Early voting starts in Cook County for Nov. 8 elections

By Patrick Andriesen

10/24/2022

Cook County voters can now visit any of the 53 polling locations countywide to cast their ballot for the Nov. 8 general elections. Illinoisians can still choose to permanently vote by mail until Nov. 3.

TAGS: Cook County, early voting

Cook County voters face 2 property tax hike proposals

10/04/2022

Both forest preserve leaders and government unions are asking Cook County voters for more property taxes on Nov. 8.

TAGS: Cook County, property taxes

Cook County sends property tax bills by Thanksgiving, due after Christmas

By Patrick Andriesen

09/28/2022

Happy holidays, Cook County homeowners. The second installment of your property tax bills will arrive around Thanksgiving. They won’t be due until after Christmas but before New Year’s.

TAGS: Cook County, property taxes

Cook County ends $80 ‘wheel tax’ for 50,000 drivers

By Patrick Andriesen

09/23/2022

The Cook County Board voted unanimously to repeal the sticker mandate on drivers living in unincorporated Cook County starting in 2023. Drivers will save at least $80 a year.

TAGS: Cook County, wheel tax

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

Amendment 1 will cost typical Cook County homeowner $2,933

By Bryce Hill

06/20/2022

See how much more you can expect to pay in property taxes unless voters reject the first question atop Illinois’ ballot Nov. 8.

TAGS: Amendment 1, Cook County

Cook County seeks to implement permanent guaranteed income

By Patrick Andriesen

05/31/2022

Cook County officials promised to make the nation’s now-largest publicly-funded guaranteed income experiment permanent May 18 shortly after introducing the initiative. The trial will start accepting applicants in the fall.

TAGS: Cook County, UBI: Universal Basic Income

Chicago, Cook County to lift mask mandates and vaccine requirement Feb. 28

By Patrick Andriesen

02/10/2022

Chicago and Cook County health officials announced plans to revoke pandemic masking and vaccination entry requirements by Feb. 28, the day Illinois’ statewide mask mandate will be lifted. Pritzker has warned Illinoisans to keep masks handy.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, COVID-19, mask mandate

Chicago, Cook County under emergency rule for 22 months. How can that be?

By Joe Tabor

01/11/2022

Chicago and Cook County leaders have exercised executive emergency powers for 22 months to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. Why can they do that and when does it end?

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, COVID-19

Cook County businesses should require vax proof or COVID-19 test

By Dylan Sharkey

12/17/2021

Cook County businesses should be checking for proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test before letting anyone in their doors, the health department has declared.

TAGS: Cook County, COVID-19, vaccine mandate

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

Susie Warden

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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