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“Polling has overwhelmingly shown that mask mandates are still supported by parents and many throughout the U.S., and we stand behind that support, especially with an unvaccinated pre-kindergarten population and low vaccination rates in many vulnerable school communities,” CTU President Jesse Sharkey said in the letter. “We also know student and parent concerns best because these are the families we work with daily, so we will continue to organize and fight on their behalf.”

Officer Christopher Hillas, 43, was charged Feb. 16 with the felonies of aggravated battery on a public way and official misconduct, but a grand jury returned a decision of no bill for the indictment, which dismisses the charges against Hillas. On Monday, his case was dropped based on the grand jury’s finding, the state’s attorney’s office said in a statement.

Edgewater resident Leonard Mogul, a community advocate and founder of Chicago children’s organization Arts4Kids Foundation, is partnering with Waukegan pastor Julie Contreras to send care packages to women and children in Uzhhorod, Ukraine, Mogul said. Mogul’s organization has previously sent food to refugee children in detention centers at the Mexican border, he said, so Contreras reached out to him about turning aid toward Ukraine.