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Chicago Teachers Union budgeting millions for ‘political activities,’ according to fiscal report

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Chicago Teachers Union budgeting millions for ‘political activities,’ according to fiscal report

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The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) appears poised to spend a substantial amount of money on “political activities,” internal documents viewed by Fox News Digital show.

According to CTU’s fiscal report, projecting into June 30, 2026, the union budgeted $3.1 million for “political activities.” In comparison, the union budgeted $152,500 for “training/ workshops,” $260,000 for community events, and $1.2 million for its contract campaign. The largest amount is budgeted for salaries and health insurance.

The Fiscal Year November report, which was obtained by the North American Values Institute (NAVI), was part of a meeting agenda and presentation notes from the CTU House of Delegates meeting held on Jan. 14. 

The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) appears to spend a substantial amount of money on “political activities,” internal documents obtained by Fox News Digital show. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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“CTU funds are public tax dollars, issued from the paychecks of local and state-funded educators. As a public sector union, its mandate is to represent the professional and bargaining interests of teachers — not to bankroll the political agendas of ideological caucuses. It is time for the State of Illinois to provide rigorous oversight and end the gross misuse of taxpayer resources,” said Josh Weiner, chief strategy officer of NAVI.

The CTU is primarily funded by teachers’ member dues rather than directly by taxpayer dollars. Teachers are employees of Chicago Public Schools, which is funded directly by taxpayers.

The meeting and presentation were politically charged.

During the meeting, Vice President Jackson Potter discussed the Trump administration’s intervention in Venezuela and Iran and the killing of civilian Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis. “Are you feeling crazy? Cause it is,” a caption says above the slides on the topic.

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TOP TEACHERS UNION UNDER FIRE AS LAWMAKERS PUSH TO STRIP UNION OF UNIQUE FEDERAL CHARTER: ‘LOST THEIR WAY’

Chicago Teachers Union President Stacey Davis Gates delivered an address at the City Club of Chicago on Monday, June 23, 2025. (YouTube Screenshot)

Another slide on the presentation included a flyer titled, “This MLK Day Chicago Resists,” and information about a protest located at Water Tower Park on Jan. 19, demanding on the anniversary of Donald Trump’s inauguration to “abolish ICE,” “stop the wars,” “tax the rich” and “end the genocides.” 

This summer, the union plans an “Environmental Justice Freedom School,” a “two-week educational experiential program offered to high school students in the CPS to develop local school climate action plans.” 

Neither the Chicago Public Schools nor the Chicago Teachers’ Union responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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The union released its list of endorsements on Feb. 5, backing only Democratic candidates in federal and state elections, including Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who vows to “stand up to Donald Trump and his MAGA cronies,” in his congressional bid. Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson, who is running for re-election in 2027, was backed by the union in his last mayoral election bid. 

The union previously made headlines for supporting social justice initiatives, recently being critical of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and generally being vocal on political issues.

PRESIDENT OF LARGEST TEACHERS UNION SET TO SPEAK AT ‘POLITICAL REVOLUTION’ EVENT TARGETING ICE

The union budgeted $3.1 million for “political activities” for the fiscal year ending in June. (Chicago Teachers’ Union Fiscal Year November Report)

CTU issued a statement accusing the Trump administration of “normalizing terror” and condemning the “teargassing of students and arrest of an educator at Roosevelt High School.”  

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Earlier this month, CTU faced backlash from The Washington Post for pursuing social justice initiatives in its school district even as student reading and math proficiency continues to decline.



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Detroit, MI

Retired Detroit sergeant faces new sexual assault charge involving 14-year-old victim from 2002

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Retired Detroit sergeant faces new sexual assault charge involving 14-year-old victim from 2002



An additional case, this one involving a victim who was then 14 years old, has been added to the sexual assault investigation against a former Detroit Police Department sergeant. 

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced the latest charges on Friday against Benjamin Martin Wagner, 68, who now lives in Greenville, N.C. He had retired from the Detroit Police Department in 2017. 

The victim in the additional charges was 14 years old when the assault happened in October 2002 in Detroit, Worthy said. The prosecutor alleges that Wagner approached the victim, pointed a handgun at her, ordered her away from the location and then sexually assaulted her. 

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In this case, he faces charges of kidnapping, two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. An arraignment hearing took place Friday in the 36th District Court in Detroit. A probable cause conference is scheduled for April 7.

The woman is now 37 years old. 

“She has lived with what happened to her for 23 years and has now bravely decided that she wants to be a part of holding him accountable,” Worthy said. 

Wagner participated in a court hearing Thursday and was remanded to jail, one week after he was charged with 15 counts of kidnapping and rape in five separate sexual assault cases. All of those incidents happened between 1999 and 2003 in the northwest side of Detroit, with the victims being young women between the ages of 15 and 23. 

The court dates for the earlier list of charges are April 7 for a probable cause hearing and April 14 for a preliminary exam. 

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Wagner joined the Detroit Police Department in 1989 as a police officer and was eventually promoted to sergeant. He retired in 2017 and moved to North Carolina. 



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Milwaukee, WI

Truck drives in to Grace Coffee in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward overnight

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Truck drives in to Grace Coffee in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward overnight


MILWAUKEE — A truck drove through the Grace Coffee Co. in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward on early Friday morning, the owners announced in a social media post.

Due to the extensive damage that was done, the coffee shop will be closed until further notice.

TMJ4

“We’re incredibly grateful no one was hurt, and we’ll keep you updated as we begin repairs,” the coffee shop said in the post.

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TMJ4 reached out to the Milwaukee Police Department but have yet to hear back.


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Minneapolis, MN

Man dead, 2 others hurt in overnight shooting in Minneapolis

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Man dead, 2 others hurt in overnight shooting in Minneapolis


Police say two people were hurt and one other man died.

A homicide investigation is underway in Minneapolis after a shooting early Friday morning killed one man and hurt two others.

Minneapolis police were called to the area of East Franklin Avenue and Chicago Avenue at around 12:30 a.m.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS cameras caught more than 65 evidence markers scattered across the ground in the area and shattered glass at a bus shelter. Some nearby businesses also appeared to have some damage.

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Minneapolis police are still working to determine what led up to the shooting and who was involved but investigators say first responders found the three men suffering from gunshot wounds.

One injured man is in his 40s, the other in his 50s, police say. Both were taken to a hospital by ambulance.

The third man died at the scene. His name and age haven’t yet been publicly released.

Police say early information suggests the men were on a sidewalk when at least one person opened fire, then fled in a vehicle.

So far, no arrests have been made.

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Anyone with information about what happened is asked to call police at 612-673-5845 to leave a voicemail or email policetips@minneapolismn.gov.

“This is a tragic and deeply disturbing act of violence that has taken a life, and left others seriously injured,” MPD Chief Brian O’Hara said. “This kind of violence is unacceptable, and we are committed to identifying those responsible and holding them accountable.”

Minneapolis police investigating alleyway shooting near East Franklin Avenue

It comes less than 30 hours after another serious shooting along East Franklin Avenue, just a half-mile west of Friday’s scene. That incident left a man hospitalized with a potentially life-threatening gunshot wound. No arrests have been announced in that case either.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS is still working to learn more about this shooting. Stay with KSTP-TV for the latest updates on air and on the KSTP app.

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