Cook County judge unveils change to cash bail
Cook County judge unveils change to cash bail
Reforms in Cook County and in Illinois make pretrial release possible for nondangerous defendants with little money for bail.
Illinois bill would legalize sale, production of hemp
Illinois bill would legalize sale, production of hemp
Senate Bill 1294 creates the Industrial Hemp Act, which would require licensing for “any person desiring to grow, process, cultivate, harvest, process, possess, sell, or purchase industrial hemp or industrial hemp related products must be licensed by the Department of Agriculture.”
Capitol Fax Rich Miller
Capitol Fax Rich Miller
Property taxes grow faster than Illinoisans’ ability to pay for them
Property taxes grow faster than Illinoisans’ ability to pay for them
Illinois homeowners’ property taxes are among the highest in the nation. They are consuming more and more of Illinoisans’ incomes.
Gas tax
Gas tax
Cook County’s sweetened drink tax still hasn’t taken effect
Cook County’s sweetened drink tax still hasn’t taken effect
An Illinois appeals court upheld a temporary restraining order on Cook County’s proposed sweetened beverage tax. Cook County officials claim 1,100 jobs will be lost if the tax does not go into effect.
Emanuel shrugs at possible credit downgrade for Chicago
Emanuel shrugs at possible credit downgrade for Chicago
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel expressed little concern over Moody’s Investors Service’s announcement that it might downgrade Chicago’s already-junk-rated bonds over CPS budget problems.
Forgotten Illinois: Round Lake
Forgotten Illinois: Round Lake
After speaking with folks in Round Lake for months, we knew the families of Lake County had each other’s backs when times were tough. We knew these communities were strong. But the events of this week have revealed the true strength of those ties. The families of Lake County are now working tirelessly to rebuild...
Illinois budget ends tax break early, cost of gas to go up
Illinois budget ends tax break early, cost of gas to go up
As part of the just-enacted state budget, the General Assembly has moved up the expiration of a tax break for sales of gasoline mixed with ethanol. This will likely make the price at the pump go up.
Metro area unemployment: Which states are in reverse? Spotlight Illinois
Metro area unemployment: Which states are in reverse? Spotlight Illinois
The U.S. unemployment rate is 4.4 percent, but unemployment varies widely among the nation’s 388 metro areas.
Moody’s right, S&P wrong on Illinois budget
Moody’s right, S&P wrong on Illinois budget
Illinois’ bond rating may not be junk, but the state’s finances still are.
Understanding why the new budget fails Illinoisans
Understanding why the new budget fails Illinoisans
Tax hikes on struggling Illinoisans as the state is bordering on a recession, a lack of structural spending reforms, no true pension reform, $100 million in pork spending, and the continued threat of a junk credit rating are among the ways the new Illinois budget fails taxpayers.
After historic tax hike, the real pain has just begun
After historic tax hike, the real pain has just begun
The state will eat a 32 percent larger chunk out of most workers’ paychecks, retroactive to July 1.
Chicago home to costliest on-street parking in nation, according to report
Chicago home to costliest on-street parking in nation, according to report
High parking fees in the city only add to the heavy burden of taxes and fees Chicagoans face.