Plus: Maya Foa: Christa Pike execution shows lethal injection is breaking down • Mailee Smith: Federal labor bill could force social agendas into private school contracts
Chicago Tribune Opinion Thursday, October 8, 2026 | | |
| | | | | Good morning, The Tribune Editorial Board continues its endorsements for the November general election with the first of more than one batch of recommendations for the Illinois Senate. An anti-death penalty advocate has a bracing op-ed this morning on Tennessee's botched execution of Christa Pike, a disaster this writer says was "waiting to happen." Illinois next school year will require mental health screenings for students in grades three through 12. Check out this op-ed saying that won't be good enough if kids who need care don't get it. And Mailee Smith, vice president of policy at the Illinois Policy Institute, writes on federal legislation that could have bad and unintended consequences in Chicago for private and charter schools. We've got readers' letters as well. Hope your Thursday is productive, and we'll be back here tomorrow. — Steve Daniels, editorial board member Submit an op-ed | Submit a letter to the editor | Meet the Tribune Editorial Board | Subscribe to this newsletter | | | | The Tribune editorial board’s tradition of making political endorsements is a cornerstone of this newspaper’s history. | | | | | We are witnessing the complete breakdown of the dominant method of execution in the U.S. | | | | | The Faster Labor Contracts Act could force private schools with unionized staff into provisions antithetical to their purposes. | | | | | Done well, universal mental health screenings will provide the first population-level map of where youth mental health needs actually sit. | | | | | Our city’s approach to mental health crises remains anemic and insufficient, and thousands of people remain without the right response. | | | | | We consider Ram Villivalam to be an experienced problem solver. | | | | | Patrick Hanley told us he opposes the so-called millionaire’s tax, but he believes Illinois should adopt a progressive income tax. | | | | | Brian Skala is a reasonable alternative for those who want a change from their scandal-tarred incumbent State Sen. Emil Jones III. | | | |
