Chicago Sun-Times

Spike Lee: Oscars stuck in 1940

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:29:42 -0600

In a New York Giants jersey and cap, Spike Lee opened by taunting his audience. “That’s right! Super Bowl champs! Don’t hate! . . . Where were the Bears?” the iconic New York-based filmmaker asked the crowd of students, faculty and community residents Wednesday night at Chicago State University in honor of Black History Month. But the jokes quickly gave way to the perspective of the prolific and edgy filmmaker — of 1989’s “Do The Right Thing,” 1992’s “Malcolm X,” and the 2006 “Inside Man” and “When the Levees Broke” — on more serious topics. They ranged from how a …

Teachers file EEOC layoff complaint

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:30:00 -0600

The Chicago Teachers Union filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Wednesday, alleging the 2011 layoffs unfairly impacted black teachers. “The Board’s lay-off policy has had a systematic, class-wide, disparate impact on African-American teachers,” CTU President Karen Lewis said in a statement. “We believe this policy violates Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and should be prosecuted by the EEOC.” In the 2011 school year, 47 percent of CPS’ tenured teachers were white, while 29 percent were black, according to the CTU. But of those who lost their jobs, 36 percent were white, while 43 percent …

2-year-old critically injured when dresser falls on her

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:07 -0600

A 2-year-old girl was in critical condition early Thursday after a dresser with a TV on it fell on her in her South Side home. The girl’s mother found her daughter under the dresser about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 1300 block of West 76th, said Amina Greer, police news affairs officer. The girl was taken in critical condition to a local hospital. On Tuesday, for the fourth time in less than four months, a young child from the Chicago area was killed by a falling television. In that incident, 1-year-old Shaun Brown was playing in his home in the …

Not so fast. Hold off on Crane H.S. phase-out, hearing officer urges

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:23:50 -0600

No decision on the phase-out of Crane High School should be made until school district officials analyze a “well-thought-out’’ Crane-proposed plan for the school’s rejuvenation, an independent hearing officer has recommended. The recommendation, a vindication for Crane faculty, came after a battery of elected officials — including Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd), Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) and state Sen. Annazette Collins (D-Chicago) — showed up at public hearings to oppose the CPS plan to gradually turn over the Crane building at 2245 W. Jackson to Talent Development Charter High School. Despite its academic struggles, over the years, Crane has been an …

Mayor Emanuel: Time to speed up trains to O’Hare, Midway

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:57:20 -0600

Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Wednesday he’s evaluating plans to shave up to 12 minutes off CTA travel times between downtown and O’Hare Airport and Midway Airport, a goal he views as more attainable than his predecessor’s dream of an express train to O’Hare.

Stick with reality, not perception

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:24:05 -0600

Perception is a funny thing. My perception at this very moment is that City Clerk Susana Mendoza showed herself Wednesday to be one of the more chicken-hearted public officials I’ve seen around here in quite some time. I could be wrong, of course. Others will certainly have the perception that it was quite brave of Mendoza to admit her mistake and throw out the winning design for this year’s city vehicle sticker on the basis of concerns that it could be perceived as depicting gang symbols. Just to be clear, though, she didn’t say she had made a mistake, just …

Teachers file EEOC layoff complaint

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:30:00 -0600

Family of woman left in morgue for 14 months sues Cook County

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:21:25 -0600

The family of a Chicago woman whose body sat unidentified in the Cook County morgue for 14 months is suing the county, alleging the medical examiner’s office ignored their requests to help identify her remains.

Songs for the broken-hearted on Valentine’s Day

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:58:00 -0600

For those who are feeling the sting of being single this Valentine’s Day, I present to you a list of favorite break-up songs.

Emptying pockets at security checkpoint? Probably best to hang on to your pot

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:01:27 -0600

Devante Jackson of Joliet was charged with marijuana possession after emptying five bags of pot from his pockets at the security checkpoint at the River Valley Juvenile Detention Center, police said.

Firefighters extinguish small kitchen mishap — at their firehouse

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:17:06 -0600

Chicago firefighters had to use their skills in their own firehouse when a pot of meat was left cooking while crews went out to respond to an accident, a spokesman said.

Accused murderer’s lawyers want to talk with Jennifer Hudson

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:04:06 -0600

Lawyers for the man accused of killing Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson’s family members said they’d like a face-to-face with the singer in case she is called to the stand during the April murder trial. Hudson had never been identified as a witness in the case against William Balfour, but defense attorney Amy Thompson pointed to the possible evidence of a text Hudson exchanged with her mother around the time of the older woman’s fatal shooting. Thompson made the request Tuesday as she and Cook County prosecutors wrangled over whether there was enough “probable cause” for Hudson’s estranged brother-in-law’s Oct. …