gobernadores, que la Academia de Ciencias y Artes Cinematográficas organiza anualmente. Se mostró sereno como siempre, pero por momentos pareció estar al borde de las lágrimas mientras hablaba, sosteniendo la estatuilla dorada honorífica que celebraba sus más de 40 años en la cima de la industria.

“En ese cine reímos juntos, sentimos juntos, albergamos esperanza juntos”, expresó después de una ovación de dos minutos.

El director mexicano Alejandro González Iñárritu —que ya ha ganado varios Oscar— presentó el premio a Cruise. Ambos han pasado varios meses rodando una película en Londres que se estrenará en 2026. La colaboración deja entrever que Cruise, quien se ha mantenido en franquicias de gran éxito en los últimos años, podría no haberse dado por vencido en intentar ganar un premio de la Academia a la antigua usanza.

“Este puede ser su primer Oscar”, expresó Iñárritu, “pero por lo que he visto y experimentado, este no será el último”.

El diseñador de producción Wynn Thomas y la coreógrafa y actriz Debbie Allen también fueron seleccionados por la junta de gobernadores de la Academia para ser honrados por sus ilustres carreras, y una ausente Dolly Parton fue honrada por una vida de filantropía en la ceremonia efectuada en el salón Ray Dolby en Los Ángeles.

Un Oscar competitivo ha eludido a Cruise, quien ha sido nominado cuatro veces: como actor por “Nacido el cuatro de julio”, de 1989; “Jerry Maguire” de 1996, y “Magnolia” de 1999, y como productor por “Top Gun: Maverick” de 2022.

Antes de subir al escenario, el público vio un largo montaje de clips de esas y otras de sus películas —cargado de acrobacias temerarias que a menudo realizó él mismo—, desde “Taps” de 1981 hasta “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” de este año.

Era lógico que los Premios de los Gobernadores no se televisaran. Tom Cruise no trabaja en televisión, y ha sido uno de los mayores defensores de la experiencia de ir al cine por encima del streaming.

“Siempre haré todo lo que pueda para ayudar a esta forma de arte”, expresó Cruise. “Para apoyar y defender nuevas voces, para proteger lo que hace al cine poderoso. Esperemos que sin muchos más huesos rotos”.

La lista de estrellas que asistieron deja entrever que la campaña para los próximos Oscar competitivos ya está en marcha, aunque discretamente. Las mesas del banquete estaban llenas de posibles nominados, incluidos Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan, Sydney Sweeney, Dwayne Johnson, Ariana Grande y Jacob Elordi.

———

Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/por-su-trayectoria-tom-cruise-finalmente-recibe-un-oscar-en-los-premios-de-los-gobernadores/ 

Taiwan’s Central Bank To Explore Bitcoin Reserves, Pilot BTC Holdings

Tyler Durden
Mon, 11/17/2025 – 06:30

https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/taiwans-central-bank-explore-bitcoin-reserves-pilot-btc-holdings 

While still struggling with chronic absenteeism among students post COVID-19, Thornton Township High School District 205 is tackling teacher attendance issues with $5,000 bonuses.

“Thousands of more students have had their own teachers in front of them, teaching their curriculum, building trust, and you can’t overstate how important that is to our learning, our culture and our stability,” District 205 Superintendent Nathaniel Cunningham said Thursday.

The bonuses for teachers present for 95% or more of the school year, or absent for about nine days, were first instituted for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years in negotiations with the district’s faculty union.

They were later extended through the current school year as part of a separate agreement with the union. The District 205 faculty union did not respond to requests for comment.

The bonus incentive rewards people for doing the right thing during exceedingly difficult times, Cunningham told the school board June 8, 2022, according to the board’s meeting minutes.

Cunningham said he is unsure whether the district will opt to extend the bonuses for another year, “but the way it’s working, it looks like the teachers like it and we’re getting a bonus for it.”

The district’s bonus in exchange for bonuses, Cunningham said, is more consistency in classrooms.

In 2022, about 54% of teachers had 10 or more absences, slightly lowering to 49% in 2023, according to the Illinois State Board of Education’s district report card. Statewide, about 34% of teachers miss 10 or more days.

The district saw a major boost in teacher attendance, with only 21% of teachers missing 10 or more days in 2024 and 20% so far in 2025.

Teacher attendance is considered critical for instruction and giving students adequate attention, Cunningham said. While teachers are entitled to take sick days and other leave, he said “we wanted to reward those teachers who went above and beyond.”

“Teacher attendance matters for kids,” Cunningham said. “At a high poverty district like ours, students rely on strong relationships, consistent instruction. ”

Thornton High School District 205 Superintendent Nathaniel Cunningham (Daily Southtown)

The district also sees some cost savings in hiring fewer substitute teachers, Cunningham said.

“Our kids deserve consistent, high quality instruction, and this program helps make that possible,” Cunningham said.

District 205, which includes Thornton High School in Harvey, Thornwood High School in South Holland, and Thornridge High School in Dolton, educates about 6,000 students, 81% of whom are designated low income.

