Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

CTU president concedes possibility of CPS ending annual multimillion-dollar practice of teacher ‘pension pickups’

CTU president concedes possibility of CPS ending annual multimillion-dollar practice of teacher ‘pension pickups’

CTU President Karen Lewis has acknowledged that CPS is in dire straits – and that her union may have to make concessions in contract negotiations, including ending the practice of the school district – meaning taxpayers – picking up the majority of teacher contributions toward pensions, which has cost $1.3 billion since 2006.

By Ted Dabrowski

Al Panico

Al Panico

I have a loyalty to my company and my people because they’ve been loyal to me and the company for many, many years.

Rauner reaffirms commitment to criminal-justice reform

Rauner reaffirms commitment to criminal-justice reform

Gov. Bruce Rauner highlights the continued need for criminal-justice reform to save taxpayer dollars and restore opportunity. To get there, Illinois must embrace reforms that enable ex-offenders to provide for themselves and their families once they’ve served their sentences.

By Bryant Jackson-Green

The $53 million boogeyman: Illinois’ financial woes due to decades of mismanagement, not 7 months of gridlock

The $53 million boogeyman: Illinois’ financial woes due to decades of mismanagement, not 7 months of gridlock

Illinois paid $53 million more to borrow money through its Jan. 14 bond sale than it would have paid had politicians not let the state’s debt and government-worker pension obligations spiral out of control, while driving out taxpaying residents and businesses through tax hikes and costly regulations.

By Mark Adams