What does it take to get a building permit in Chicago?

By Joe Tabor

06/20/2024

Chicago lags behind other cities in housing affordability. The city’s permitting process could be holding it back.

Phoenix’s building permit privatization could help reverse Illinois’ housing woes

By Joe Tabor

05/07/2024

Phoenix, Arizona, established a program to streamline building permits for certain projects. It has seen results. It could help Illinois’ drop in housing permits.

TAGS: affordable housing

More states give parents control over education funds, so why not Illinois?

By Hannah Schmid

04/30/2024

There are 18 private school choice programs called “education savings accounts” in 16 states and growing. But Illinois leaders refuse to let parents decide how their taxes are used to educate their children.

TAGS: education spending

Chicago speed cameras fined motorists over $102M in 2023

By Patrick Andriesen

04/29/2024

Chicago speed cameras hit motorists with over $102 million in fines during 2023, and $879 million total since they started flashing a decade ago. The mayor promised to eliminate the automated traffic cams, which issued a ticket every 20 seconds last year.

TAGS: Chicago

Chicago Teachers Union sets a radical example for nation’s teachers unions

By William O’Keefe

04/19/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union prides itself as a leader in “bargaining for the common good” – unionspeak for contract demands related to its political agenda rather than teachers’ wages and benefits. This year’s negotiations could reverberate across the nation.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois cities could significantly speed up new home, business construction

By Patrick Andriesen

04/09/2024

Illinois cities and villages could reduce from months to just days the time it takes to issue permits for new residential and commercial construction. Phoenix saw housing units increase 10% in a decade by cutting costly delays.

TAGS: affordable housing, zoning

18 states embrace school choice as Illinois hurts low-income families

By Hannah Schmid

01/22/2024

Seven states enacted new private school choice programs in 2023 and 11 states expanded existing programs. But Illinois killed its Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarship program, ending the only help for nearly 10,000 low-income students.

TAGS: school choice

1 in 5 Illinois adults is illiterate, but it’s 1 in 4 in Cook County

By Hannah Schmid

12/26/2023

Research shows income and adult literacy are strongly related. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics show 20% of Illinois adults are “functionally illiterate.” Cook County’s rate is 25%.

TAGS: Cook County

Too much occupational licensing could stop people from moving to Illinois

By Joe Tabor

12/25/2023

Illinois has seen continual population loss for a decade. While taxes and lack of opportunities are driving people away, the state’s licensing requirements could be keeping people from moving in.

TAGS: occupational licensing

Arizona

What does it take to get a building permit in Chicago?

Phoenix’s building permit privatization could help reverse Illinois’ housing woes

More states give parents control over education funds, so why not Illinois?

Chicago speed cameras fined motorists over $102M in 2023

Chicago Teachers Union sets a radical example for nation’s teachers unions

Illinois cities could significantly speed up new home, business construction

Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities

18 states embrace school choice as Illinois hurts low-income families

1 in 5 Illinois adults is illiterate, but it’s 1 in 4 in Cook County

Too much occupational licensing could stop people from moving to Illinois

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