Aimee Orta
Aimee Orta
“One of my children was coming home from school frustrated, emotional and explosive. I asked the kindergarten teacher if she was seeing any issues at school. She said, ‘No. Everything is fine.’”
Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters
Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters
We too often call it the “Fourth of July” and lose sight of its true meaning – independence. Independence from tyranny and the freedom to pursue life, liberty and happiness.
NASCAR comes to Chicago
NASCAR comes to Chicago
Illinois metro unemployment rates still among worst in U.S.
Illinois metro unemployment rates still among worst in U.S.
While most Illinois metropolitan areas saw job gains last month, unemployment rates remain higher than the U.S. rate in 11 of the state’s 13 metro areas.
Vallas: Chicago teens are dying, committing more crimes: work-study can fix that
Vallas: Chicago teens are dying, committing more crimes: work-study can fix that
Much attention is rightly being paid to how city policy can address the need to provide young people with meaningful opportunities for work. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
Jeff ‘Rafi’ Boyd
Jeff ‘Rafi’ Boyd
“I came to the realization while I was incarcerated that I had to make some serious, life-changing decisions. I had obviously made a bad career choice. I made a conscious effort and decision to turn my life around.”
Illinois lawmakers get $4,250 raise just months after $12,000 raise
Illinois lawmakers get $4,250 raise just months after $12,000 raise
Illinois state lawmakers had tried to bump their pay by 5.5%, but that violated the state constitution. The must settle for 5%, meaning they will make nearly $90,000 a year.
$6.6B gap in Illinois reserve funds is far from ‘fiscal responsibility’
$6.6B gap in Illinois reserve funds is far from ‘fiscal responsibility’
Illinois’ rainy-day fund is at an all-time high, but remains $6.6 billion less than recommended by state budget experts. Illinois state government can operate for fewer than 13 days on what it’s saved.
Illinois 1 of 3 states banning you from using fireworks
Illinois 1 of 3 states banning you from using fireworks
Independence Day means residents of 47 states will celebrate their freedom by choosing to set off fireworks. Not in Illinois.
The Policy Shop: Chicago Public Schools’ graduation inflation
The Policy Shop: Chicago Public Schools’ graduation inflation
This edition of The Policy Shop comes from policy analyst Hannah Max. The New York Times shocked many readers when it reported last week that student test scores in our public schools aren’t great. To some of us, this was unsurprising. Still, it’s bad. “The math and reading performance of 13-year-olds in the United States has...
Illinois again taxing your groceries starting July 1
Illinois again taxing your groceries starting July 1
Illinoisans will notice more expensive food July 1 when Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s election-year suspension of the grocery tax expires. Only Illinois and 12 other states will tax groceries then.
5 years after Janus v. AFSCME, unions are smaller but more militant
5 years after Janus v. AFSCME, unions are smaller but more militant
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of Illinois state worker Mark Janus in 2018 gave government workers the ability to stop funding government union politics. Chastened unions could have reformed. Instead, they got extreme.
The Chicago Teachers Union’s bad business model
The Chicago Teachers Union’s bad business model
Illinoisans get 2nd gas tax hike of 2023 just before Independence Day
Illinoisans get 2nd gas tax hike of 2023 just before Independence Day
Illinoisans face the second gas tax hike of 2023 on July 1. The 3.1 cent hike doesn’t need lawmaker approval, thanks to state leaders implementing automatic gas tax hikes.