CHICAGO (WLS) — In a spirited celebration of a new academic year, Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Public Schools CEO Macquline King made appearances at various schools across the city on Monday morning.

During his visits, the mayor underscored a critical message: Illinois must boost funding for its educational institutions as countless students return to their studies.

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The atmosphere at George Leland Elementary on the West Side was electric. Mayor Johnson welcomed enthusiastic students streaming into the school, marking the beginning of the academic year for over 300,000 pupils across the district as he rang the ceremonial bell.

“I feel excited!” exclaimed second-grader Tommie with gusto. “I want to do crafts, everything—art, and more!”

CPS parent Latecia Williams felt a surge of emotion as her child started school. “I can’t wait for him to reach eighth grade,” she said. “He’s thrilled, and I share his excitement. I’m holding back tears—this is a truly joyful moment for any parent.”

But with excitement also comes uncertainty over Chicago Public Schools funding and the chance of layoffs during the school year.

“Since I’ve been mayor, I’ve released over $1 billion into our public schools,” Mayor Johnson said. “There is no mayor in the history of Chicago that is contributing more into the surplus. In other words, I’ve done my part. The state of Illinois has to do theirs.”

The mayor said the state can do better in helping fund the public school system, calling for what he refers to as a “millionaires tax” to do so.

“We have to demand more from those who have the ability to give more, to actually do more.” Johnson said. “For too long, big corporations and the ultra wealthy of this country and particularly in Chicago, in the state of Illinois, they have been able to get away without paying their fair taxes. The fact that a millionaire pays the same tax rate as the women and men who provide food, our luncheon cafeteria workers, that’s just unconscionable.”

The CPS Board is banking on $150 million from the state, even though that funding has not yet been secured.

Parents are growing more wary if dollars don’t come.

“Our teachers need it,” parent Keyatta Wilburn said. “We need it. The community needs it. We need our teachers. Without our teachers, we don’t have nothing. It’s already hard enough out here; we need our teachers. The kids need them to come to school. That’s who inspires him to come to school.”

“It hurts the kids, especially kids who actually want to attend school,” parent Michael Soto said. “Because there’s kids who don’t want to show up, but they show up because of the teachers and for food or it’s a safe haven.”

At Madero Middle School in Little Village, eighth-grade language and literature teacher Nancy Ballesteros welcomed students into a classroom she prepared over the summer.

Entering her 19th year with CPS, Ballesteros painted her room blue, installed window treatments and added cultural touches designed to create a welcoming learning environment.

“They want to feel like the classroom environment motivates them to want to learn, and I think it makes a huge difference,” Ballesteros said.

Through attrition, Madero Middle School was able to retain its staff, and Principal Hamed Flores said he hopes that remains the case throughout the year.

“We are at the minimum, pretty much at the minimum of the number of people. So we cannot get more cuts; so I’m trusting that it continues that way,” Flores said.

Johnson, a former CPS teacher, criticized Springfield for not fully investing in Black and brown students.

“You have politicians who have more expectations of third graders than they do of themselves,” Johnson said.

Despite concerns about funding, families focused on the milestone of a new school year.

“I’m excited for him; it’s his first year here,” parent Taquana Davenport said.

As CPS leaders, teachers and the mayor continue to push for additional state funding, district officials have said that even if lawmakers approve more money during their fall session, it would not arrive in time to affect the current school year.

The nanny’s frantic voice quavered across the phone line, edging on the verge of hysteria, almost reduced to tears and barely comprehensible.

“I found the dad in his car… I think he’s dead. There’s no pulse… he’s dead,” she sobbed.

The young woman had stumbled upon Christopher Scholtes slouched lifeless in his red Honda S2000, parked inside the garage of his sprawling $1 million property in Phoenix on the morning of November 5, 2025.

At 38, Scholtes ended his life just hours before he was scheduled to begin serving a lengthy 20 to 30-year prison sentence. The conviction stemmed from a horrendous tragedy where he left his young daughter to perish inside a sweltering car under the relentless Arizona sun just outside their home.

Little Parker Scholtes, only two years old, met her tragic end in the family’s blue Acura in July 2024. She was trapped for three excruciating hours just feet away from her father, who was engrossed in drinking beer, indulging in pornography, and playing video games.

Scholtes pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges last year, but gassed himself to death in his car while his family slept rather than go to jail. 

