Chicago ranks among America’s least safe cities
Chicago ranks among America’s least safe cities
While Aurora sits near the top of the safety rankings, Chicago lands near the bottom undermining claims by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson.
REPORTS
Police union contracts hinder discipline in Illinois’ biggest cities
How Illinois’ collective bargaining rules protect police misconduct
Illinois red-light cameras have collected more than $1B from drivers since 2008
Asset forfeiture in Illinois: What it is, where it happens, and reforms the state needs
Majority of Illinoisans support criminal-justice reform
CTA violent crime nears decade high as feds threaten funding cuts
CTA violent crime nears decade high as feds threaten funding cuts
Chicago Transit Authority violent crime hit its second-highest level since 2015, while the arrest rate dropped. CTA crime is threatening federal funding.
Rockford youth move from mean streets to building sidewalks
Rockford youth move from mean streets to building sidewalks
Rockford youths often faced a hopeless future, but a program is helping them find a trade as they rebuild their community. It is led by a man who once faced their troubles.
Chicago speed cameras hit 3-year ticket high in July
Chicago speed cameras hit 3-year ticket high in July
Monthly Chicago speed camera violations climbed to their highest level in more than three years during July 2025 following Mayor Brandon Johnson’s introduction of 22 new cameras. More cameras in new locations gave Johnson more cash.
Vallas: Chicago needs federal intervention, but not National Guard
Vallas: Chicago needs federal intervention, but not National Guard
Federal help is needed in Chicago, but it should be professional law enforcement and encompass the entire justice system. Sending just the National Guard is destined to create problems when Chicago’s embattled communities need solutions.
Chicago homicides lowest in decade, but so is arrest rate
Chicago homicides lowest in decade, but so is arrest rate
Chicago homicides were at a decade low for the 12 months through June, but also down was the arrest rate from 42% to 27%.
More Chicago suburbs pulling plug on red-light cameras
More Chicago suburbs pulling plug on red-light cameras
More Illinois suburbs are ditching red-light cameras. Drivers should celebrate after the devices have issued over $1.5 billion in fines and failed to make roads any safer.
Vallas: It was a bad weekend, but Chicago’s violent crime rate falling
Vallas: It was a bad weekend, but Chicago’s violent crime rate falling
A violent Independence Day weekend has Chicagoans worried about violent crime, but it was a spike and not a trend. Crime is falling, thanks to new law enforcement efforts.
Chicago’s South Side gets over 3X tickets per red-light cam as North Side
Chicago’s South Side gets over 3X tickets per red-light cam as North Side
Red-light cameras on Chicago’s South Side issued more than triple the number of tickets per intersection as on the North Side between June 2024 and May 2025. Fines citywide dropped over $12 million from the previous 12 months.
Chicago speed cameras take $90.9 million from drivers in 2024
Chicago speed cameras take $90.9 million from drivers in 2024
Chicago’s speed cameras issued $90.9 million in tickets and fees to drivers in 2024, down $11.3 million from 2023. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s is adding 50 new speed cameras to recover those fines, with 11 issuing tickets by the end of June.
Vallas: Brandon Johnson’s war against Chicago’s Black community
Vallas: Brandon Johnson’s war against Chicago’s Black community
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson claims racism is behind his inability to lead and help the Black community. But his policies on crime, taxes, migrants, education and jobs are the real villains.
Chicago aggravated batteries hit 5-year high; 3 in 5 victims are Black
Chicago aggravated batteries hit 5-year high; 3 in 5 victims are Black
Chicagoans reported the highest number of aggravated batteries through February in the past five years, with Black residents accounting for 3 in 5 victims.