The district did not say how much it has spent on attendance bonuses, but based on Illinois Report Card data 270 of the district’s roughly 340 teachers received the bonuses, costing taxpayers $1.4 million this year alone.

Meanwhile, chronic absenteeism among District 205 students has declined slightly, but remains significantly higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Illinois Report Card, student chronic absenteeism since the pandemic hit its peak in 2022, with 30% of District 205 students missing 10% or more of the school year. In 2023, 28% of students were chronically absent, decreasing to 26% in 2024 and 25% in 2025. The current rate is in line with the state average.

Cunningham said chronic absenteeism is something the district is working on, “because there was such a change after the pandemic.”

“Working on connecting again with your students and your community — and part of this program also helps because the teachers are consistently there, and that consistently helps kids want to come back to school,” Cunningham said.

While Cunningham said he’s unaware of any other school districts offering bonuses for employee attendance, the Tribune in 2016 reported more experimentation taking place in school districts with linking compensation and student achievement.

What has long been the status quo in teacher compensation are raises for experience and adding education credentials, such as a master’s degree.

Matthew Springer, an assistant professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt University who has researched performance-based pay for educators, told the Tribune that that approach goes back decades. It aims to standardize pay for educators and fix inequities in pay based on race, gender, nepotism and other factors, said

That traditional system results in the same type of raises for teachers, “regardless of their effectiveness,” Springer said. “It is inefficient, it is broken — but we don’t know how to fix it yet.”

Bonus and incentive programs in other states have produced varied results, some short-lived, Springer said.

“They are so controversial that they are likely to come under some type of scrutiny,” he said.

ostevens@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/thornton-township-district-205-teacher-bonuses/ 

No matter how delicious the turkey and fixings are, Thanksgiving diners always find some restraint to save a bit of room for dessert. Pumpkin, sweet potato, pecan and apple pie might be the most traditional way to finish the meal, but everyone has a favorite slice, which means it’s nice to have a few to choose from. 

If you’re in charge of satisfying sweet tooths, you don’t have to stress out about baking. These 36 area restaurants and bakeries are selling Thanksgiving pies that will provide the perfect end to your meal, whether you’re sticking to the classics, looking to dazzle with something novel, or catering to diners with dietary restrictions. Make sure to plan ahead and place your order in advance to get the best selection.

The Loop and Near North Side

Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

The restaurant’s signature pies are all available to go, with options including Key lime ($60), sweet potato pecan ($70), coconut cream ($70) and chocolate fudge ($80). Place an order by Nov. 21 for pickup Nov. 25-26. 60 E. Grand Ave., 312-379-5637, joes.net/chicago

Marisol Restaurant & Bar

The restaurant within the Museum of Contemporary Art offers pumpkin pie ($25), vegan cranberry apple pie ($29) and a bourbon brown sugar cheesecake with cranberry caramel sauce and ginger streusel ($32). Orders must be placed by Nov. 21 for pickup from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 25-26. 205 E. Pearson St., 312-799-3599, order.toasttab.com/online/marisol

Prime & Provisions

The steakhouse offers whole banana cream, apple, caramel pecan, cherry and pumpkin pies ($40, $100 for three) for pickup. 222 N. LaSalle Blvd., 312-726-7777, primeandprovisions.com

Robert’s Pizza & Dough Co.

A whole 10- ($35) or 14-inch ($65) apple pie made with pizza dough will serve a group of six or 12. Orders must be placed by Nov. 24 for pickup Nov. 26. 465 N. McClurg Court, 312-265-1328, robertspizzacompany.com

Shaw’s Crab House

Whole Key lime, raspberry, Dutch apple, pumpkin and pecan pies ($50) are available for pickup from noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 25-26. Place your order by Nov. 24. 21 E. Hubbard St., 312-527-2722, shawscrabhouse.com

North Side & Northwest Side

Andros Taverna

Pastry chef Hsing Chen offers Greek-inspired pies including pumpkin phyllo, chocolate halva and baklava cream for $44, with vanilla whipped cream available for $11. Orders must be placed by Nov. 23 for pickup from noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 26. 2542 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-365-1900, androstaverna.com

Bang Bang Pie Shop

This Logan Square Bakery’s options include pumpkin ($38) and apple ($42) pies, and you can cater to gluten-free and vegan guests with an apple crisp ($66). Orders can be picked up from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 25-26. 2051 N. California Ave., 773-276-8888, bangbangpieshop.com

Defloured

The gluten-free bakery offers pecan, apple and pumpkin pies, with vegan options for apple and pumpkin ($36-$44). Orders must be placed by Nov. 20. 1477 W. Balmoral Ave., 773-234-5733, deflouredbakery.com

Delightful Pastries

The family-owned bakery’s offerings include apple ($26), pecan ($32), pumpkin ($18) and cranberry fudge ($28) pies along with a pumpkin roll ($12). 5927 W. Lawrence Ave., 773-545-7215, delightfulpastries.com

