Waste watch: Illinois spends $1M to rethink capitalism
Waste watch: Illinois spends $1M to rethink capitalism
Illinois progressives want to reimagine capitalism and hand out free money with the tax dollars you worked for.
Over 600 Chicago teachers hit Sin City on taxpayers’ dime
Over 600 Chicago teachers hit Sin City on taxpayers’ dime
Using taxpayer dollars intended to educate children, over 600 Chicago Public Schools staffers exploited lax rules to take luxury trips to Las Vegas.
Waste watch: Illinois’ porky budget gives $7M to move pigs
Waste watch: Illinois’ porky budget gives $7M to move pigs
Illinois’ hidden budgeting process let lawmakers hand out 2,815 grants, including $7 million to move the University of Illinois’ pigs.
Illinois state spending balloons as state economy stagnates
Illinois state spending balloons as state economy stagnates
At least 49 tax hikes under Gov. J.B. Pritzker have driven state spending to record highs, even as Illinois’ economic growth has lagged the U.S.
NYE 2026: Brandon’s Chicago
NYE 2026: Brandon’s Chicago
Illinois counts on bad habits to raise $3.47B in sin taxes
Illinois counts on bad habits to raise $3.47B in sin taxes
Whether your vice is drinking, tobacco, cannabis or gambling, Illinois is enjoying $3.47 billion from taxing it.
1-in-5 city tax dollars go to Illinois police, fire pensions
1-in-5 city tax dollars go to Illinois police, fire pensions
Outside of Chicago, municipal property taxes across Illinois are being consumed by police and fire pensions, leaving fewer resources for public safety.
Chicago Public School staff jet-sets overseas on tax dollars
Chicago Public School staff jet-sets overseas on tax dollars
Lax rules, poor oversight let millions of taxpayer dollars be used for foreign travel – including safaris and camel rides – for Chicago Public Schools staff.
NYE 2026: Pritzker’s Illinois
NYE 2026: Pritzker’s Illinois
Here are costs, test scores for Illinois school districts
Here are costs, test scores for Illinois school districts
Most property taxes go to local public schools. Illinoisans should know how well students read and perform math at school districts compared to the cost.
Naughty list includes state lawmakers, county leaders, mayors
Naughty list includes state lawmakers, county leaders, mayors
The nation’s longest-serving legislative speaker, a state senator and a former Cook County commissioner were on Illinois’ too-long list of corrupt politicians.
Kids home alone could land Illinois parents on naughty list
Kids home alone could land Illinois parents on naughty list
Illinois parents can now leave their kids home alone at any age, but a state worker or judge could still label their decision as neglect or abuse.
Chicago gets $16.6B budget after mayor refuses to veto
Chicago gets $16.6B budget after mayor refuses to veto
Chicago avoided a city shutdown when Mayor Brandon Johnson accepted the alternative budget aldermen passed despite his wishes.
Watching ‘Elf’ or ‘Home Alone’ costs $300M more in Chicago
Watching ‘Elf’ or ‘Home Alone’ costs $300M more in Chicago
Chicagoans pay extra to stream holiday movies on Netflix or Hulu because of the city’s 10.25% streaming tax. The cost was nearly $300 million in 2025.