Citizenship 101: How to be a more involved Illinoisan
Citizenship 101: How to be a more involved Illinoisan
What you need to know to better get answers about what local and state government leaders are doing in Illinois.
Chicago almost hits bottom rank of 150 cities for high cost, poor services
Chicago almost hits bottom rank of 150 cities for high cost, poor services
Out of 150 cities, Chicago came in almost at the bottom when the quality of city services and the total budget per capita were ranked, confirming what most Chicagoans already knew.
Fact check: Pritzker claims balanced budgets; state reports show he’s wrong
Fact check: Pritzker claims balanced budgets; state reports show he’s wrong
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he achieved a balanced budget each year he has been in office. Not true, according to official state comptroller financial reports. Illinois budgets have been in the red for 21 years in a row.
Pritzker emergency No. 19 comes almost 2 months after Illinois’ full reopening
Pritzker emergency No. 19 comes almost 2 months after Illinois’ full reopening
Gov. J.B Pritzker extended his own emergency powers and Illinois’ disaster zone status through Aug. 21, claiming they were necessary to promote state vaccination efforts. When asked when he would give up his emergency powers, Pritzker wouldn’t say.
How to file a Freedom of Information Act request in Illinois
How to file a Freedom of Information Act request in Illinois
Watching government and how taxes are spent isn’t always a simple process, but a useful tool helps obtain records to see the inner workings of schools, cities and state agencies: the Illinois Freedom of Information Act
State unemployment fraud could cost Illinoisans more than $1 billion
State unemployment fraud could cost Illinoisans more than $1 billion
A recent report from the Illinois Department of Employment Security revealed the state lost at least $14.8 million to fraudsters during the pandemic. But experts warn the full extent of state fraud could be closer to $1 billion.
Olivia Waldron
Olivia Waldron
“To continue supporting an organization that was fighting to keep us all out of the school buildings just didn’t make sense to me."
Chicago schools mandating masks regardless of COVID-19 shot status
Chicago schools mandating masks regardless of COVID-19 shot status
Chicago Public Schools will require all students and staff to wear masks inside school buildings this fall. CPS’s mask mandate ignored the CDC’s COVID-19 guidelines that advise masking indoors only for unvaccinated people.
Derrick Crenshaw
Derrick Crenshaw
"In my mind a union’s purpose is to negotiate salaries and curriculum, yet my union neglected the students’ best interests."
John L. Hasten
John L. Hasten
“It is the politicians who created the pension problem along with the teacher union bosses.”
Pritzker’s carrot and stick
Pritzker’s carrot and stick
Pritzker says Illinois could see more COVID-19 shutdowns
Pritzker says Illinois could see more COVID-19 shutdowns
Gov. J.B. Pritzker warned Illinois could see more shutdowns from COVID-19 after announcing his re-election campaign. He said new restrictions would not repeat preferential treatment of big box retailers over small businesses.
Illinois infrastructure ranks high, but state finances pose big threat
Illinois infrastructure ranks high, but state finances pose big threat
With an abundance of freight lines and roadways, along with a reliable power grid, Illinois placed No. 1 in the U.S. for infrastructure. But state finances are a threat, and political pork needs to give way to projects that move the most people and goods.
Black workers suffer most from Illinois’ slow recovery from COVID-19
Black workers suffer most from Illinois’ slow recovery from COVID-19
Some parts of Illinois’ job markets are recovering, but not for Black Illinoisans. Many jobs are still missing from before COVID-19, including over one-third of the leisure and hospitality jobs.