Floriole

Try twists on the classics with a pumpkin pie sweetened with brandied honey caramel and topped with vanilla bean mascarpone cream, toasted pepitas and crunchy chocolate pearls, and a five-spice apple crumble pie. Both are available in portions for two ($23-$25) or six to eight ($58-$60). Orders must be placed by Nov. 23 for pickup Nov. 25-26. 1220 W. Webster Ave., 773-883-1313, floriole.com

Honeypie

Feed eight to 12 people with nine varieties of 11-inch pies, including vegan apple with streusel, Key lime and whiskey-walnut pecan. Orders can be picked up from Nov. 21-26. 6155 N. Broadway, 773-754-7429, honeypiechicago.com

Little Goat Diner

Chocolate shake french fry pie from Little Goat Diner. (Boka Restaurant Group)

Chef Stephanie Izard’s diner offers cheesy caramel apple pie, pecan pie and chocolate shake french fry pie ($45 each) for pickup from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 26. 3325 N. Southport Ave., 3325 N. Southport Ave., 773-819-7673, littlegoatchicago.com

Mindy’s Bakery

James Beard Award winner Mindy Segal’s bakery offers pumpkin pie ($45) and apple honey cake ($45) with pecan pie ice cream ($15) and vanilla bean chantilly ($7-$14). Orders must be placed by Nov. 22 for pickup from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 25-26. 1623 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-489-1747, mindys-bakery.square.site

Minyoli

The Taiwanese restaurant offers its signature pineapple tart ($48) for pickup from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 25-26. Orders must be placed by Nov. 21. 5420 N. Clark St., minyolichicago.com

West Side & Near West Side

Good Ambler

Pick up a classic pumpkin pie with a side of whipped vanilla bean, white chocolate ganache ($35) or a chocolate espresso pie ($45) Wednesday or Thursday. Add on some chocolate turkeys ($12) or bonbons with filling inspired by maple pecan, caramel apple and pumpkin pie ($6). 216 N. Peoria St., 312-872-7165, goodambler.com

Kasama

The Michelin-starred Filipino restaurant and bakery offers a pumpkin pie ($70), lemon-pecan pie ($75) and their popular ube and huckleberry Basque cake ($65) for pickup Nov. 26. 1001 N. Winchester Ave., 773-697-3790, kasamachicago.com

Momotaro

Place an order by Nov. 23 to get an Okinawa sweet potato pie with graham cracker crust and cardamom whipped ganache for $50. Pickup is Nov. 26. 820 W. Lake St., 312-733-4818, momotarochicago.com

Nettare

Thanksgiving pies from Nettare. (Ryan Beshel)

Pick up 6-inch pecan, pumpkin or malted chocolate chess pie ($25) on Nov. 26 or get all three for $70. 1953 W Chicago Ave. 312-219-5101, barnettare.com

Spinning J Bakery and Soda Fountain

Key lime hibiscus pie from Spinning J. (Clayton Hauck)

Go bold with cranberry-yuzu meringue ($48) or Key lime hibiscus pie ($40) or keep it traditional with pumpkin ($40) or chocolate-bourbon-pecan pie ($48). If you’re also handling Thanksgiving sides, add on house-made sourdough stuffing ($30) or half a dozen buttermilk biscuits ($24). Orders can be picked up Nov. 25-27. 1000 N. California Ave., 872-829-2793, spinningj.com/thanksgiving

Swift & Sons

Pastry chef George Mouzelis offers pumpkin and French silk pies for $35 each. Place an order by Nov. 24 to pick up from 2-7 p.m. Nov. 26. 1000 W. Fulton Market, 312-733-9420, swiftandsonschicago.com 

South Side & Near South Side

Weber’s Bakery

A part of holiday traditions since 1930, Weber’s Bakery offers pumpkin, baked apple, pecan and chocolate whipped cream pies along with turkey cookies. 7055 W. Archer Ave., 773-586-1234, webersbakery.com

Suburban and multiple locations

Beatrix

Thanksgiving pie from Beatrix. (Samantha Brauer)

The restaurant’s four locations are offering their signature Oh My! Caramel Pie ($50) along with pumpkin chiffon pie ($55) and gluten-free chocolate cake ($55) for carryout or delivery from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 20-26. Multiple locations, beatrixrestaurants.com

Bennison’s Bakery

Bennison’s has been making its pumpkin pie ($23) the same way since it opened in 1938. Try the classic recipe or one of their many other options, such as pecan, sweet potato or apple ($23-$36). They also offer turkey cookies ($4) and cupcakes ($7). Orders can be picked up from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 26 or 7 a.m. to noon Nov. 27. 1000 Davis St., Evanston, 847-328-9434, bennisonscakes.com

Bub City

A slice of pie from Bub City. (Lindsay Eberly x Eberly Film Lab)