After discovering Scholtes dead, the traumatized nanny told the 911 operator in the six-minute call at 5.20am how the garage was full of fumes and his wife, Dr Erika Scholtes, was struggling to get their two other daughters out of the house.

‘Why do you think he’s dead?’ the operator asked. The nanny, who has not been identified, explained that the car was still running and described in detail how Scholtes had poisoned himself.

‘He’s in our home garage, it’s suicide, it’s suicide,’ she said, through tears. ‘He’s not breathing, and I can’t find a pulse.

‘It (the garage) was locked and I had to get the keys to open the garage door and then I found him in there.

‘He was supposed to… he had to surrender tomorrow.’

The 911 operator brought the emergency dispatch onto the call, using a code for a possible dead person at the address, who asked if the garage was still closed.

‘No, I opened the garage door because the carbon monoxide is so bad, like, it was coming into the house,’ the nanny replied.

She explained that she heard Scholtes arrive home between 12.30 and 1am, but not him coming inside the house from the garage.

‘I just thought he was in the garage, I didn’t think anything of it, but I got up to get the girls ready for school and…’ she said, before starting to cry.

The dispatch told her help was on the way and to get everyone out of the house, which the nanny said was already happening.

The nanny said Scholtes’ mother had just arrived, but it was unclear if she meant his biological mom or stepmother.

‘She checked his pulse, too, and she said there’s no pulse. I was shaking so bad, I thought maybe I was doing it wrong and I should do something, but she said there’s no pulse,’ she said.

The nanny was heard telling someone, presumably Erika or Scholtes’ mother, to get the two girls completely out of the house.

‘I got them up to get the girls out, but they haven’t, like, gotten the girls out – like everything is kind of chaotic,’ she told the emergency operators.

Seconds later, she said the police had arrived and the call ended. 

Scholtes’ autopsy report, released last December, confirmed he died of self-administered carbon monoxide poisoning.

A suicide note was left inside the house and Scholtes left a living will on the roof of the car in case his suicide attempt failed but left him disabled, the report revealed.

Medical examiner Daniel Casa wrote that a rope and a ladder had also been arranged in the garage in a manner that suggested Scholtes had a backup suicide plan. 

The killer dad was found with a blood carboxyhemoglobin level of 80 percent – far higher than the two to three percent of a healthy non-smoker.

Marijuana, caffeine and diphenhydramine – the active ingredient in cold and flu medications like Benadryl – were also found in his blood.

Casa cataloged Scholtes’ long list of health conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and ADHD, plus cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana use, and a degenerative joint disease.

‘He reportedly made suicidal statements after the death of his daughter, and he had recently exhibited a depressed mood,’ Casa wrote.

The report noted that Scholtes was ‘under stress’ due to his criminal case and he was expected to report to prison on the day he was found dead.

Casa’s report matches a neighbor’s visceral account to the Daily Mail of the moments after Scholtes was found.

‘They were all standing looking at the car and he was already in the car dead at that time,’ said the neighbor, who had a clear view of the chaotic scene through the open garage door.

‘All of a sudden [Erika] started walking around and this other lady pulled up all frantic and they ran up to the door. Then the police and the fire department showed up.

‘I don’t know how far [the fumes] went into the house, but the kids were there, the family was there. It could have been bad.’

Scholtes killed himself 16 months after Parker died in the back seat of the family car in the driveway of the former family home in the Tucson suburb of Marana, Arizona, where he left her in 90F heat.

The unemployed father left his youngest daughter napping for three hours in the boiling hot family car while he drank beer, played video games and watched porn inside the house as she slowly died. 

He told police that he left Parker in the car with the engine running and the air-conditioning on because she was asleep when they arrived home.

However, he lost track of time and the engine automatically shut off after about 20 minutes – as police testing confirmed. 

Crime scene photos previously obtained by the Daily Mail showed tiny handprints on the inside of the window in the blue family 2023 Acura MDX.

The haunting marks on the rear driver’s side window were just inches from where Parker’s forward-facing car seat was buckled in.

Police testing found the surface temperature of the car seat was 149.1F, according to detailed incident reports by the Marana Police Department. 

Parker was only found when Erika came home from work at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson – where the toddler was declared dead an hour later. 

Erika now works as an anesthesiologist at Banner’s Phoenix hospital.

Scholtes’ two surviving daughters described to detectives the frantic moment before the couple realized where Parker was and sprinted to the car.

