Chicago Daily Local Headlines for February 27, 2026
Chicago, IL – February 27, 2026 – Jackson remembrance continues, Waymo cars spotted downtown, CPS sets 2026-27 start date, CTA alerts riders.
Top local headlines
Jackson remembrance draws crowds on the South Side
Hundreds of people have been lining up at Rainbow PUSH to pay their respects to the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., a longtime civil rights leader with deep Chicago roots. Organizers say the public viewing continues Friday, with additional Chicago-area events planned in early March.
Waymo vehicles spotted as the company maps Chicago streets
Autonomous vehicles branded with Waymo markings have been spotted downtown, sparking chatter about whether robotaxis could be next for Chicago. City officials said the vehicles are in town to map street geometry and gather driving-condition data, not to launch passenger service right away.
CPS posts next two school-year calendars
Chicago Public Schools said the Board of Education approved calendars for the next two years, giving families earlier visibility on start and end dates. The 2026-27 year is set to begin Monday, Aug. 24, 2026 for K-12 students, with pre-K starting the next day, and the school year ending in mid-June 2027. CPS also highlighted new district leadership appointments and a list of local teachers named as Golden Apple finalists.
Transit and public safety notes
The CTA is encouraging riders to lean on trains and buses during late-winter weather, while also flagging construction work that could temporarily affect parts of the Brown and Red lines. The agency also pointed riders toward rail and bus options for big weekend events, including the Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade on Sunday.
In a rare bright spot for public safety, police said Chicago went roughly 36 hours without a reported shooting as of Friday morning, ending a stretch that followed a Wednesday evening shooting in Grand Crossing.
Sources
- https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago/2026/02/26/rev-jesse-jackson-lying-in-repose-rainbow-push-chicago
- https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/is-waymo-coming-to-chicago-social-media-users-report-sightings-of-autonomous-taxis/3899595/?os=firetv
- https://www.cps.edu/media/community-updates/2026/february/community-letter-02-27-26/
- https://www.transitchicago.com/cta-is-a-great-ride-across-chicagoland-during-the-winter-cold/
- https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/chicago-sees-36-hours-without-reported-shooting