Choose from a whole peanut butter pie ($48), apple pie ($35) or pumpkin pie ($35) or a dozen chocolate chip cookies ($28). Orders must be placed by 7 p.m. Nov. 25 for pickup from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 26. 435 N. Clark St., 312-610-4200 and 5441 Park Place, Rosemont, 847-261-0399; bub-city.com

Buck Russell’s Bakery & Sandwich Shop

Buck Russell’s offers treats for everyone, selling dog-friendly mini pup pies ($12) in addition to pumpkin, Dutch apple, blueberry and bourbon-pecan pies ($32-$38). Add on salted caramel sauce ($8) or pints of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream ($9). Place an order by Nov. 23 to pick up Nov. 25-26. Desserts can also be picked up at sibling spots DeNucci’s and Sophia Steak. 1137 Greenleaf Ave., Wilmette, 847-920-4222, buckrussells.com/thanksgiving

First Slice Pie Cafe

Choose a small pie that serves three to five ($26-$30) or a large one for 10 to 12 ($32-$40), with flavors including balsamic-raspberry-pear, chocolate pecan and sweet potato praline. The bakery also offers a gluten-free polka dot pie for $32. Orders can be picked up Nov. 24-26. Multiple locations, firstslice.org

The Goddess and Grocer

Thanksgiving pies from The Goddess and Grocer. (Kristen Mendiola)

Pecan, apple and pumpkin pie is available by the slice ($6-$7) or as a whole 9-inch pie ($23-$32) along with gluten-free cupcakes ($32) and a cookie decorating kit ($35). Orders can be picked up or delivered Nov. 26-27. Multiple locations, goddessandgrocer.com/thanksgiving

Hewn

The bakery’s three locations offer pecan pie made with FEW bourbon and a cornmeal crust ($42), apple pie ($40) and pumpkin log cake ($35). You can also get a $15 frozen pie crust if you want to try baking at home. Orders must be placed by 8 p.m. Nov. 22 for pickup Nov. 25-26. Multiple locations, hewnbread.com

L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge

Place an order by 8 p.m. Nov. 23 to pick up a whole pecan, pumpkin or Key lime pie ($50) or chocolate layer cake ($70) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 26. 7110 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood, 847-677-3350, lwoodsrestaurant.com

Lost Larson

Both the Wicker Park and Andersonville locations offer an apple pie with a bit of cheddar in the crust, and a bourbon-chocolate -pecan pie, and a pumpkin pie topped with house-made vanilla cream and pepita pralines ($52-$54). Add on a box of take-and-bake cinnamon rolls ($24) to get a decadent start to your feast day. Orders can be picked up Nov. 25-26. 5318 N. Clark St., 773-944-0587 and 2140 W. Division St., 773-770-9015; lostlarson.com

Sweet Mandy B’s

Pumpkin pie from Sweet Mandy B’s. (Sweet Mandy B’s)

Head to Streeterville or Lincoln Park for a wide variety of 9-inch pies designed to serve six to eight people for $30-$36. Flavors include pumpkin, chocolate cream, pecan and apple streusel. Orders can be picked up Nov. 23-27. 1208 W. Webster Ave., 773-244-1174 and 254 E. Ontario St., 312-255-1632; sweetmandybs.com

Vanille Patisserie

Order a pumpkin pie ($37), an apple streusel pie ($44), a traditional pecan pie ($44) or chocolate-hazelnut French silk pie ($46). Add a Thanksgiving cookie ($7.95) or take & bake cinnamon rolls ($19). For every 10 pies sold, the bakery will donate one to Fight2Feed. 2108 N. Clark St. and 131 N. Clinton St., 773-868-4574, vanillepatisserie.com

Vistro Prime

Pies from Vistro Prime. (Nathan Olsen)

Pastry chef Angelyne Canicosa offers hazelnut chocolate silk pie ($65) and cherry lattice pie ($55) for pickup from noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 26. 112 S. Washington St., Hinsdale, 630-537-1459, opentable.com/r/vistro-hinsdale

West Town Bakery

Pick up your pies from the bakery’s West Town or River North locations. Options include apple crumble, chocolate silk and caramelized honey ($28-$36). For extra festive treats, add on a turkey sugar cookie ($6.25) or pumpkin pop ($5). 1916 W. Chicago Ave. and 15 E. Ohio St., westtownbakery.com

Wildfire

A slice of pie from Wildfire. (Anjali M. Pinto)

Finish your meal with a slice of pumpkin, maple pecan, Door County cherry or Key lime pie ($10.95) or take home the whole thing for $35. Multiple locations, wildfirerestaurant.com

Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/thanksgiving-pies-2025/ 

As a hospice chaplain and a state representative, I am guided by a simple truth: We are all connected. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” I see that every day, whether sitting with a family in hospice or amending a bill in Springfield.

At its best, government reflects that interconnection. It’s how we come together to serve the common good, to make sure every neighbor has a fair chance, a safe home, and the food and health care they need. When one person falls behind, the whole community feels it.