‘[One of the girls] said when her mom got home she asked, “Where’s the baby?” and her dad said, “Where’s the baby!?” and ran outside,’ one officer wrote.

‘”My dad started screaming cause he walked outside and he saw that she was in the car still, her lips were purple and she wasn’t breathing.”

‘When they saw her mom and dad crying, they knew Parker was dead.’

Erika continued to stand by her husband up to his suicide – petitioning the court for his release and for permission to take a holiday to Maui in Hawaii. 

She also bought a beautiful $1 million four-bedroom, 2,369sqft Italian villa-style family home in Phoenix in April last year.

Scholtes rejected a plea deal in March 2025 that would have seen him serve up to 10 years behind bars.

Just six months later, Scholtes had no choice but to accept a far worse deal to plead guilty to second-degree murder and be jailed for 20 to 30 years without parole.

But he was allowed to stay out on bail until November 5, when he would be taken into custody, and used that time to plan his suicide.

If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org. 

In Chester, the presence of 35-year-old Brooke Hanlon’s widowed husband has become a regular sight. Neighbors note observing Conor during his frequent weekly visits to the family home.

Thirty-six-year-old Conor Hanlon routinely returns to his residence in Chester, New Jersey. Residents report that his white Volvo SUV is often seen in the driveway throughout Thursdays and Fridays, although it rarely remains there overnight.

Last month, Conor Hanlon drew media attention in Massachusetts. Observers saw him managing household duties, such as moving trash cans, and later departing in a white pickup truck from his family’s base in Brighton, Boston.

The chilling death of Brooke Hanlon, discovered on June 6 inside her Morris County home, remains under active investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office. Despite ongoing efforts, authorities have yet to identify any suspects or persons of interest in the homicide case.

Conor Hanlon has not been charged with any crime or accused of wrongdoing. News Media reached out to him for comment.

During his visits, neighbors have witnessed Hanlon doing yard work outside the home on Pottersville Road. Neighbors confirmed to News Media that while his car has been spotted during the day parked outside the home, the white SUV is never parked in the driveway overnight.

Hanlon has been moving in and out of the home, with neighbors who have spotted the garage door open on several occasions. 

On Friday, Hanlon spoke publicly about his wife’s death for the first time, denying any involvement while declining further comment due to the ongoing investigation.

“My heart is totally shattered,” he told the Daily Mail. A reporter asked him if he had any involvement in his wife’s death, to which he said, “Of course not.”

“It’s a tragedy,” he added.

Neighbors tell News Media they remain on edge as law enforcement has yet to release any update in the case.

One of them said about three weeks before the young mother was discovered dead inside her home in early June, local police showed up knocking on doors to “check in” with residents on Pottersville Road after they reportedly told them a “911 call was made in the area.”

She confirmed to News Media that the police showed up to her door asking if “everything was OK” between 9:30 and 10 that night.

She lives next door to the Hanlons.

In July, one gun-owning neighbor told News Media he’s ready to defend his family should the time come. He said he has been looking over his shoulder more frequently, knowing a possible killer is still at large.

WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Committee is once again prompting Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz to submit documentation related to migrants accused of crimes who might have been given “preferential treatment” under her purview, attributed to “sanctuary” policies.

Initially slated for submission by June 10, Katz cited 10th Amendment protections as a reason for not complying with the request, according to correspondences from Judiciary Committee leadership acquired by The Post this Monday.

Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Subcommittee Chairman Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) expressed in the letter, “Your policies that favor criminal aliens seem purposefully crafted to obstruct this authority.”

The letter further pointed out that such favoritism towards foreign nationals by Katz’s office might contravene federal civil rights statutes, according to the Republican leaders.

Earlier this year, the House committee put forth legislation aimed at curbing sanctuary jurisdictions from evading federal immigration laws, also criticizing New York officials for disregarding numerous detainer requests.

Many of the left-leaning jurisdictions oppose coordinating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), requiring officers to obtain judicial warrants or jump through other hoops before handing over migrants charged with crimes into federal custody.

Jordan and McClintock’s missive cited the Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act of 2026, which amends provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act to mandate cooperation between state and federal authorities.

“In your June 10 letter, you also objected to the scope of the Committee’s requests, claiming that it would be impossible to ‘[s]earch[] for communications dealing with non-citizens,’” wrote the GOP chairmen.

