Free Republic

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was put on blast by critics for blaming her dwindling re-election prospects on race and gender instead of the city's crime crisis. "I'm a Black woman and, let's not forget, some folks frankly don't support us in leadership roles," Lightfoot told The New Yorker recently. "I think Lori's time is up," local radio host Ray Stevens responded Monday on "Fox & Friends First." "Personally, I don't [think she can pull off this race], but I've been wrong before as the polls have in the past," he said earlier in the segment. Stevens told co-anchors Todd Piro...

The leadership title holders of the Illinois Republican Party have done it again. They have found a new bottom in the wellspring of incompetence from which they drink: Paul Vallas for Cook County Board President. "He'd be great for Republicans, great for Cook County, [with] impeccable credentials, substance and integrity." That is what House Republican Leader Tom Cross had to say about Paul Vallas to the Chicago Sun-Times. My view of Paul Vallas as a Republican standard-bearer is a bit different as mine is rooted in Vallas' record. It goes something like this: Paul Vallas is a visionless, bean-counting hack...

Angry that public schools here have always taught American history through a Eurocentric prism, parents of black children began pleading with local school officials to offer a course in African-American history. Paul G. Vallas, head of the school district, said a required black history course was essential. Above, the text that will be used this fall. That was nearly 40 years ago. This year, their pleas were finally - and emphatically - answered. Starting in September, students entering city high schools as ninth graders will be required to take a course in African-American history, making Philadelphia the first major city...