But lately, that shared sense of connection has been strained. The lingering trauma of COVID-19 and the loneliness that comes from so much time online have left many feeling isolated and less empathetic. When compassion fades, we all lose something essential.

We see it now as fear spreads through our immigrant communities. When neighbors are afraid to go to work, take their children to school or seek medical care, the harm ripples outward. Businesses lose trusted employees, schools lose engaged students and hospitals lose patients who delay care until it’s too late. Our economy depends on stability and inclusion, not fear and division.

That same ripple effect happens when programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are cut. Families must choose between rent and groceries. Children, veterans and seniors go hungry. The harm doesn’t stop there: Local grocers lose business, health outcomes worsen and the strain spreads across our entire community.

Yet even in hardship, I’ve seen neighbors step up, delivering meals, stocking food pantries, organizing neighborhood watches and supporting immigrant families harmed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions. These acts of kindness remind us that connection isn’t lost; it’s being rebuilt, one caring act at a time.

— State Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights

Don’t provoke agents

Here’s a radical idea for preventing violent confrontations between federal agents and protesters. Suppose Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson and national Democrats stop encouraging confrontations with inflammatory demagoguery. Suppose protesters observed a nonthreatening distance from agents enforcing federal law enacted by Congress. Suppose no one throws objects. Then federal agents would have no excuse to respond with force.

That would also allow an already stretched-thin Chicago Police Department to redirect officers to the job of protecting Chicago residents instead of protecting federal agents. It would also remove any excuse to send  the National Guard into communities to protect agents who are being assaulted.

— R. Staneiak, Woodridge

Diversity in military

A heartfelt thank you to the staff of the Tribune for the story about the Navajo code talkers (Nov. 11).

My father served as a highly decorated senior master sergeant in the Air Force. I represent his voice when I write that he was extremely proud of all of the service members who worked under his leadership in Bomb Nav. He did not care about the backgrounds, the color and the gender of his soldiers. He cared that they loved the United States of America and that they were masters of their trade.

Because of my dad, his staff and thousands more like them, bombers could fly their missions, soldiers could come home and the United States of America stayed safe.

Articles about the Montford Point Marines and the Navajo code talkers remind us that the armed services are made of loyal men and women from every ethnicity, gender, religion and background.

We are living under this current administration and secretary of defense who seem determined to erase the history of the men and women who proudly served this country in every branch of the armed services. Many served without thanks. Many served without recognition. Many served without receiving jobs or benefits that were duly theirs after their service.

We cannot let their stories go untold. We cannot let veterans and their service be wiped from print or official websites.

Thank you for being the voice of so many.

— Patricia Kluzik, Elgin

Necessity of change

After reading the Tribune article “‘This is a Veterans Day like no other,’” I had to respond to how interconnected our struggles are. The Statue of Liberty has long been the first beacon of America’s light and hope, which guided my grandparents’ boat to shore. As a 74-year-old retired reading teacher, grandmother, and active supporter of peace and justice groups — including Veterans For Peace — I read the news with alarm. Mass deportations, militarization in our cities, and constant cuts to crucial programs such as food assistance, health care and education are shameful tarnishes to the legacy of that great statue and its values.

This systemic failure confirms the necessity of change. As my professional mantra states: “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” As Jesus was forced to do to the money lenders in the temple, it’s time to turn the tables over and fulfill the promise of a “more perfect union.” Perhaps we all need to get into a little “good trouble.” For God’s sake, the Eucharist was not even allowed into the Broadview processing center!

The issue boils down to our priorities. When the national debt is staggering, we spend billions on border enforcement and trillions on military and nuclear weapons and yet allow billionaires to evade their fair share in taxes, the system is fundamentally broken. Even children grasp this absurdity; in a simple exercise of distributing “budgetary pennies” among education, health care, housing, environment and military, students consistently fund the first four and leave the military with little.

We must heed the call from groups such as About Face: Veterans Against the War. Take action: Call your representatives to enact comprehensive immigration reform,  oppose troops in our streets and stand against authoritarianism.

It is high time to follow the Peace Alliance’s all-inclusive, simple demand: Give peace a bigger piece of the budgetary pie!

— Concetta Smart, Crete

Immigration in the US

In 1910 and later in 1914, my grandfather and grandmother were processed at Ellis Island. They were both from unstable Eastern European countries speaking different languages.

Like most immigrant families, my grandfather worked hard raising a family but hadn’t become a citizen. During the mid-1940s, much like today’s environment, my grandfather was rounded up for deportation. My father was an Army officer in Europe, preparing for the invasion, so his oldest sister fought and saved the day.

Three years later, my grandfather became a citizen. He was like most immigrants who came to our country after and in between wars: His priority was raising a family.

Immigration has always been a challenge for both the countries and the immigrants. Without immigrants, we wouldn’t be the most successful country in the world. But we could do a better job on handling it!

— Mike Krauss, Wayne, Illinois

Durbin lacks courage

Many have praised U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin for his courage on his recent vote. I respectfully disagree. Durbin is not running for reelection. Didn’t anyone else notice Sen. Tammy Duckworth did not vote to reopen the government?