“Nonetheless, you do not provide any rationale for why it is not possible to provide documents and communications related even to a single employee, the office’s Immigration Specialist, or materials related to certain foreign nationals’ cases—the same cases you have boasted about in public reports,” they said.

“In addition, you have given no indication that your office has attempted to obtain any of the requested information in the three months since you received the Committee’s request.”

Katz was one of seven New York City officials queried about their sanctuary policies, including NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Department of Corrections Commissioner Stanley Richards and the top prosecutors of all five boroughs.

That letter claimed that less than 4% of detainers ICE lodged with local authorities for criminal aliens were honored by NYCDOC between July 2022 and June 2025.

Reps for Katz’s office didn’t respond immediately to a request for comment.

The legal team representing Lindsay Clancy is seeking a mistrial following a controversial moment during court proceedings. This development unfolded when the psychologist for the prosecution questioned whether Clancy, a nurse, was aware that suicide is considered a ‘mortal sin’ in Catholicism.

Dr. Kirk Heilbrun, providing his testimony on Monday, shared with the jury that during his interview with the accused, he noted her Catholic faith before posing the question, ‘Isn’t suicide a mortal sin?’

Reacting to this, Clancy’s defense lawyer, Kevin Reddington, immediately voiced his objection, prompting the judge to call for a sidebar discussion.

Once the court reconvened after a brief pause, Reddington decisively requested that the judge declare a mistrial given what had transpired.

Reddington accused the prosecution of engaging in deliberate wrongdoing, focusing on the pointed inquiry about mortal sin to support his claim.

Judge William Sullivan denied the motion but told the jury that they must disregard the statement. 

‘This has obviously been a long trial for everyone involved,’ Reddington said.

But he said that this marks the second time that the state has asked the question around mortal sin – bringing up religion.

Last week, the prosecution asked Patrick’s mother, Sue Clancy, if she was Catholic. When she said yes, Assistant District Attorney Shanan Buckingham asked her if she knew that murder was a mortal sin.

Reddington did not request a mistrial last week but he said that he feels that he has to because the state has done it again.

‘At this point, this is a concern I have. This is over the top,’ Reddington said. ‘I believe it was intentional misconduct.’

This marks the second time that the state has brought up the matter of mortal sin. Under state law, a witness’s religious beliefs or opinions are not admissible to attack or support the witness’s credibility.

The judge denied the motion but said that he would tell the jury they must disregard it. He also warned the state that they need to ‘strongly’ talk to the witness.

‘[Religion] cannot be considered. It must be disregarded,’ the judge said firmly to the jury. Several jurors looked surprised.

The jury was then excused for the day. 

Heilbrun testified that he believed Clancy was not in psychosis when she killed the children, but was severely suicidal.

He said that Clancy’s 18-minute singular ‘auditory command hallucination’ at the time that she killed her children was one that she had never experienced before, which was ‘highly unusual’ in his expert opinion.

Heilbrun also said that the phrase Clancy said to her children when she killed them also points to altruistic filicide.

Altruistic filicide is the killing of one’s children out of love, when the disturbed mind believes that they would be better off dead. 

Clancy said to her children as she strangled them, ‘Go to God, baby,’ according to Heilbrun.

He said that was part of her expectation that she and the youngsters would be together in heaven.

Heilbrun’s testimony comes after defense witness Dr Phillip Resnick said on Friday that Clancy was ‘frankly psychotic’ when she killed her children.

Resnick also noted that he believed that Clancy was driven either by ‘altruistic filicide’ or ‘acutely psychotic filicide.’

Before Reddington filed for the mistrial, he was seen conferring with his team inside the courtroom, including psychologist Dr Paul Zeizel and his son Patrick Reddington.

He also spoke with his longtime friend and fellow attorney Jay Carney, who represented Whitey Bulger. 

When asked by the Daily Mail last week whether he would ask for a mistrial over the question to Sue, Reddington said, ‘Why would I want a new trial?’ 

The judge said he expects testimony from rebuttal witnesses to continue on Tuesday, then a hearing on the charges.

Closing statements are expected on Wednesday. 

Clancy, 36, is on trial for the murders of Cora, five, Dawson, three, and eight-month-old Callan, at her home in Duxbury, Massachusetts, in 2023.

She strangled the children with exercise bands and then allegedly attempted to kill herself, but her efforts failed and left her paralyzed and in a wheelchair for life.

