In the Loop

Chicago Public Schools are at a critical moment. CPS took out more than 700-million in high-interest bonds last week, and they’re talking about 100-million in cuts. Meanwhile, the teachers union is talking about a possible strike, and student numbers continue to decline. As this all unfolds, Noble, Chicago’s largest charter school network, keep moving forward with expansion plans. Catalyst associate editors Melissa Sanchez and Kalyn Belsha take us inside the Noble charter network, where one out of every 10 kids in the CPS system get their education.

For the last two weeks you’ve been hearing about Chicago Restaurant Week and all the eateries participating. That list has always mostly been devoid of African-American owned restaurants, prompting the creation of Chicago Black Restaurant Week. It just kicked off and we talk to Lauran Smith, a designer of the week, along with Chef Cliff Rome of Rome's Joy Catering. He's the owner of the Parkway Ballroom, and H-Dogs and Peach’s restaurants in Bronzeville.

The immediate police account of what happened in the police-involved fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald has been proven false, and it’s not the first incident. There have been statements from the Fraternal Order of Police spokesman Pat Camden on separate scenes about what transpired that contradict what videotapes have shown. City Bureau and the Reader detailed the FOP’s control of the local media narratives and how they perpetuate throughout the city’s investigative process into the courtroom. Yana Kunichoff of City Bureau explain their findings.

Josie Cruz from the city’s Department of Streets & Sanitation take us through a day in the life of the men and women who pick up our garbage, inspect our dumpsters, remove dead animals, and control Chicago’s rat population.

The musicians Gary Louris and Django Haskins bonded over a mutual love of the 1970s power-pop band Big Star. They were both performing at a tribute to that influential group and eventually, they formed a group of their own called Au Pair. Louris is a founding member of the alternative country groups: The Jayhawks. Haskins is the frontman for the band The Old Ceremony, which has been described as “pop noir.” Their album “One Armed Candy Bear” -- released late last year -- is power pop with more than a few twists and turns.

We often remember those who have passed away in a variety of ways. But when we remember those Americans who served and died in World War I where do you start? That’s the challenge facing Chicago native Joe Weishaar. He’s the 25-year-old architect who won the design competition for a new World War I memorial to be constructed in Washington DC. He joins us to shed some light on his design and to talk about the massive scope of the event he will memorialize.

We’ve all been there. You check out a book from the library. The due date comes...and goes. And you forget to return it. Another day goes by and another--and pretty soon, you’ve racked up a fair amount of fines. Well, the Chicago Public Library is taking a gentler approach. For the next two weeks, it’s offering amnesty to anyone who has fines from overdue or lost materials. Chicago Public Library Commissioner Brian Bannon explains how it all works.

February 16 is the deadline to register to vote or file a name or address change for the March 15 Primary Election. And for teens born on or before Nov. 8, 1998, they’re eligible to register. Cook County Clerk David Orr tells us what else we need to know.