If Durbin had “courage,” he would have negotiated with the majority party. Durbin voted the way he did because he knew there would be no consequences which is hardly the definition of courage.

— Mitch Johnson, Western Springs

Honorable service

Thanks to the Tribune Editorial Board for the description of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin as an “honorable public servant” (“In defense of Dick Durbin, honorable public servant of our state,” Nov. 13).

Illinois has been graced with the services of this intelligent, thoughtful, good and honest man for many years, and our state has been the better for it. His qualities are not much on display on our national scene right now, and his recent vote has demonstrated again his ability to fairly deal with ambiguous situations, weighing the factors with an eye to public good, not political popularity.

— Patricia Groh, Wilmette

Note to readers: As part of our annual Thanksgiving tradition, we’d like to hear from you about what is making you feel thankful this year. (Sincere thoughts only, please.) Email us a letter of no more than 400 words by Sunday, Nov. 23 to letters@chicagotribune.com. Be sure to include your full name and your city/town and use the subject line “Thankful.”

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/letters-111725-acts-of-kindness/ 

In recent weeks, my team at the Chicago treasurer’s office and I worked tirelessly to craft our budget for City Council review. This work was conducted amid the backdrop of our federal government waging a campaign of terror against our residents and taxpayers.

I believe we have a responsibility to use every lawful tool at our disposal to push back on what they are doing. At the treasurer’s office, that tool is our investment portfolio. The dollars we invest can either quietly support that behavior or send a clear message that Chicago will not bankroll its own abuse.

Before my budget presentation on Wednesday, I informed City Council members that I would boycott the purchase of United States Treasury securities and seek their authority to grant me freedoms to modify the portfolio of the nearly $11 billion of Chicago taxpayer money the office manages.

This boycott and divestment plan is simple and targeted. First, we immediately stop making new, direct purchases of U.S. Treasury marketable securities. Second, with approval from the City Council, we will explore reducing our indirect exposure by adjusting our holdings in money market funds and other instruments that derive their value from Treasurys.

That’s it. 

This is a temporary, lawful portfolio adjustment that meets our three core objectives as managers of taxpayer funds: safety, liquidity and competitive returns for the taxpayer.

The city of Chicago will not invest in a federal administration that is using the power of government to terrorize us. Federal agents in our neighborhoods pepper-spraying a 1-year-old, dragging a teacher out of a day care in front of toddlers and drawing guns on our citizens are what brought about this response.

What is happening is not normal, and pretending it is will not age well in the history books. Our constituents will remember who stood up when it mattered and who didn’t.

When I rolled out my plan, I was met with hysteria from a few members of the council and some members of the media. They sounded more concerned about aggravating Donald Trump than using every tool we have to stop his U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from waging war on our citizens.

Editorial: Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin boycotting US Treasuries is a foolish political stunt funded by Chicago taxpayers

Others expressed reasonable concerns with the plan that we can address. I have managed more than $9 billion of our public funds on an annual basis over the past six years across two administrations. I am intimately familiar with our portfolio, my responsibility to taxpayers and the risks embedded in my decisions. I am eager to collaborate further and look forward to modernizing outdated restrictions that actually limit our ability to earn more for Chicagoans.

But let’s be clear: This is a safe move that poses no financial risk to the taxpayer, it will earn an appropriate return, it is consistent with our liquidity obligations and, most importantly, it is consistent with our values.

That’s why I was elected and what I’ve done for the past six years. We’ve outperformed previous treasurers, we’ve divested from fossil fuels, and we’ve still maintained competitive returns and strong liquidity.

Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th, called this move “reckless,” and others reminded me that Treasurys are “the most liquid and secure debt instrument in the history of the world.” I’m well aware, but any financial expert also knows that Treasurys are not the only high-quality, secure and liquid option available.

We can and do invest in agency securities. We can and do invest in investment-grade corporate bonds. We can and do invest in municipal bonds, mortgage-backed securities and fully secured cash vehicles. These instruments are all permitted under our existing policy, widely used by large institutional investors and compatible with our fiduciary duty to keep the city’s money safe and accessible. 

This is not gambling with taxpayer dollars. It’s a choice not to write a blank check to an administration that is violating our rights.

It’s also wholly transparent. The municipal code gives me authority to adopt and amend our investment policy, including the ability to direct no new purchases of Treasurys, but the next phase of this plan requires council approval. I’ve already begun those conversations, and changes will be reported publicly, fully consistent with our collateral and liquidity requirements, and voted on after an open debate.

Some suggest that by taking this stand, I’m somehow turning my back on America or violating my oath. Let me tell you what I believe as a Black woman, as a daughter of Englewood and Austin, and as a proud American: The most patriotic thing you can do in this country is to use your voice, your vote and, yes, your public office to protest your government when it is wrong.

The idea that we must silently underwrite policies we believe are unconstitutional and immoral is what’s un-American. 

