Testimony: Chicago cuts parking minimums near transit to boost housing affordability, availability
Testimony: Chicago cuts parking minimums near transit to boost housing affordability, availability
The Chicago City Council will allow residential developments near public transit to build without imposing parking space minimums, offering a major boost for affordability and the city’s housing supply.
By LyLena Estabine
37 states wouldn’t let Pritzker run for 3rd term in 2026
37 states wouldn’t let Pritzker run for 3rd term in 2026
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is running for a third term in 2026. In two-thirds of the states, term-limit laws would prevent him from running.
By Dylan Sharkey, Charlotte Rotkis
16 missed chances for state lawmakers to help out Illinoisans
16 missed chances for state lawmakers to help out Illinoisans
Out of almost 7,000 bills filed, the Illinois General Assembly passed a little over 400. Some were good. Some were bad. Here are 16 bills that would have improved life in the state had they passed.
By Joe Tabor
Illinois lawmakers worry about paper coupons, death carpets, stickers, beauty sleep
Illinois lawmakers worry about paper coupons, death carpets, stickers, beauty sleep
What pressing issues did the Illinois General Assembly consider among 6,745 bills this past session? They pondered a sticker commission, “end-of-life” carpets, paper grocery coupons, 15-year-old voters and their own beauty sleep.
By Lilly Rossi
Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters
Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters
Happy Fourth of July? Nope. We should always call it Independence Day. It reminds us of what we celebrate and what it means.
By John Tillman
Mac Hoffmann: former Statehouse staffer turns Madigan downfall into folk music
Mac Hoffmann: former Statehouse staffer turns Madigan downfall into folk music
Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan may be heading for a 7.5-year stint in the federal pen, but his corrupt legend lives on thanks to a folk song by a former staffer.
By Jess Plowman
Fireworks freedom denied: Illinois 1 of only 3 states still saying ‘no’
Fireworks freedom denied: Illinois 1 of only 3 states still saying ‘no’
While 47 states celebrate freedom with fireworks blazing across the sky, Illinois clings to a 1942 ban that limits autonomy and ignores safety data. Illinois residents cross state lines to partake in fireworks fun, while the state loses revenue and credibility.
By Charlotte Rotkis
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.
By Patrick Andriesen
July 1 starts Illinois laws on gender-inclusiveness, climate education, prostitution privacy
July 1 starts Illinois laws on gender-inclusiveness, climate education, prostitution privacy
Climate change education, gender inclusiveness, birth certificates, prostitution privacy, court translators and insulin costs all received attention from the Illinois General Assembly. Laws involving them take effect July 1. Plus, the state gasoline tax goes up.
By Lilly Rossi
Illinois lawmakers only attach price tags to 10 of 3,859 bills
Illinois lawmakers only attach price tags to 10 of 3,859 bills
For most bills filed in Springfield, taxpayers will have to guess at how much more will be demanded of them. Illinois General Assembly members only worried about costs 10 times for 3,859 of their bright ideas about how to improve the state.
By Lilly Rossi
Illinois lawmakers pass almost 100 bills on final day
Illinois lawmakers pass almost 100 bills on final day
Illinois General Assembly members raced the clock to pass legislation. Of the 416 bills sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk this session, 155 were passed in the final week and 96 of those were on the last day.
By Lilly Rossi, Joe Tabor
When GOP gets just 14% of state legislation, Illinois has a legislative map problem
When GOP gets just 14% of state legislation, Illinois has a legislative map problem
6,745 bills were filed in the Illinois General Assembly this session, but only a small fraction passed both houses. Of those, 86% were introduced by Democrats. That big disparity is rooted in Democrats drawing legislative districts that shrink opposition.
By Joe Tabor, Lilly Rossi