Center for Poverty Solutions: How to better assess poverty in Chicago and America

By Bryce Hill

09/26/2023

Published Sept. 26, 2023 America’s War on Poverty has been an abject failure. Nearly $12 trillion and 60 years later, official poverty rates remain basically unchanged. While the nation waged a well-intentioned assault on poverty, it inadvertently launched a far more sinister war: on dignity. While attempting to eradicate poverty, America created countless government welfare...

Chicago gun violence by neighborhood: South, West sides remain most dangerous

By Patrick Andriesen

08/10/2023

Chicago Police Department reports show shootings in 2022 were 32% higher than 2019. Shootings in the Loop tripled during that time.

TAGS: Chicago, crime

Indicted Chicago alderman too ill to stand trial, OK to cast council votes

By Patrick Andriesen

11/15/2022

Chicago’s second-longest serving alderman is seeking a stay of prosecution on federal bribery charges, arguing she is “not medically fit to stand trial.” The plea comes eight days after Ald. Carrie Austin voted on the council floor to approve the city budget.

TAGS: Chicago City Council, corruption

Feds indict Chicago alderman for trading city favors for home improvements

By Patrick Andriesen

07/06/2021

Chicago’s second-longest-serving alderman became the third sitting Chicago City Council member to come under federal indictment. She faces bribery charges.

TAGS: Carrie Austin, Chicago, corruption

2019-2020 Illinois corruption tracker

By Austin Berg

11/11/2019

Government corruption is nothing new for Illinoisans. Illinois is the second-most corrupt state in the nation, according to research by the University of Illinois-Chicago. And corruption costs the state economy more than $550 million per year. What is new? Powerful Illinois lawmakers, Chicago aldermen, local mayors and business interests are involved in what appears to be...

Fact-checking Rahm: Mayor deflects attention as Chicago shrinks

By Madelyn Harwood

06/03/2017

Despite Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s spin, residents are fleeing Chicago, showing they feel they are better off elsewhere.

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

Illinois’ youth problem: More millennials left Illinois than any other age demographic from 2011 through 2014

By Madelyn Harwood

05/17/2017

By fixing cost drivers, decreasing the cost of doing business in Illinois, and easing the tax burden, Illinois can encourage jobs growth and stand a better chance at attracting and retaining younger people.

Illinois General Assembly passes law allowing creation of ‘super TIFs’

By Chris Lentino

07/20/2016

A law passed by the Illinois General Assembly in June allows Chicago to create new transit-based super TIFs, adding more opportunities for city-run slush funds to divert and hoard property-tax dollars.

TAGS: Chicago, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Rahm Emanuel, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Uber and Airbnb ordinances show Chicago ushering in new era of hyperregulation

By Chris Lentino

06/21/2016

In the face of fleeing residents, the Chicago City Council has chosen to add more and more layers of regulation instead of reforming.

TAGS: Airbnb, Chicago, collaborative economy, Lyft, Rahm Emanuel, regulations, Uber

Uber, Lyft threaten to leave Chicago

By Austin Berg

06/18/2016

Chicago City Council is one vote away from enacting punishing rules that could force the popular platforms out of the Windy City.

TAGS: Chicago, collaborative economy, Lyft, regulations, rideshare, Uber

Austin

Center for Poverty Solutions: How to better assess poverty in Chicago and America

Chicago gun violence by neighborhood: South, West sides remain most dangerous

Indicted Chicago alderman too ill to stand trial, OK to cast council votes

Feds indict Chicago alderman for trading city favors for home improvements

2019-2020 Illinois corruption tracker

Fact-checking Rahm: Mayor deflects attention as Chicago shrinks

Illinois’ youth problem: More millennials left Illinois than any other age demographic from 2011 through 2014

Illinois General Assembly passes law allowing creation of ‘super TIFs’

Uber and Airbnb ordinances show Chicago ushering in new era of hyperregulation

Uber, Lyft threaten to leave Chicago

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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