Emanuel wins Chicago mayor race

Chicago’s mayoral race has been thrown into confusion after a court ruled that Rahm Emanuel, the former White House chief of staff and frontrunner to become the next mayor, is not eligible to be a candidate in the February 22 election

US President Barack Obama's ex-enforcer Rahm Emanuel was crowned mayor of Chicago, picking up the mantle from retiring mayor Richard Daley, who has governed the US city for 22 years."I want to extend my congratulations to Rahm Emanuel on a well-deserved victory tonight," Obama said in a statement released minutes after Emanuel's acceptance speech."As a Chicagoan and a friend, I couldn't be prouder. Rahm will be a terrific mayor for all the people of Chicago."

The average teacher in Chicago makes $76,000 a year for nine months of work. They were offered 16% salary increase spread over four years. Given the system has a $665 million deficit this year and a bigger one next year, I am wondering why there should be a raise at all. Nonetheless, the New York Times reports With No Contract Deal by Deadline in Chicago, Teachers Will Strike.

Rahm Emanuel faces the daunting task of tackling the city of Chicago’s perilous financial situation after winning a landslide victory in Tuesday’s mayoral election

CHICAGO (AP) — The primary contest to replace disgraced former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson was in the hands of Chicago-area voters Tuesday, just three months after his resignation and an intense period of campaigning by more than a dozen candidates.

A 15-year-old majorette who performed at some of President Barack Obama’s recent inauguration festivities has been shot to death in Chicago amid the city’s deadliest January in more than a decade. Police say Hadiya Pendleton was shot in the back Tuesday in a South Side park and died at a city hospital. Authorities say Hadiya was one of about 12 teenagers sheltering from heavy rain under a canopy when a man jumped a fence, ran toward the group and opened fire. The man fled the scene in a vehicle. No arrests have been made.