Ep. 3: Illinois budget fact check with Adam Schuster
Ep. 3: Illinois budget fact check with Adam Schuster
Guest: Adam Schuster
Everything you need to know about Illinois unemployment
Everything you need to know about Illinois unemployment
The Illinois Department of Employment Security was ill-prepared to handle record numbers of unemployed workers when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, was slow to distribute federal help, exposed Illinoisans' private information, then lefts thousands on hold awaiting answers. Here's the latest.
Chicago Park District ‘reform’ bill puts pension costs on taxpayers
Chicago Park District ‘reform’ bill puts pension costs on taxpayers
House Bill 417 falls far short of the structural reforms Illinois pension systems require. A constitutional amendment is needed after courts blocked a real reform effort in 2018.
5 things wrong with Illinois holding 30% of U.S. pension bond debt
5 things wrong with Illinois holding 30% of U.S. pension bond debt
Pension obligation bonds, like payday loans, are a sign of mismanaged finances. Illinois not only leads the nation for using that risky debt, it owes the bulk of it.
The problem with property taxes in the Chicago suburbs
The problem with property taxes in the Chicago suburbs
Property taxes keep going up, but services aren’t improving. Paying more and getting less is a trend that residents want to see reversed.
Ep. 2: Illinois’ post-COVID economy with Orphe Divounguy
Ep. 2: Illinois’ post-COVID economy with Orphe Divounguy
Guest: Dr. Orphe Divounguy
Illinois bill would give ISBE authority to revoke schools’ state recognition
Illinois bill would give ISBE authority to revoke schools’ state recognition
Gov. J.B Pritzker has warned district administrators since early August that ISBE would strip state recognition from Illinois schools defying his statewide mask mandate. House Bill 4135 aims to give the state board of education that power.
Chris Stephens
Chris Stephens
“There’s a lot of investors nationally that I know that will not invest in Illinois. There [are] large investors pulling out of this state because they don’t want to pay for other people’s bad mistakes.”
A message to voters from Illinois’ mapmakers
A message to voters from Illinois’ mapmakers
Marius Powell
Marius Powell
“You need stable housing to get yourself together, hold a job and contribute to society. Without proper housing people end up using more resources.”
Illinois lawmakers enact gerrymandered political maps
Illinois lawmakers enact gerrymandered political maps
Gov. J.B. Pritzker promised to pass fair maps. On Aug. 31, politicians enacted maps that go back on that promise.
Suburban residents risk losing homes over rising pension costs
Suburban residents risk losing homes over rising pension costs
Because the cost of generous government retirement packages has grown faster than existing government revenues can sustain, property taxes continue to climb.
Illinois ethics reform uncertain after House rejects Pritzker’s amendatory veto
Illinois ethics reform uncertain after House rejects Pritzker’s amendatory veto
Illinois made an important first step in its break with the corrupt practices that defined the legislative process under former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. New ethics rules about lobbying, financial disclosures and the legislative watchdog were passed in the final hours of the session, but the reforms may die after the House rejected a technical change to the legislation by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Chicago ranks No. 2 in the nation for combined state and local sales tax
Chicago ranks No. 2 in the nation for combined state and local sales tax
The Windy City tied with four other major cities as imposing the nation’s second highest sales tax on residents among 124 considered. The report warns the city’s new status could be costing Chicago businesses their competitive edge.