After their four-day tour of colleges, the students returned to Chicago knowing there is a whole other world outside their city blocks.

A controversial $175 million pension payment for non-teaching Chicago Public Schools staff has created tension between the district and Mayor Brandon Johnson.

A deal appeared at hand Thursday, but the two sides could not finalize terms and bargained into the evening. Once a deal is set, the union’s “big bargaining team” has to approve it.

The U.S. Department of Education announced an investigation into Illinois schools, Chicago Public Schools and Deerfield School District 109 after politically conservative groups filed a complaint.

CTU on Friday confirmed the union’s big bargaining team will meet Monday afternoon to weigh the potential deal.

A tentative agreement between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union could be reached as soon as Monday. Negotiations between CPS and the teachers union resulted in a contract proposal the union is ready to present to its full bargaining team.

Noticing less traffic in the Chicago area? That's because spring break started for many Illinois schools this week, including Chicago Public Schools, the state's largest school district.

Some talented chess players faced off Tuesday at Chicago's Harold Washington Library. The chess players are seasoned competitors, and they're all still students in the Chicago Public Schools. Trophies and scholarship money were on the line at the Chicago Chess Foundation MVP Tournament.