Finally, to those that question the impact of this decision, I say every major act of divestment, from apartheid South Africa to fossil fuels, has started with “just” one institution. I believe Chicago is in a unique position to lead.

To every resident, whether you agree with this plan or not, I want you to know I am not making this decision lightly. I know what it means to be responsible for billions of dollars. I know what it means when payroll has to be met, when pension checks have to clear, when a city has to ride out a crisis. My first obligation is to keep your money safe and accessible.

But I will not separate that obligation from our moral responsibility to ensure that our own dollars are not weaponized against us.

Melissa Conyears-Ervin is the Chicago city treasurer and running for Illinois’ 7th Congressional District. 

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/opinion-chicago-treasurer-boycott-us-treasury-securities/ 

Gov. JB Pritzker’s chief of staff took to social media last week to call out federal agents for taking a break from their militarized immigration enforcement operation in the Chicago area to play tourist and pose for group photos in front of the iconic Cloud Gate sculpture in Millennium Park.

“These jerks went to the Bean this morning where they took a picture where instead of saying ‘cheese’ they said ‘Little Village’ — the name of the community they terrorized over the weekend,” Pritzker chief of staff Anne Caprara wrote, sharing a link to a Block Club Chicago story documenting the photo op.

“The only good thing is we will be handing over this picture to the Illinois Accountability Commission,” Caprara wrote, referring to the body Pritzker formed late last month in order to “create an official public record” of the “impropriety, brutality and harassment perpetrated” by federal agents participating in the monthslong crackdown known as “Operation Midway Blitz.”

But more than three weeks after Pritzker drew national attention for creating the commission through an executive order, there is no apparent way for members of the public who have experienced or witnessed excessive force or other misconduct by federal immigration agents to report those allegations directly to the commission.

“I want to encourage all Illinoisans who have witnessed or experienced concerning conduct by federal agents to stay tuned at www.ilac.illinois.gov … for details in the days and weeks ahead,” Pritzker said at the Oct. 23 news conference where he announced the commission. “Donald Trump is counting on your silence. We are counting on your courage.”

Even as the controversial head of the federal operation, Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, has left Chicago in recent days, the commission’s website remains bare bones, with a phone number to contact an outside organization added Friday only after an inquiry from the Tribune. As of Friday, the site still did not provide an email address or other digital method for contacting the commission to share the type of eyewitness cellphone videos the governor has repeatedly asked the public to record and hand over since the chaotic, violent crackdown began in early September.

In response to questions the Tribune initially raised Nov. 10, the governor’s office in an emailed statement this past Friday referred the public to contact an advocacy group that has been tracking the federal enforcement actions, stating “members of the public who wish to share information can contact the (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights) Family Support Network & Hotline at 1‑855‑HELP‑MY‑FAMILY (1‑855‑435‑7693), listed on the commission’s website.”

Before the Tribune contacted the governor’s office about the issue, users of the state commission website had to click a link to a separate site to find the phone number. That number was added to the commission’s website Friday afternoon.

“The commission will provide updates to the public if there are other avenues to share information,” Pritzker spokeswoman Jillian Kaehler said in the emailed statement.

On the commission’s website, a section titled “Learn More” includes links to the executive order Pritzker signed and a news release announcing the commission, along with a separate news release detailing Pritzker’s request that federal authorities pause their operation over Halloween weekend, which the Trump administration sharply criticized, then disregarded.

There’s also a link to the Illinois Immigration Information hub, which provides resources to inform residents of their rights and direct them to legal help. But there’s no information on any of the commission’s plans to “collect testimony, hold hearings, and gather information and firsthand accounts from individuals, community members, subject matter, experts, local officials, journalists, faith leaders and organizations,” as Pritzker promised at his October news conference. “The mechanisms for facilitating this information gathering will be announced soon,” the website says.

The commission, which operates under the auspices of the Illinois Department of Human Rights, is charged with sending Pritzker an initial report on its findings and recommendations by Jan. 31. The governor has said the commission is necessary because neither the Trump administration nor the Republican-controlled Congress is holding immigration enforcement officers accountable for misconduct during the operation, in which one federal judge in Chicago has said agents’ “use of force shocks the conscience.”

Pritzker has yet to fill three seats on the nine-member commission. Appointments to fill the vacancies are “expected in the coming weeks,” Kaehler said.

In the meantime, the commission, headed by former U.S. District Judge Rubén Castillo, has begun meeting. In addition, the Department of Human Rights has hired the commission’s executive director and top attorneys, and the department has “developed the organizational structure for onboarding additional support staff,” Kaehler said.

The commission’s executive director is Hina Mahmood, a former deputy chief of staff at the state Department of Human Services who most recently was director of Illinois initiatives at the JB & MK Pritzker Family Foundation, the philanthropic organization the billionaire governor and his wife founded in the early 2000s. In her role with the commission, Mahmood is working on an $84.62-per-hour contract with the state, according to the Illinois comptroller’s office.

