Check here for Illinois election results
Check here for Illinois election results
No Election Day noise. Just results for the issues close to home for Illinois' and Chicago's freedom-minded voters.
4 ways Chicago’s 2025 budget fails, plus hikes property taxes
4 ways Chicago’s 2025 budget fails, plus hikes property taxes
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2025 budget proposes a nearly $1 billion deficit. High personnel and pension costs have Johnson breaking his campaign promise not to hike property taxes. Plus there’s no plan for long-term fixes.
Brandon Johnson: Pinocchio
Brandon Johnson: Pinocchio
Over 1 in 7 Illinoisans get food assistance
Over 1 in 7 Illinoisans get food assistance
Nearly 2 million Illinoisans – or more than 1-in-7 – received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in July 2024. One-quarter of county offices reported more than 1-in-5 residents received food help.
Fewer than 1-in-3 Chicago Public Schools students read at grade level
Fewer than 1-in-3 Chicago Public Schools students read at grade level
Chicago Public Schools third- through eighth-grade state test scores increased in 2024, with reading finally surpassing 2019 levels. But for Chicago’s 11th grade students, both reading and math remained below pre-pandemic levels.
Chicago mayor, Chicago Teachers Union want ‘millionaire tax’ money
Chicago mayor, Chicago Teachers Union want ‘millionaire tax’ money
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is banking on $300 million in new property taxes from residents in his latest budget. He and his former coworkers at the Chicago Teachers Union want a progressive state income tax to deliver more money to them, not to property tax relief.
Marsha Familaro Enright
Marsha Familaro Enright
“Part of the idea is to have people in many different professions who are knowledgeable about the principles of entrepreneurship and liberty."
Cracking down on fare evasion can help deter Chicago transit crime
Cracking down on fare evasion can help deter Chicago transit crime
Washington, D.C., and New York City have cracked down on fare evasion because it is linked to serious and violent crime. The Chicago Transit Authority should do the same to curb its growing crime problem.
A Very Brandon Johnson Halloween
A Very Brandon Johnson Halloween
Johnson’s 2025 Chicago budget breaks property tax promise
Johnson’s 2025 Chicago budget breaks property tax promise
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson delivered his 2025 budget Oct. 30, including a nearly $1 billion deficit, runaway spending and low revenues that have him breaking his campaign promise not to raise property taxes.
Unemployment high in 13 of 15 Illinois metro job markets
Unemployment high in 13 of 15 Illinois metro job markets
The statewide Illinois job market outpaced the national average. But 13 of 15 metro areas continued to have higher unemployment rates than the U.S. average.
Argie Karafotias
Argie Karafotias
"There needs to be transparency and accountability."
Illinois schools see small academic gains, but still need improvement
Illinois schools see small academic gains, but still need improvement
New Illinois public school test data shows reading and math proficiency rates for third- through eighth-grade students increased since 2023. Not so for 11th graders, who performed worse in reading and math.
Another Illinois town has passed a grocery tax. Is yours next?
Another Illinois town has passed a grocery tax. Is yours next?
Another Illinois town voted to pass a local grocery tax. See how much grocery shoppers in your community could lose if your local leaders also impose the tax.