Rapper Slams Governor, Gives $1M to Chicago Schools

Chance the Rapper demanded action Monday as he handed a $1 million check to his hometown's struggling school system. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner "still won't commit to give Chicago's kids a chance without caveats or ultimatums," Chance said, per the Chicago Tribune. "Gov. Rauner, do your job." Chance said he met Friday with the governor, who recently vetoed $215 million in funding for Chicago Public Schools, and received nothing but "vague answers," Politico reports. The performer donated the check, funded by ticket sales from his upcoming tour, during an event at Westcott Elementary School, close to where he grew up on the city's South Side.

Chance, who took home two Grammys last month, is one of the country's hottest artists and is using his star power to get involved in what the Atlantic calls the "decidedly unglamorous municipal struggle" between the squabbling state government, which has been without a budget for almost two years, and the school system. During Monday's event, Chance also announced donations of $10,000 to 10 area schools and warned that the budget shortfall could shorten the school year by 13 days, putting kids "in harm's way." Rauner's office didn't address his comments directly, but it noted that the governor and his wife had donated $7 million to Chicago schools over the years and called for the district to join "serious good faith discussions." (More Chicago stories.)