Vallas: The Chicago City Council must empower itself for better budget oversight

By Paul Vallas

05/21/2026

Going into this budget cycle, there should be an added urgency for the City Council to build its capacity to play a co-equal role in the budget process and push to adopt more reforms and efficiencies to control spending.

CTU wants a day off for students and teachers — for political activism

By Lilly Rossi

04/09/2026

The Chicago Teachers Union wants the mayor and school board to approve May 1 as a paid day off and excused absence for a “Day of Civic Action.”

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Cutting red tape: Chicago makes progress, but long way to go

By LyLena Estabine

04/02/2026

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ‘Cut the Tape’ initiative has made real gains for housing in its second year. Still, the hardest reforms remain undone.

Tax concern should be a warning to Chicago’s mayor

By Todd J. Behme

03/23/2026

Almost half of those in a new poll named taxes one of the city top-two issues. Concern about the economy is on the rise.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

In Cook County, 75% of police, fire property taxes go to pensions

By LyLena Estabine

03/20/2026

Outside Chicago, only a fourth of municipal property taxes collected this year for police and fire are going to services.

Chicago Teachers Union demands ‘no work, no school’ May 1 shutdown

By Mailee Smith

03/13/2026

The union wants teachers and students to skip school for rallies and “mass resistance training.”

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago delaying pension payment, running low on cash

By LyLena Estabine

01/27/2026

Chicago is splitting its 2026 “advance” pension payment, blaming delayed Cook County property taxes but raising concerns about pension stability.

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

By LyLena Estabine

01/13/2026

Causes, costs, how to set the state free

Chicago gets $16.6B budget after mayor refuses to veto

By Brad Weisenstein, Ravi Mishra

12/23/2025

Chicago avoided a city shutdown when Mayor Brandon Johnson accepted the alternative budget aldermen passed despite his wishes.

TAGS: Chicago, taxes

Chicago adopts $16.6B budget, adds $535M in taxes

By Ravi Mishra

12/20/2025

Chicago aldermen for the first time pushed through their own budget, rejecting the mayor’s effort to impose a job-killing head tax. There are other taxes.

TAGS: Chicago, taxes

Brandon Johnson

Vallas: The Chicago City Council must empower itself for better budget oversight

CTU wants a day off for students and teachers — for political activism

Cutting red tape: Chicago makes progress, but long way to go

Tax concern should be a warning to Chicago’s mayor

In Cook County, 75% of police, fire property taxes go to pensions

Chicago Teachers Union demands ‘no work, no school’ May 1 shutdown

Chicago delaying pension payment, running low on cash

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

Chicago gets $16.6B budget after mayor refuses to veto

Chicago adopts $16.6B budget, adds $535M in taxes

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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