Low-income students 16 points below Illinois average
Low-income students 16 points below Illinois average
New Illinois State Board of Education data shows low-income and minority public school students are struggling, scoring well below average.
Vallas: Legislation buys CTA time to fix itself, but will it?
Vallas: Legislation buys CTA time to fix itself, but will it?
New taxes buy the Chicago Transit Authority some time, but state lawmakers failed fix anything that led to the crisis. Here are three ways city leaders can fix the CTA.
Pritzker vetoes 5th lowest of 16 Democrat-controlled states
Pritzker vetoes 5th lowest of 16 Democrat-controlled states
In Illinois, 99% of state bills passed by the Democratic supermajority become law with no objection by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Democracy suffers without checks and balances.
Illinois, Chicago voters rank high taxes as No. 1 issue
Illinois, Chicago voters rank high taxes as No. 1 issue
More than half of Illinois voters and one-third of Chicago voters said high taxes were their No. 1 concern. Despite that, Springfield and Chicago politicians both are hiking taxes again to spend more.
Illinois lifts nuclear ban, but tightens grip on energy supply
Illinois lifts nuclear ban, but tightens grip on energy supply
Lawmakers pass a bill to end the ban on large nuclear plants but include plans on expanding state control over energy.
$53 billion pension spike advances during last-minute veto session
$53 billion pension spike advances during last-minute veto session
A bill that would increase Tier 2 pension benefits was passed out of Illinois House Executive Committee on Oct 30.
How many people in your county can’t access SNAP after Nov.1?
How many people in your county can’t access SNAP after Nov.1?
If the federal government shutdown continues, millions of Illinoisans could lose access to critical food aid after Nov. 1.
Illinois lawmakers hike toll roads and sales taxes to fund Chicago-area transit
Illinois lawmakers hike toll roads and sales taxes to fund Chicago-area transit
Illinois lawmakers passed a new plan to keep Chicago-area public transit running. The plan hikes sales taxes in the Chicago area but stops major service cuts for the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and Pace.
Capital One leads Illinois mass layoffs as companies announce 1,722 job cuts
Capital One leads Illinois mass layoffs as companies announce 1,722 job cuts
Illinois companies announced 1,722 mass layoffs in September, with restructuring at Capital One leading to the single largest loss of jobs statewide.
Diana Graham
Diana Graham
Diana Graham has served as the president of the Lotus Neighbors for Action block club in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood for nearly two decades. After 55 years of walking her block at Madison and Lotus, Miss Graham has become a cornerstone in her community. Whether it’s connecting people on her block with jobs, paying out of...
Illinois facing lawsuits over property tax theft
Illinois facing lawsuits over property tax theft
Lawsuits are mounting from homeowners, investors and counties. Unless lawmakers act, taxpayers could pay millions in damages over Illinois' unconstitutional tax sale system.
Just 2-in-5 Chicago students read at grade level under lowered proficiency standards
Just 2-in-5 Chicago students read at grade level under lowered proficiency standards
Chicago Public Schools students struggle in reading and math as just 2-in-5 read at grade level and about 1-in-4 do math proficiently. And that’s after Illinois lowered proficiency standards to make the numbers look better.
Half of Illinois students reading at grade level, fewer in math under loosened standards
Half of Illinois students reading at grade level, fewer in math under loosened standards
Newly released data from state assessments show just half of Illinois public school students could read at grade level and 2-in-5 could do math proficiently in 2025. That’s after the state lowered proficiency standards to make the numbers look better.
An Illinois wealth tax would be a legal disaster
An Illinois wealth tax would be a legal disaster
Illinois’ latest tax scheme, a 4.95% “wealth tax” on unrealized gains for billionaires, risks violating the state constitution, likely resulting in a long and costly legal battle.