New minimum wages in effect July 1 for Chicago, Cook County

By Dylan Sharkey

07/01/2022

Minimum wages for Chicago and Cook County are increasing July 1. Inflation has rapidly outpaced wage growth, cutting the average Illinoisan’s pay by $2,200.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, economy, inflation, minimum wage

Lightfoot allies delay speed camera vote

By Dylan Sharkey

06/24/2022

The Chicago City Council blocked a vote to repeal the lower speed camera ticket threshold, responsible for $59 million in tickets last year. Mayor Lori Lightfoot now has until July 20 to save a policy that issued more tickets than Chicago has residents.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, red light cameras, speed cameras

Citadel 3rd major company to leave Illinois in 2 months

By Dylan Sharkey

06/23/2022

Hedge-fund firm Citadel is moving its headquarters to Miami. Citadel CEO Ken Griffin said many employees have asked to move out of Illinois.

TAGS: Chicago, Citadel, corporate income tax, crime, Ken Griffin, outmigration

Lightfoot fights city council effort to limit $59M speed cameras

By Patrick Andriesen

06/17/2022

Chicago aldermen were ready to repeal the lower speed camera tolerance that generated $59 million in fines last year, but the finance committee chairman called off the meeting. Mayor Lori Lightfoot will use the delay to ‘twist peoples’ arms’ and keep the threshold low and lucrative.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

Chicago gas prices surpass $6 a gallon

By Dylan Sharkey

06/07/2022

Illinois gas taxes are driving extra pain at the pump, especially for Chicago residents.

TAGS: Chicago, gas prices

Chicago’s combined state and local taxpayer debt burden worst in the nation

By Justin Carlson

06/07/2022

Fiscal watchdog Truth in Accounting reports every Chicagoan is on the hook for $135,700 when combining city and state debt.

TAGS: Chicago, tax burden, Truth in Accounting

Chicago casino revenue doesn’t address 91% of city pension debt

By Dylan Sharkey

05/31/2022

The Chicago City Council approved a casino development in the River West neighborhood. The generated revenue will exclusively pay for pension debt, but only an estimated 9% of what the city needs.

TAGS: casino, Chicago, pension reform

79% of Illinois communities lose people in 2021; Chicago loses 45K

By Bryce Hill

05/25/2022

1,019 Illinois communities of all sizes shared in the loss of 114,000 residents in 2021, new census data shows. Chicago lost 40% of the total.

TAGS: Chicago, Illinois, outmigration, population

Lightfoot reacts to record Chicago speed camera tickets with limited relief

By Patrick Andriesen

04/25/2022

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced relief for low-income residents just weeks after an Illinois Policy Institute investigation found her lower threshold for speed camera tickets created more fines in 2021 than Chicago has residents.

TAGS: Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, speed cameras

Chicago ex-alderman charged with bribery might keep pension

By Ann Miller, Justin Carlson

04/22/2022

Ex-Alderman Danny Solis handed federal prosecutors the top politicians in Chicago and the Statehouse to get out of bribery charges. His deal could let him keep his pension – a ploy too common in Illinois as voters consider Amendment 1’s potential for protecting pension abuse.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, Danny Solis, pensions