Illinois to legalize internet gambling, executives predict

By Patrick Andriesen

09/27/2022

A new report predicts legalized internet gambling would generate $273.3 million a year in new revenue for Illinois. A safer bet for Illinois’ state workers would be constitutional pension reform.

TAGS: Chicago, gambling

Chicago pension funds still among nation’s worst funded

08/16/2022

Over-promised benefits continue to sink Chicago’s finances as the recent bear market eats into 2021 stock market gains. Investments gaining 25% last year plus federal aid didn’t offer much help to city pension systems, which have more debt than 45 states.

TAGS: Chicago, pensions

Chicago parents spend $886 per child on school supplies

By Dylan Sharkey

08/09/2022

Chicago parents spend one-third more than the national average on school supplies. A 5% state sales tax holiday does little to help those struggling with back-to-school costs.

TAGS: Chicago, education spending, parenting, public schools, school, teachers

Amendment 1 would give teachers unions more power over students’ health

08/01/2022

The number of students enrolling in Chicago Public Schools continues to fall as teachers’ unions impose COVID-19 policies and infringe on parents’ choices about their childrens’ health and safety. A ballot proposal would make that worse.

TAGS: Amendment 1, Chicago, COVID-19, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, government unions, mask mandate, parenting, public schools, teachers union

Lightfoot’s play to keep Bears could cost up to $2,000 per family

By Dylan Sharkey, Bryce Hill

07/28/2022

The Chicago Bears are considering a move to Arlington Heights, but Mayor Lori Lightfoot is pitching a last-ditch effort to revamp Soldier Field. Depending on the option, the tax hit per household ranges from $833 to $2,036.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Bears, Lori Lightfoot, Soldier Field, taxes

Lightfoot’s limos get 5 speed camera tickets, pay none

By Patrick Andriesen

07/28/2022

Mayor Lori Lightfoot just cried ‘safety’ in fending off an effort to curb the speed cameras that issued more tickets than Chicago has residents. But her travel detail has its own need for speed: 3 speed cam tickets and 2 warnings.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, mayor, speed cameras, speed limit

Pritzker sells Thompson Center for one-third of predicted price

By Patrick Andriesen

07/27/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker sold the iconic state office building in downtown Chicago to Google for $105 million. He settled for far less than the $300 million sale price state politicians predicted.

TAGS: Chicago, Google, JB Pritzker, Thompson Center

Chicago aldermen fail to repeal Lightfoot’s $80-million speed camera policy

By Patrick Andriesen

07/20/2022

Chicago aldermen lacked the votes to repeal Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s lower speed camera ticketing threshold responsible for nearly $80 million in fines.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

Chicago speed cameras ticket 3.8 million drivers since Lightfoot cut limits

By Patrick Andriesen

07/19/2022

Chicago’s speed cameras issued 3.8 million tickets since Mayor Lori Lightfoot lowered the threshold before a citation is written. That is like everyone in Chicago getting 1.4 tickets in 16 months.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

Lightfoot policy change could quadruple Chicago property tax hike in 2023

By Dylan Sharkey

07/19/2022

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s decision to tie property taxes to inflation in 2020 is coming back to bite taxpayers.

TAGS: Chicago, inflation, Lori Lightfoot, property taxes

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

View Report

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Report Archive

Linda Ekendahl

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students