VIDEO: Why housing is so pricey in Illinois
VIDEO: Why housing is so pricey in Illinois
Government restrictions on zoning and land use are making Illinois housing and rents more expensive then they need to be.
Planning a long Lollapalooza weekend? Expect ticket taxes of $91 to $1,001
Planning a long Lollapalooza weekend? Expect ticket taxes of $91 to $1,001
If you plan to be at Lollapalooza from Megan Thee Stallion to Blink-182, expect taxes to add $91 to the cost of general admission. Get a premium ticket and city, county and state sales and amusement taxes add $1,001 to the cost.
Chicago’s affordable housing crisis can be fixed without tax hikes
Chicago’s affordable housing crisis can be fixed without tax hikes
Chicago housing affordability is among the lowest in the Midwest, driven primarily by restrictive land-use policies and slow approvals. Low-income families have it worse than in other large Midwestern cities.
Vallas: 10 things you should know about Chicago crime today
Vallas: 10 things you should know about Chicago crime today
Independence Day weekend was bloody in Chicago. City leaders are doing little other than pointing fingers. Here are 10 things Chicagoans should know about the current crime problem.
Illinois lawmakers-turned-lobbyists become big barrier to work
Illinois lawmakers-turned-lobbyists become big barrier to work
Lawmaker to lobbyist is a well-worn path at the Illinois Statehouse. But the new job of some former state lawmakers is to get their former colleagues to make it harder for their former constituents to work.
How to get your Illinois driver’s license on your phone
How to get your Illinois driver’s license on your phone
Legislation allowing Illinois residents to carry a digital driver’s license or ID on their smartphone will take effect in 2025.
The Policy Shop: How government costs us affordable housing
The Policy Shop: How government costs us affordable housing
Government in Illinois has a lot to do with why housing costs are so high. Zoning and land-use reforms can boost the supply of affordable housing without forcing taxpayers to subsidize it.
Chicago mayor challenges aldermanic privilege to fix housing
Chicago mayor challenges aldermanic privilege to fix housing
Chicago doesn’t have enough housing, in part because restrictive regulations and zoning drive up costs and headaches for developers. Mayor Brandon Johnson has recommended solid fixes, but the city must restrict aldermanic power.
Brandon Johnson’s sad excuses
Brandon Johnson’s sad excuses
Chicago committee looks at free-market solution to affordable housing
Chicago committee looks at free-market solution to affordable housing
Josh Bandoch, head of policy for the Illinois Policy Institute, testimony about how accessory dwelling units can help fix Chicago’s affordable housing shortage. City regulations and mandates can derail this free-market solution, though.
Pritzker: Budgeting genius
Pritzker: Budgeting genius
Chicago school spending nearly doubles as scores drop
Chicago school spending nearly doubles as scores drop
As Chicago Public Schools spending per student continues to rise, test scores and proficiency levels among students continue to drop.
3-in-10 seats are empty at Chicago Public Schools
3-in-10 seats are empty at Chicago Public Schools
Hundreds of Chicago Public Schools buildings have a space-use problem – they’re too empty. Nearly 60% of schools are underutilized while 5% are overcrowded. Only 37% are at ideal capacity. The Chicago Teachers Union wants to add staff to the empty schools.
Apprenticeships offer economic opportunity for Illinoisans
Apprenticeships offer economic opportunity for Illinoisans
College degrees are just one potential path to prosperity. Apprenticeships are a viable alternative Illinois’ education system should embrace.