Fact-checking Rahm: Students have been leaving Illinois for at least 15 years

By Madelyn Harwood

03/13/2017

Uncertainty about skyrocketing tuition costs, rising taxes, and other factors are the likeliest culprits of Illinois’ student out-migration crisis.

TAGS: Chicago, education, outmigration, population, Rahm Emanuel

Chicago’s new plastic bag tax goes into effect Feb. 1

02/01/2017

The new tax on plastic bags is Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s latest revenue grab.

TAGS: Chicago, plastic bags, Rahm Emanuel, taxes

Property tax rebate program for Chicago homeowners turns into Rahm’s slush fund

By Brendan Bakala

01/26/2017

Mayor Rahm Emanuel is spending money promised for rebates on police body cameras, a legal defense fund for undocumented immigrants and other programs.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel

Rauner vetoes state bailout of CPS pensions

By Ted Dabrowski

12/02/2016

Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed the $215 million bailout of Chicago Public Schools’ ailing teachers’ pension fund.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, Rahm Emanuel

Chicago to tax businesses who use satellite TV

11/29/2016

Chicago City Council expanded its 9 percent amusement tax to include businesses subscribing to satellite television – another way to nickel and dime the most taxed residents in the state.

TAGS: amusement tax, Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, satellite tax, taxes

Chicago making moves to implement ‘super TIFs’

By Chris Lentino

11/23/2016

Chicago would create new transit-based super TIFs before the close of the year in order to secure federal funding, while adding more opportunities for city-run slush funds to hoard tax dollars.

TAGS: Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, transportation

Aldermen rubber stamp Rahm’s 2017 budget

11/16/2016

Despite the heavy burden Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s 2017 budget imposes on Chicago taxpayers, not a single alderman voted against it.

TAGS: Chicago, Rahm Emanuel

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel used private email account to talk with Clinton campaign

By Brendan Bakala

11/06/2016

WikiLeaks latest revelations show Emanuel tried to get top staffer a job inside the Clinton campaign. Government at all levels must be transparent and accessible to the public. The use of private email accounts flouts efforts to hold government accountable and expose corruption.

TAGS: Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, Wikileaks

Alderman proposes charging admission to Taste of Chicago, Blues, and Jazz festivals

By Brendan Bakala

11/03/2016

Chicago alderman suggests admission charge to sponsored festivals as way to raise revenue.

TAGS: Chicago, fees, Rahm Emanuel, Ray Lopez, taxes

Half of city aldermen don’t show up for Chicago budget hearings

By Chris Lentino

11/03/2016

Each year, the City Council holds hearings for every city department to justify their annual appropriation. These hearings are sparsely attended and rarely touch on spending. This year, more than half of Chicago aldermen skipped budget hearings.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, Rahm Emanuel

Rahm Emanuel

Fact-checking Rahm: Students have been leaving Illinois for at least 15 years

Chicago’s new plastic bag tax goes into effect Feb. 1

Property tax rebate program for Chicago homeowners turns into Rahm’s slush fund

Rauner vetoes state bailout of CPS pensions

Chicago to tax businesses who use satellite TV

Chicago making moves to implement ‘super TIFs’

Aldermen rubber stamp Rahm’s 2017 budget

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel used private email account to talk with Clinton campaign

Alderman proposes charging admission to Taste of Chicago, Blues, and Jazz festivals

Half of city aldermen don’t show up for Chicago budget hearings

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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