Chicago 🩷 Dolly

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Wednesday, August 26

RIP Dolly Parton. While I’m sure this news is hitting our City Cast Nashville colleagues especially hard, I’d like to share a story about how Parton’s life inspired a Chicago girl like me.

When the first outlet I ever wrote for folded overnight, I was transferred to our sister site: Wide Open Country. I knew nothing about the genre — I’m from Chicago! — so I just focused on Dolly. Luckily, she did enough in 80 years on this earth to fill infinite articles.

From her working-class roots, explored so lovingly in “My Tennessee Mountain Home,” to her charity work to her outfits … of course, the outfits! I also covered Dolly through a terrifying stretch of the pandemic, when she worked to destigmatize the vaccine in her home state.

In a divided country, Dolly’s maximal fabulousness transcended regional borders. She was everyone’s cool aunt. I hope she’ll keep looking out for us.

Today's Big Story

A hand typing on a keyboard next to a notebook for practicing writing in cursive

A student types on a laptop after finishing a cursive lesson at Bannockburn Elementary School in 2011 — long before the advent of AI. (Keri Wiginton/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

AI in Local Schools

Chicago Public Schools are back in session, but how much AI shows up in the classroom remains hazy. Meanwhile, local colleges are embracing the study of AI — with a notable exception.

AI in K-12: CPS high schoolers will not have access to Gemini AI chatbots through their Google Classroom accounts, as was initially slated for this year. The plan faced public pushback. However, an AI literacy app, Amira, remains in play for elementary schoolers.

Amira has been criticized in other districts, as it records and saves students’ voices.
Previously: The State Board of Education released a 400-plus-page guide for AI in schools, but it left official guidance up to the district. (It also included content developed by AI.)
CPS’ stance: Students are supposed to clearly identify and explain AI-generated content in assignments.
Looking ahead: The future of AI at CPS is unclear. School board candidates are split on AI incorporation, with about half signing a pledge to limit classroom use. The pledge was signed by most Chicago Teachers Union-backed candidates.

AI at College: AI guidelines range across Chicagoland colleges, with some institutions embracing the tech more than others.

The University of Chicago recently banned AI and other tech devices within all social science Core classes.
City Colleges of Chicago now offer an Associate Applied Science degree in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Development. Meanwhile, rules regarding AI content in assignments are syllabus-specific.

Several four-year colleges now offer degrees in AI as well. Among them:

DePaul University
Illinois Institute of Technology
Northwestern University
Earlier this month, Northeastern Illinois University became the first public university in the state with the major.

AI at the helm: Alpha School, a private elementary school that uses AI in place of teachers, is set to open Sept. 8 … Stay tuned 👀

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Tow Truck Driver Refused to Help ICE in McKinley Park

Immigration agents crashed into a man’s car, then arrested him Monday, which led to a standoff near an I-55 exit ramp. The first tow truck driver called to the scene refused to assist the agents. (A second driver eventually came and moved the agents’ car.) [Block Club]

Watch: The video shows community members confronting ICE agents. [Instagram]

PODCAST

Downtown to O’Hare in 15 Minutes? Plus, Defunding Gender-Affirming Care and Chicago State Football

An O’Hare Express Train? And a Chicago State Football Team?

A private company is proposing 15-minute express train rides from O’Hare to the Old Post Office. We talk about the plan on today’s podcast — plus our own dream 15-minute commutes. Also discussed: the future of gender-affirming care funding and Chicago State University’s inaugural football season. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Pfleger Reinstated

After an investigation into decades-old sexual abuse allegations, the archdiocese reinstated the Rev. Michael Pfleger at St. Sabina. The longtime pastor has repeatedly denied the allegations, and congregants have gathered to support him. [WGN]

Listen: This was the fifth accusation against Pfleger since 2021. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Data Centers Near O’Hare Score Tax Breaks

At least 18 suburban data centers near O’Hare are receiving tens of millions in local property tax breaks, which will shift financial burden onto nearby homeowners, mainly in Elk Grove Village, Franklin Park, and Northlake. In Northlake, homeowners will pay an additional $2,000 this year. That’s an almost 30% difference. [Tribune 🔒]