Clancy has admitted to killing her children but pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity, citing postpartum psychosis, and is seeking to be committed to a state mental health facility rather than face a prison sentence.

This is a breaking news story… 

They’re no strangers to making headlines with bold moves.

Last month, a couple who got engaged after allegedly climbing the Empire State Building made waves again. On Monday, their first court appearance in New York City became a spectacle with cameras catching a passionate kiss as they departed the courthouse.

Netflix personalities Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, and Angelina Nikolau, 33, now find themselves in legal hot water. Authorities have charged them with burglary, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief, following an incident where they reportedly unfurled a sign and wore masks atop New York’s iconic skyscraper.

Originally from East Orange, New Jersey, the couple allegedly decided to use this daring act on July 1 to announce their engagement in a spectacular manner. Kuznetsov proposed to his fiancée high above the city, with Nikolau showcasing a dazzling engagement ring from nearly 1,500 feet up.

They were arrested after the stunt, and no one was injured, police said.

NYPD bodycam video showed officers making their way up the skyscraper and meeting with the masked suspects, who appeared to be unharnessed.

Two days before Monday’s appearance, in an Instagram post, Nikolau said, “We believe that humanity has always been moved forward by those who refused to accept existing boundaries as final. Those who asked uncomfortable questions, took risks, and kept moving toward the impossible. The world without people like that would be much quieter. But we’re not sure it would be better Whatever happens in court, we will respect the process and accept the consequences of our choices.”

The case has been adjourned until September.

Following Monday’s court appearance and smooching session, she said, “Everything can be taken, except this.”

The couple’s attorney declined to comment when reached by News Media.

Last Tuesday, under the evening sky at Sadie’s Garden Bar in The Seaport, “Summer House” star Mia Calabrese gathered her closest circle for a delightful outdoor happy hour.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, spritzers poured freely and laughter echoed, according to insiders who spoke to Page Six. “They really seized the final moments of summer,” the source revealed. “Tequila shots were abundant, and it was clear they were having an absolute blast.”

That very night, patrons at The Whitby Hotel received an unexpected surprise with the arrival of Isla Fisher, Anna Faris, Michelle Buteau, and Leslie Mann, who popped in during the screening of “Spa Weekend.”

One enthusiastic attendee noted that Buteau decided to stay for the entire screening, energetically cheering during her standout scenes, adding an exciting vibe to the evening.

The screening event was a treat for the senses, featuring calming massages by Hand & Stone, custom bra fittings provided by Soma, and, of course, the classic cinema treats of popcorn and a candy bar.

On Wednesday night, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas dined at L’Avenue at Saks ahead of night three of their Jonas Brothers tour at Madison Square Garden.

We’re told the brothers were coming from an appearance at iHeartRadio before hitting the hotspot with their dad.

“The boys enjoyed dinner together before stopping to pose for photos with fans throughout the restaurant,” an insider shared, noting that Joe was “strutting” around and Kevin was “in cool sunglasses.”

We’re told they arrived at around 7:15 p.m. and made their way out a few hours later.

Over in Brooklyn, “Summer House” star Carl Radke joined Strava for a night of movement, community and a sneak peek of the company’s strength experience.

The event began with a group workout at Liftonic, followed by a conversation at Radke’s alcohol-free bar, Soft Bar + Cafe, which was moderated by “Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard” star Nick Arrington.

We’re told the Bravo personalities discussed softness, sobriety, and what recovery actually looks like when your life is always on the move.

Last Friday, Mike Tyson took over Sugar Factory Times Square by hosting a special preview of the brand’s new Protein Sliders.

Fans at the event were able to chat with the boxing legend one-on-one and he even posed for photos with partygoers.

“Tyson dug into the sliders himself and was in great spirits and having a great time throughout the day,” a source on site told us.

We’re told attendees sampled the Protein Sliders with customizable toppings alongside a selection of Sugar Factory’s signature food and drink offerings

After the event in the city, Tyson made a surprise visit at a ShopRite in Somerville, New Jersey, where we’re told he ahd a “sweet encounter” with an expextant couple who told him they nicknamed their baby after him.

“The couple brought along a ‘Baby Mike Tyson’ onesie,’ and Mike signed both the onesie and their sonogram,” we’re told.

His appearance marked the Northeast launch of Sugar Factory at Home’s Protein Sliders, which are now rolling out at ShopRite locations across New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania.