Illinois Lawmakers Approve New Public Schools Funding Formula

CHICAGO (CBS) — For the third year in a row, Illinois lawmakers ended their spring session without approving a budget, but they did approve an overhaul of the way the state doles out money for public schools.

The school funding reform measure could benefit the cash-strapped Chicago Public Schools, but the legislation faces an uncertain future when it reaches Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk, as Republicans have called it an unfair bailout of CPS.

Illinois has the largest spending gap in the country between poor and wealthy school districts.

Late Wednesday night, the Illinois Senate followed the House in voting to change the state’s education funding formula.

The measure would allocate funds based on student population, and what type of resources are available at the local level. The new formula is based in part on a framework hammered out by a bipartisan commission put together by the governor’s office last year.

All of the more than 800 school districts in the state would receive at least the same amount of money they did last year.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel hailed the funding bill as a meaningful first step, and called on Rauner to sign it.

However, Republicans said the new deal is a thinly veiled bailout for CPS, providing Chicago schools with hundreds of millions of dollars of extra funding.

The state pays about one quarter of the bill for public schools in Illinois, the fourth lowest rate in the U.S., despite the Illinois Constitution giving the state the primary responsibility for funding public education.

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O’Hare Receives $60M Grant For Runway Projects

CHICAGO (CBS) — O’Hare International Airport will receive $60 million in federal grant money, part of which is going toward a new runway, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Wednesday.

The first grant of $40 million will kick off the construction phase of Runway 9C/27C, which includes siting utilities, grading, and pavement work, the statement from the DOT said.

The $648.5 million runway — O’Hare’s second largest at 11,245 feet long and 200 feet wide — is expected to open in 2020. Construction will be completed in three phases, beginning with the easternmost section, followed by the center and western chunks.

The second grant of $20 million will reimburse the airport for projects associated with the construction of Runway 10C/28C, which was completed in October 2013, the statement said. The projects included taxiway systems, navigational aids, site utilities, and existing facility relocations.

O’Hare is one of 584 airports across the country being awarded part of $527.8 million in airport infrastructure grants as part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program. The grants are expected to be issued “over the next several weeks” for construction season.

“The Airport Improvement Program helps to maintain our aviation infrastructure and supports safety, capacity, security and environmental improvements,” DOT Secretary Elaine L. Chao said in the statement.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2017. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Man Charged With Trying To Rob Aurora Pizzeria At Gunpoint

CHICAGO (CBS) — A regular customer who frequented a pizza restaurant in west suburban Aurora has been charged with trying to rob the business at gunpoint last month, police said.

Sean W. Bastert, 21, faces one count of attempted armed robbery in connection with the May 18 incident, according to Aurora police.

About 12:05 a.m., a man with his head covered walked into the pizzeria in the first block of West New York Street, pointed a handgun at an employee and demanded money, police said. The employee ran to the back of the business and hid. A second employee, who was already in the back, ran outside.

The suspect, identified as Bastert, left without any proceeds, police said. No injuries were reported.

Investigators interviewed the two employees and learned that Bastert was a regular customer, police said. They also reviewed video surveillance systems and received at least one anonymous tip that implicated Bastert.

He was arrested without incident on May 26 at his Aurora home, police said.

Bastert has been ordered held at the Kane County Adult Justice Center on a $50,000 bond, according to the Kane County sheriff’s office. He is due back in court on June 7.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2017. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Man Charged With Murder Of Stepfather

CHICAGO (CBS) — Oscar Clay helped his wife escape from the Galewood neighborhood apartment Monday they shared with her son, holding their front door shut from the outside as his stepson stood inside with a 9-millimeter pistol, Cook County prosecutors said Wednesday.

As Clay’s wife ran from their apartment in the 1700 block of North Narragansett, she screamed for help, then heard gunshots from inside.

As she hid between two parked cars, she watched her son, 27-year-old Leshaun Hodges, walk out of the building and drive off in a car they shared, Assistant State’s Attorney Nora Gill said at a bond hearing.

Police found Clay’s body in the living room of the apartment the three had shared since Hodges was paroled on an armed robbery charge last year.

Clay had been shot six times: four times in the chest; once each in the head and back, Gill said. The 52-year-old was pronounced dead at Illinois Masonic Hospital.

Hodges was arrested five hours later near Humboldt Park, about four miles west of the apartment, still behind the wheel of the car he and his mother owned, Gill said.

Assistant Public Defender Nick Burris said Hodges was on his way to turn himself into police when he was arrested.

Wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and jeans, Hodges stood silent at the bond hearing, and had no reaction when Judge Donald Panarese Jr. ordered him held without bond.

Gill said Hodges had been arguing and cursing at his mother around 1:30 p.m., and that she had threatened to call his parole officer.

Clay told Hodges to show his mother some respect, touching off a shoving match between the two men, Gill said. Hodges’ mother broke up the fight, but Hodges went to his bedroom and allegedly returned with a black pistol.

Neighbors who heard Hodges’ mother screaming as she ran out of the apartment building, saw Hodges walk out, still holding the gun, Gill said.

Police searched the house and found live 9-millimeter rounds in the pocket of a jacket in Hodges’ room, and the shells were the same make as the six cartridge casings found near Clay’s body, Gill said.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2017. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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1 Killed, 7 Wounded In Wednesday Shootings Across Chicago

CHICAGO (CBS) — A man was killed and at least seven other people were wounded in shootings Wednesday on the city’s South and West sides.

The 32-year-old man suffered multiple gunshot wounds about 8:35 p.m. in the 8800 block of South Houston in the South Chicago neighborhood, according to Chicago Police. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he died, police said. The Cook County medical examiner’s office has not released information on the fatality.

The day’s latest nonfatal shooting happened at 11:07 p.m. in the West Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side, where a 22-year-old man was standing outside in the 4000 block of West Jackson when he heard gunfire and realized he’d been shot in the leg, police said. The man, who was not cooperating with investigators, was taken in good condition to Mount Sinai Hospital.

At 11:05 p.m., an 18-year-old woman was shot in the leg while she was standing outside in the 5000 block of West Adams in the West Side Austin neighborhood, police said. She was taken in good condition to Mount Sinai Hospital.

A 20-year-old man was shot multiple times about 9:20 p.m. in the Lawndale neighborhood on the Southwest Side. He was in the 4100 block of West Cullerton when someone walked up to him and opened fire, police said. He was struck in his ankles, knee and foot, and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was listed in good condition.

At 6:24 p.m., a 31-year-old man was shot in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the South Side. He was driving an off-road vehicle in the 1400 block of West 49th Street when a male in another vehicle fired shots, striking him in the back, police said. Following the shooting, the wounded man drove himself to the 4800 block of South Racine, where emergency crews were called, police said. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, and his condition was stabilized.

A 34-year-old man was shot at 5:16 p.m. in the East Hyde Park neighborhood on the South Side. He was getting out of a vehicle in the 5300 block of South Cornell when someone walked up and shot him in his side and arm before running away, police said. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.

Earlier Wednesday afternoon, a 22-year-old man was shot in the foot in another Austin neighborhood attack. Someone walked up to the man at 12:44 p.m. in the 700 block of North Lockwood and opened fire, police said. The man was taken in good condition to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park.

The day’s first shooting left a taxi driver wounded at 1:04 a.m. in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side. The 58-year-old was picking up a passenger in the 700 block of North Avers when someone shot the driver in the chest, police said. The man was taken to Stroger Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.

On Tuesday, three people were killed and at least 12 others were wounded in shootings across Chicago.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2017. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Bipolar Woman Missing From Albany Park

CHICAGO (CBS) — A 19-year-old woman was reported missing Wednesday night from the Albany Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side.

Carolyn Sera was seen on Tuesday, and was reported missing from the 5000 block of North Kildare, Chicago Police said in a missing person alert.

Carolyn Sera (Source; Chicago Police)

Sera has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and is not taking her medication, police said. She has threatened suicide in the past.

She was described as a 5-foot-4, 150-pound woman with brown eyes and blue-green hair, police said.

Anyone with information was asked to contact Area North detectives at (312) 744-8266.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2017. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Former Teacher Charged With Sexually Assaulting Student In Roselle

CHICAGO (CBS) — A former teacher and coach at a high school in northwest suburban Roselle was charged Wednesday with sexually assaulting and abusing a student.

Between June and September of 2016, Jared Wissmiller, 26, of Downers Grove, made inappropriate sexual contact with a student at Lake Park High School, according to the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office.

Jared Wissmiller (Source: DuPage County State’s Attorney)

Wissmiller was charged Wednesday with six felony counts of criminal sexual assault and one felony count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse after turning himself over to authorities, prosecutors said. The charges stem from an investigation led by the DuPage County Children’s Center.

Wissmiller is being held in the DuPage County Jail on $75,000 bail, prosecutors said. His next court appearance is expected June 28.

If convicted on all charges, Wissmiller faces between 27 and 97 years in prison, prosecutors said.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2017. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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