💗 Your guide to February in Chicago

Will Johnson Renew ShotSpotter Contract?

The controversial gunshot detection technology, now known as SoundThinking, lobbied the mayor’s office ahead of the budget vote last fall. Will Johnson keep his campaign promise and end the contract when it expires next week? [South Side Weekly]

• Why is the technology controversial? [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Local School Council Application Deadline Looms

Interested parents, students, and community members only have a couple of days to apply to local school councils, bodies involved in school decisions like approving how funds are allocated and evaluating and selecting principals. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Why is US Sen. Tammy Duckworth So Hard to Reach?

That’s what one journalist sought to uncover after first trying to reach Duckworth’s office as a member of the public. More than 30 other constituents said they had the same experience. [Reader]

South Side Science Art Contest

There are only 11 days left for students attending South Side schools to enter the University of Chicago’s contest. This year’s theme is inspired by the total solar eclipse in April. [Hyde Park Herald]

Last Week’s Winner

Answer: Route 66 begins at Michigan and Adams, across the street from the Art Institute. Shoutout to reader Dana P. who correctly guessed and supplied the next round of clues.

This Week’s Clues

Where is this Western wear store? Guess here for a chance to pick next week’s trivia.

• The late founder immigrated to the U.S. in the ‘40s, worked as a cotton picker in Arkansas, and sold clothes at Chicago’s Maxwell Street Market before opening the store in 1972.
• The business has stayed in the family for generations.
• Has 5,000 hats and 8,000 pairs of boots for sale.

Local School Councils 101

Parents and community members have until Thursday to apply to run for their local school councils. Chalkbeat’s Becky Vevea shares how the bodies act like mini school boards and how they actually work.