“Commission members are beginning initial outreach efforts, exploring community partnerships and collaborations, and conducting a landscape analysis of information already in the public domain to examine the roles and impact of related and ongoing litigation,” Kaehler said.

Numerous lawsuits challenging various aspects of Operation Midway Blitz have been filed against the Trump administration in federal court in Chicago.

In recent days, a federal judge said he would order the release on bond of hundreds of immigrants who’ve been arrested during raids across the Chicago area; outside attorneys paid a court-ordered visit to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in west suburban Broadview over concerns about the conditions for arrestees held there; and a judge who has already issued temporary orders restricting the use of force by immigration agents said she would hold a hearing in the spring on whether to issue a permanent injunction.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/pritzker-immigration-accountability-commission/ 

Public trust in government has fallen to historic lows, and in that gap, businesses must reclaim an independent voice based on truth, balance and sustainable growth. For too long, the private sector, traditionally one of the most stabilizing forces in our civic system, has had its voice muted, restricted or ignored altogether.

Today, that silence is no longer sustainable. The stakes are too high, and the consequences of not acting are too severe.

Across Illinois and across the country, a subtle but unmistakable shift is emerging. Recently, we’ve seen events that signal the beginning of something long overdue: a revival of responsible and outspoken business leadership.

Jon Banner’s recent Tribune op-ed called on business leaders to reaffirm their role as practical stewards of civic responsibility. The United for Chicago coalition, composed of business, faith and civic leaders, came together to oppose the economic damage caused by immigration raids. That meeting emphasized an important point: Businesses are not just abstract entities; they are employers of families, contributors to communities and cornerstones of neighborhoods.

The coalition’s message was strong precisely because it was delivered without political posturing. No elected officials seeking attention, no partisan framing, just a straightforward acknowledgment of the economic and human costs of destabilizing the workforce that fuels our city.

Recently, Sara Albrecht, chair of the Liberty Justice Center, took the tariff fight to the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court, representing the businesses and consumers harmed by policies created far from the shop floors, warehouses and small enterprises that feel their impact most acutely. Her stance was a reminder that when policy drifts too far from economic reality, it is business, not bureaucracy, that bears the burden.

These events are not isolated. They form a pattern. Business is beginning to speak.

But the truth is that it needs to speak louder, more consistently and with greater independence. Americans’ trust in state and federal government is waning. When confidence drops, leadership naturally shifts elsewhere. More and more, it falls on employers, innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators, those who understand the fragile balance between economic stability, workforce security, investment and long-term growth.

And yet, in Illinois, even the most respected business associations face structural constraints that limit their independence. Over the last decade, state grants, programmatic contracts and pass-through economic development funds have created quiet but consequential dependencies. These financial entanglements blur the line between cooperation and influence. When an organization’s budget is intertwined with agencies, genuine advocacy becomes difficult — not out of ill intent but out of mathematical reality.

Few associations can afford to openly oppose their funders. When they cannot, concerns about tax competitiveness, regulatory overreach or long-term fiscal health are downplayed for political reasons. This creates a troubling paradox: When clarity, conviction and honesty are most needed, advocacy becomes muted.

An example worth noting is the increasing trend of states moving away from federal tax policy. Michigan was the first to lead, followed by Massachusetts, and now Illinois has also shifted. While this may be politically convenient, these differences add new layers of complexity for multistate employers, manufacturers and service providers. The greater compliance requirements and uncertainty not only irritate businesses but also affect where they decide to expand, invest or relocate. Policymakers might view such decisions as fiscally responsible or driven by ideology, but without meaningful input from the business community, the resulting economic effects are often predictable and harmful.

When policy is crafted without partnership, capital follows the path of least resistance, too often across state lines.

Business has always held a natural seat at the civic table, one that transcends partisan cycles or ideological tides. Illinois has seen good and bad policy from all corners of the political spectrum. The goal of business leadership is not to pick sides, but to defend balance: predictable taxation, reasonable and consistent regulation, fair enforcement, and a climate that encourages innovation, investment and hard work.

When business stays silent, the extremes fill the void. And economies, local, regional and statewide, bear the cost.

Markets depend on trust, stability and clarity. When those elements erode, capital retreats. Companies slow hiring. Entrepreneurs delay investment. Banks tighten credit. Talent migrates elsewhere. These are not theoretical risks; they are patterns we have seen repeatedly in states where politics eclipse pragmatism.

Illinois, and our great city of Chicago, cannot restore economic confidence without an independent, unobstructed and unencumbered voice of business, one that is free from political influence, partisan pressure or financial leverage.

Business must lead again, not from ideology, but from discipline. The same rigor that drives strategic planning, operational efficiency and long-term value creation must be brought to public policy conversations. In that rigor lies the foundation of economic vitality. It is where jobs are created, communities prosper and states grow.

Silence is no longer an option. Not for Illinois. Not for Chicago. Not for business. And not for the future we hope to build.

Lou Sandoval is the former president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/opinion-business-immigration-raids-chicago-speaking-out/